John Arthur Neal has written six novels, a novelette, and numerous short
stories.
He is currently submitting them for
commercial publication. |
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Big Dreams
A Collinsville Mystery
Susie, a secretary at the
Police Department, falls in love with a sleazy private eye. He induces Susie to
steal confidental police records and embroils her in a blackmail scheme.
Susie has to outsmart the murderer to save her life. In doing so, she
uncovers her inner strength.
53,300 words. |
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Floater
A Collinsville Mystery
Following Spring Break, a
corpse is found floating in the college swimming pool. The student, an expert
swimmer, was discovered by the swim team coach, who also teaches Greek and
Latin. Apparently there had been a party during the break; beer bottles litter
the crime scene.
Lt. Cyndi Roberts, though technically still on
medical leave from a gunshot wound, is assigned the case by the understaffed
Collinsville Police Department. By the end of her investigation, this so-called
"light duty" results in Cyndi's near-death and the kidnapping of her mentally challenged
daughter. The abductor is the classics professor/coach, a serial killer. Cyndi's
daughter is bait to lure Cyndi into a lethal trap.
56,170 words. |
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Mars Material
A Second Mission to the Red Planet
The first
mission discovered huge diamonds created by the enormous Martian volcanos.
Several countries and coalitions send expeditions during the next launch
window. On the eve of departure, the American team is almost wiped out by a
terrorist nuclear attack, leaving only the representatives of "America’s
youth" to crew the ship.
In addition to the natural perils --
radiation, iron poisoning, depressurization, treacherous landscape -- the crew
must contend with interpersonal conflict and international competition for
supplies. Battles and broken hearts must be replaced by cooperation and love
for them to survive.
73,900 words. |
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Time Tracks
A Our Enemies, Ourselves
Parthenon’s friend, idiot-savant Alex, built a tesseract in his basement -- and
then sent his 10-year-old son through it. In an attempt to find the boy,
Parthenon discovers that the tesseract is a portal in time. He takes six trips
to the future and one to Ancient Crete. He does find Alex’s son, but becomes
a pivotal player in a war between humans and cetaceans. Parthenon also
becomes a spokesperson for the wireheads - those deemed hopeless by society
(the terminal, the criminal, the retarded) and subject to computerized brain
implants, to serve out their lives as programmed slaves. Plus, he sees former
and future incarnations of himself and those close to him.
114,500 words. |
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Clone Rebel
Sexual vs. Asexual Reproduction in the 21st century
By 2075, large clone clans dominate economics and politics. The natural
mental resonance observed in identical twins is amplified by brain-wave
transmitters, creating artificial telepathy within clans. This clonal advantage
makes "indies" - individuals - into second-class citizens.
An
18-year-old member of the most powerful female clan falls in love with an indie
who was raised on Vesta, the 2nd largest asteroid. This Romeo-and-Juliet tryst
threatens the clan’s plan for global mind control.
96,400
words. |
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Test of Time
A Rural Commune Fights the Construction of a Monorail
By 2011, overpopulation has made life uncomfortable for many. A new-age
group has built a peaceful community in western Georgia. Along come engineers
surveying the route for a high-speed monorail between Atlanta and Columbus. The
track would rip through the heart of the commune, destroying it.
Appeals to the Governor’s office go unheeded. The community secedes from
the United States to bring media attention to their plight. The leader of the
group is kidnapped by a rogue federal agent and subjected to VR
brain-washing.
Meanwhile, other groups, businesses and even individual
homeowners follow suit and declare their independence. International attention
is focused on the drama and the President must take a stand.
51,000
words. |
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Selected Shorts include:
Lands of Sand, a novelette about an
idealistic sand sculptor who is seduced by a suntan lotion model -- and the
lure of the wealth generated from holographing his artwork.
Intercession A regular working guy follows his instincts to
keep a kid out of the penal system.
Little Lies An emotionally repressed husband finally snaps
and deliberately crashes their car into the side of a building.
What To Do About Mom Mom is terminal and in a coma. The
issue of euthanasia is explored both emotionally and practically.
Nightmare on California Street, a humorous short story
about a waiter’s worst shift.
Seafrog. A
sailor fights fire to save a prostitute’s life -- as well as his own
spirit.
Alice in Amsterdam, a quirky travelogue
in the world’s most libertine city.
A Time to
Reap. A greedy gynecologist is exposed -- in more ways than
one.
Beyond the Beginning. Experimental prose
about the origins of everything.
Touch Me
Tenderly, a parallel universe tale.
Ballad of the
New Beginning.. A survivor of the android replacement regimen
discovers a reason for hope.
Arnie Carjack. A
desperate dufus tries to steal various vehicles from movieland mugs.
Six Pack. Six friends get incarcerated in a southern
mental hospital.
Awake at the Wheel. A resident
in a nursing home summons an aide, and changes her life forever. (Also made
into a 13-minute video.)
Warthogs in the Woods.
In the middle of the night, in the middle of the woods, a hunter
is surrounded by a pack of wild boars. |
