HollowMan

By: James Bryron Love

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Galdent thinks he’s clever, cynical, and immune to scams—but Vacations Fantastic has other plans. A budget-conscious thrill-seeker, he tries to game the system, chasing free adventures in virtual vacation worlds. The sexy, manipulative android clerk is determined to upsell him, while the back-room tech observes with dry amusement. What begins as a playful cat-and-mouse game escalates into real danger when Galdent agrees to a Type B vacation on Colony 936. Bounce previews unsettle him, but the full experience tests his overconfidence, exposing environmental hazards, unpredictable hosts, and darkly comic consequences. Galdent’s attempts to cheat the system backfire spectacularly, leaving him trapped in situations that are equal parts hilarious, terrifying, and absurdly bureaucratic. With clever dialogue, biting satire of the tourism and tech industries, and escalating peril, Hollow Man examines greed, overconfidence, and the dangers of underestimating engineered systems. Readers follow a protagonist who believes he’s in control, only to discover that every shortcut comes with hidden costs—and that some experiences are far more expensive than he ever imagined.