Ian T. Smyth

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2022

Stories (10)

10 Stories

203 karma pts

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“The Xenon Insurgency ” by Ian T. Smyth

Submitted to Contest #230

“The Emperor is here?” He asked, nervously.  “Yes, and he’s most displeased.” Brian paced through the room, calculating his next steps.  “I made a call - a call based off the information I had at the time - what does he think I should have done instead?” Cheyenne blinked; her steely-blue eyes penetrating Brian. “Whatever it is, he feels as though he needs to tell you it in the flesh.” “If this flesh is still left standing,” Brian retorted.  Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, but it was useless for the ones who knoc...

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“The Keyblade Chronicles (Chapters 10-14)” by Ian T. Smyth

Submitted to Contest #215

Chapter 10 Maurice approached the Holy Cathedral cautiously; he’d never been this close to the royalty of The Authority before. He ascended the grand steps that led up to the doorway into the cathedral, slowly and carefully. When he got to the door he stopped for a moment, and then entered. Standing in the middle of the room was a tall, lanky figure shrouded in a black cloak.  “Hello, Hepburn,” the figure said. Maurice moved slowly, unsure of himself. The hood of the cloak fell just below the figure’s eye-line, showing his long, cro...

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“The Keyblade Chronicles (Chapters 5-9)” by Ian T. Smyth

Submitted to Contest #212

Chapter 5 Josiah and Daniel walked through the Great Hall of Manoor, accompanied by the Prime Minister, Sahzya Edein. Great, regal columns held up the lofty hall, crafted by people from another age. Their footsteps made satisfying clicks as they walked, the sound echoing throughout the hall. “The air on this planet is 43.21% oxygen; did you know that?” Sahzya said. “It is some of the purest air in the known universe. It strengthens the body and the soul.” He smiled to himself. “The people of Manoor are strong. The Authority will not lay ...

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“The Riverbed” by Ian T. Smyth

Submitted to Contest #211

To end all suffering is the primary directive of life, insofar that suffering can be ended, but I, a stern believer in the hope of mankind, believe it can, and should be. To end all suffering is to cease fighting the losing battle with which the Self wages, to dis-identify from identity itself, to let go the ego, to surrender and give in to the all consuming and all powerful force of love, and to know deeply in one’s heart that violence and corruption and verisimilitude are as futile as a cloud hanging forever in the sky. It is with these ...

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“The Keyblade Chronicles (Chapters 1-4)” by Ian T. Smyth

Submitted to Contest #200

THE KEYBLADE CHRONICLES  CHAPTERS 1-5 Prologue  In the future, a fascist dictatorship known as The Authority has taken over the known universe.  The Authority has set up trade routes between neighbouring star systems using a device known as a Starpod, invented by Baxtar CEO Maurice Hepburn.  The people of Manoor have long held a prophecy that a saviour would come with the Keyblade, and item capable of cutting through the fabric of the universe itself so they can escape into an alternate reality where The Authori...

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“Into The Fire ” by Ian T. Smyth

Submitted to Contest #163

Susan stared out the window to the vast metropolis below, and sighed. Despite the vast height of the building she was standing in, and despite it being early in the morning, she could still make out the movement of cars and even people as they went about their daily lives.  Susan worked in an office as a customer service representative; her job was to take calls and help people install their printers over the phone. It was a boring job, she admitted, but a well-paying one, and she’d been there for over three years. She was eager for a ...

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“Another Paradise ” by Ian T. Smyth

Submitted to Contest #162

Clarence poured over the restaurant menu, his brown fingers running down the list of choices, unable to decide. He was to meet his good friend Lawrence for brunch, which happened to be Clarence’s favourite type of meal. Lawrence was running late, as usual, so Clarence went ahead and perused the menu.  As he was perusing, and waiting for his friend to arrive, he was suddenly overcome with an appalling sense of disgust at the very nature of his situation.  “Why am I sitting here, waiting like a fool?” he asked himself. “Nobody din...

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“A Night To Remember ” by Ian T. Smyth

Submitted to Contest #162

Thanksgiving was always Mary’s favourite time of the year.  As she prepped the table for everyone’s arrival, she looked out the front window and took note of how beautiful the trees looked; all auburn and yellow. Smiling to herself, she laid the knives and forks down, tucked white napkins under the china plates, and carefully placed wine glasses at every seat.  This was also the first Thanksgiving that her son’s girlfriend, Rosanne, would be joining them for.  The oven beeped, and Mary took the turkey out. It smelled delici...

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“Atomic T'Chu” by Ian T. Smyth

Submitted to Contest #161

I The Company owned just about every part of North America. The seas, the land, the air; they owned it all. Nobody got into the state, or out.  Susan Simons was a Learner. At just sixteen years old, she’d already mastered the difficult Bo’Shi martial arts, and the puzzlingly complicated Langua language. All Learners reported to a Teacher. In Susan’s case, this was Mr. Frederick Wilson.  Fred also happened to be the son of the head of The Company itself. II It was a fine day in late August when Susan climbed the steps up t...

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“Anna's Oasis ” by Ian T. Smyth

Submitted to Contest #160

Anna's Oasis Part I - Travelling West IThe dunes stretched out onward and forever. Anna was coming from the Eastern Sea, leaving behind the destruction of her village and the horrors she'd faced there. She was the only survivor. Now, she was a fugitive. A runaway. Desperate to escape, she fled into the only place left to go: the great desert of Harken.IIJudging by how intensely the sun was beating down on her, Anna guessed it must have been high noon. But time didn't work like that anymore. No, time was thi...

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Author bio

Some of my deepest influences are Tolstoy, Herbert, and Tolkien. I write sci-fi/fantasy and drama.