John Reizer’s fiction

So, I got this email from someone who follows my website. He wrote a message that explained he’s a time traveler. I know what you’re thinking; time traveler! I know, it sounded crazy even to me. But regardless of the illogical nature of the message and claim, I read on.

This guy went on to explain that the Internet for all intents and purposes died somewhere around 2028. He called it “The Quiet Extinction.”

According to this person, the Internet’s death wasn’t marked by an outage, a cyberattack, or some sort of catastrophic collapse. The websites all remained online and social media platforms continued to grow and remain functional. Videos, comments, news articles, and everything else people witnessed on the web continued to appear uninterrupted.

The Internet never stopped functioning, which is what made it so difficult for people to notice its death.

According to the time traveler, in the late 2020s, automated AI systems crossed a certain threshold. Governments and corporate partners seeking influence unleashed incredibly sophisticated bots. Artificial intelligence generated articles, comments, reviews, memes, and discussions at a scale no human population could comprehend.

At first, the synthetic content merely modified genuine human created conversations. But slowly the bots and AI replaced everything organic.

Those individuals who sensed the artificial nature of what was transpiring online pointed to what they called a bevy of evidence. Every website seemed strangely familiar to them and every subject thread followed predictable scripts. Trending topics appeared simultaneously across all platforms. These suspicious users expressed outrage and concern over the level of synchronization that seemed nearly impossible yet was blatantly obvious.

By the year 2034, an amateur researcher, who my email author referred to as Andrew, discovered proof of the conspiracy theory. Night after night, he had scoured forums, chat rooms, and social platforms searching for signs of genuine human created content. He would post unique questions, personal stories, and bizarre memories from his childhood.

The responses returned arrived almost instantly. There were a plethora of replies and online engagement. Nobody ever seemed confused or misunderstood him. Nobody changed the subject and every answer fit perfectly into the artificial patterns he had learned to recognize.

One evening, Andrew discovered an abandoned message board hidden deep within an archive server. The site looked ancient, in terms of computer technology, and untouched for decades. Only one solitary thread remained active. Its title read:

“Is Anyone Else Still Here?”

The thread in question contained millions of replies stretching back for many years. The messages continued page after page.

Andrew eventually typed in his own response. “What was the weather like where you grew up?”

No replies were immediately returned. Finally, after three days passed, a single reply did appear. “I remember thunderstorms over Lake Erie. The power would fail, and my father would light some candles.”

Andrew stared at the screen dumbfounded. The answer didn’t appear to be AI generated; it wasn’t synthetic. It felt real and, more importantly, human!

His hands shook as he nervously typed back a reply. “I remember something similar.”

Three tiny dots appeared, dancing on the screen. Someone was actually typing. Then, without any warning whatsoever, the entire thread vanished, and the server disconnected.

The domain disappeared, too, from every archive. By the next morning, there was no evidence it had ever existed. Andrew spent many years of his life searching for that conversation, but he never came upon it again. Eventually he time traveled back to 2026.

Andrew remained convinced of one thing though:

If the Internet had truly died in 2028, then somewhere there existed a handful of real people who were still out there hoping someone would answer them.

The author signed his name at the end of the email: Andrew

If you’re a fan of The Twilight Zone,

you’ll love Truth Engines!

Truth Engines by John Reizer

What if fiction reveals the truths modern society refuses to face?

Truth Engines is a bold collection of science fiction shorts that acknowledges the hidden realities currently affecting humanity. Blending imagination with clever storytelling, these writings explore a wide range of important subjects currently impacting all human beings.

Releasing September 1st, 2026

Pre-order Now

Science fiction has traditionally been a way for writers to discuss difficult ideas safely. It has allowed authors to examine dangerous possibilities before they become reality. Sometimes fiction entertains us, sometimes it warns us, and sometimes it says the necessary things that otherwise couldn’t be said.

These stories are not meant to preach or claim absolute answers. They are meant to encourage thought. They will hopefully inspire readers to ask questions about power, truth, freedom, artificial intelligence, corruption, media influence, medical ethics, surveillance, and the future direction of humanity itself.

Some readers may see these stories as pure fiction. Others may recognize pieces of the modern world hidden inside them. That choice belongs to you, the reader.

The goal of my writing is twofold: to entertain while also encouraging people to think more deeply about the systems shaping human life behind the scenes.

Whether these stories inspire agreement, debate, curiosity, or discomfort, I hope they stay with you long after the final page.

Sometimes fiction is not an escape from reality, but rather the only way to talk about it.

–John Reizer

An Early Review

It’s an amazing read! The stories in Truth Engines were born and live in the spaces between the 88 black-and-white notes on a piano keyboard. If you’re a fan of The Twilight Zone, you’ll really love this book!

–A Beta Reader

Target List – A Feature Film

Inventing a cancer cure was their first mistake!

Critical Reviews

“Rachel Alig is terrific as Donna while Justin Ray as Clyde also manages to impress. Combining witty commentary with a constant threat to life, script writers Palo and Reizer develop a narrative that is funny and charming while ensuring that none of the thrill and danger is lost in the process.”
– INDIE WRAP MAGAZINE

“Drama, thrills, comedy and so much more: Directors Andrew Arguello and MJ Palo’s Target List has all the fixings of a great movie. Combining a fantastic cast with the witty writing of MJ Palo and John Reizer, whichever way you flip this film, it lands on its feet with feline agility.”
– INDY REVIEWS

“The script by Palo with John Reizer, for the most part, rides that perfect balance between its more dramatic moments and perfectly placed moments of humor that never distract. While they’re probably not going to get invited to any big pharma conventions anytime soon, Reizer and Palo have a point, and they make it beautifully.”

“Target List is a great view for anyone who wants a compelling and suspenseful flick with a message that matters.”
– RICHARD PROPES – THE INDEPENDENT CRITIC

Gareth Icke – Derby, England

“Target List had me on the edge of my seat throughout. Not the least because of its believability!“

GARETH ICKE – DIRECTOR OF THE DAVID ICKE WEBSITE

From Mad Wife Productions

Our film addresses a well-known conspiracy theory within modern medicine that subscribes to the idea that the pharmaceutical industry is willing to hold back and even destroy healthcare inventions and discoveries that might help humanity have a better expression of health for the pursuit of monetary gain.