Proximity Factor

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Meet Cynthia Austen, aPhD neurologist whose newest assignment from the Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) — the U.S. Department of Defense's experimental technology shop — takes her to the remote community of Gakona, Alaska, to evaluate a mysterious project gone horribly wrong.

The high-voltage, frequency-transmitting research project, whose unpredictable effects are wreaking havoc among base personnel and the surrounding community, has triggered complaints and demands for answers to the highest levels of government — who soon discover supernatural forces at work and a conspiracy that could end our world.

Reporting to Major Chesterfield, who insists the project must advance at all costs, and under the direct supervision of Ed Seeding — who relentlessly pushes her to her limits as she investigates both earthly and supernatural forces — Cynthia soon finds herself relying on a loosely assembled team of colorful locals who bring their own expertise.

Alma Qaunnaaluk, a reporter for the Juneau Empire who also moonlights as a taxi driver; Dr. Layest, a scientist who relocated from Chile after being censured for misconduct; Roger, Dr. Layest's stout assistant who's always the last to know what's going on; and Officer Calub, a hapless local police officer.

Their investigation uncovers a plan to upend our government, our institutions, and even our environment as we know it. Only to open it up to another world.

With time running out, Cynthia must quickly adapt her team's strategy and tactics, and transform herself from a diligent professional into a force to be reckoned with.

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2025
Author: Proximity

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 5.0/ 5.0
Followers: 4
Views: 10,332

Chapters(41 total)

What readers say about Proximity Factor

“The story has been spanning time and life as I read it. I have been reading them before class and thinking about them too. Clearly, the chapters are on one level, but the story is on multiple levels. Some of the chapters, specifically 1 and 8, have dissolv…”
KirklandHouseRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Proximity Factor explores the power of human connection in the most unexpected circumstances. From the very first chapter, the author pulls you into a world where closeness or Proximity—physical, emotional, or psychological—becomes both a risk and a necess…”
Rocky&BullwinkleRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(3)

KirklandHouseRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story has been spanning time and life as I read it.
I have been reading them before class and thinking about them too.
Clearly, the chapters are on one level, but the story is on multiple levels. Some of the chapters, specifically 1 and 8, have dissolved into my soul.
Other chapters, such as 1,5 and 8, seem to be intimately linked.
The details add a depth to the story and characters, but that is only one layer. There are obviously multiple levels here. Like Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte in pointillism, these details merge into a much bigger picture. I can only imagine what will happen next, but I can only hope I am the same person, or better when the story is finished.
Rocky&BullwinkleRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Proximity Factor explores the power of human connection in the most unexpected circumstances. From the very first chapter, the author pulls you into a world where closeness or Proximity—physical, emotional, or psychological—becomes both a risk and a necessity.
The writing is sharp, engaging, and emotionally resonant. Cynthia Austen is well-developed, flawed, and real, which makes their journey all the more compelling. I found myself invested not just in the plot, but in the decisions, regrets, and triumphs of each individual.
Proximity Factor is unique in its ability to balance tension with introspection. Whether it’s dealing with personal trauma, societal barriers, or high-stakes conflict, the narrative never loses its heart. It’s a rare kind of story that entertains while leaving you with questions about your own relationships and boundaries.
chris#1SupermanClarkkentfanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The first thing I want to say about this story is that it is one of the trippiest books I have ever read. In the prologue, we open on a group of people preforming a strange ceremony involving numerous cats to look through space and time. I find that it sets the tone for the story very well. The writer wants you to know quickly that the book is psychological, disturbing, and high concept. And, if nothing else, I can respect their confidence in the precise.
Furthermore, the mysteries of the setting become more complex as we are introduced to the protagonist. Cynthia is a 32 year old scientific researcher sent on an assignment to a facility in Alaska during the year 1999. As she arrives at the facility, she meets several characters who I found highly suspect. The one I distrusted the most was the enigmatic Dr. Layest. We learn that the man was accused of several crimes at his last job and the machine he’s currently working on is having an effect on the staff’s minds, doing something to their memories. Again, adding to the uneasiness of the story and setting up plot twists that involves memories.
Additionally, this leads me to comment on the proses being used. The book is written in a first person style from Cynthia’s perspective. As I read it, I felt like I was reading through her journal entries during her time at the facility. It was an extremely fitting way to write it seeing that the protagonist is a scientist. However, I spotted several missed opportunities for Cynthia to take note of the body language of the people around her, especially Dr. Layest, and make some observations. It would have been a good tool for foreshadowing and it would help us to understand her character better.
Conclusively, I would recommend this book to anyone who were fans of the horror or thriller genre. People who want a narrative that is a little trippy and untrustworthy, who want to have their understanding of a story challenged at every turn.