The Fiction of John Reizer
The following is the gist of a conversation between a former national park ranger and an independent writer.
Billy, not his real name, makes his way back to me. I am seated in a booth located toward the back of the restaurant. He smiles before sliding into the seat.
I reach across the table, shake the fellow’s hand, and wave down a server to come over and get our drink orders.
“Many people know that large parts of the Grand Canyon have been closed to the public for many decades,” Billy begins. “Federal park rangers have always said the inaccessibility of these locations was due to safety reasons, to protect the lands, native burial sites, and wildlife.”
I nod while scribbling down notes on a pad with a ballpoint pen.
“Most folks accept the government’s official explanations and never give the subject any further thought,” Billy continues. “The truth, however, is far different from what is being told. Truth be told, deep inside the restricted canyons live large flying reptiles. They are enormous creatures with colors that blend into the natural landscape. Their wingspans are monstrous, their bodies massive, and even more terrifying, they can and do breathe fire.”
“You’re kidding me,” I reply, stopping my pen from moving and staring Billy straight in the eyes.
“I wish I were,” he replies. “The reptiles in the canyon have lived there long before roads were cut, cities were developed, and maps were printed and distributed to the public.
“The US government discovered these strange creatures long ago after numerous planes disappeared over the region.
“Search expeditions later found melted aircraft parts and giant claw marks burned into solid stone. Soon afterward, the area was quietly reclassified into a permanent national park area and given a restricted zone designation.”
The waitress delivers our drinks and disappears to a nearby table.
“Scientists have observed that the large reptiles rarely, if ever, leave the confines of the canyon,” Billy says, resuming his big reveal. “The creatures seem to have everything they require inside the winding cliffs and deep valleys.
“As long as humans stay away, the reptiles ignore the outside world.”
“What about aircraft?” I ask, scratching my head.
Billy laughs, taking a sip of his Michelob Ultra. “Air traffic is another challenging problem. Every flight path that once crossed the region has now been changed.
“Passenger jets and private aircraft are routed around a huge section of northern Arizona. Pilots are told that the restricted airspace protects sensitive government operations. Only a handful of military personnel know the real reasons for the restricted airspace zones.”
My hand is writing Billy’s words so fast that I’m getting cramps in my wrist.
“Every few years, a juvenile creature climbs high above the canyon out of innate curiosity. Radar stations are pointed at certain areas to detect such occurrences. Nearby aircraft are immediately given new directions without explanation,” Billy explains.
“And airline passengers never notice the creatures?” I ask.
Billy shakes his head, no. “Although some people might occasionally notice sudden changes in flight direction, they never see the creatures gliding through the skies just a few miles away.”
“It must be an enormous job keeping all of this stuff a secret,” I say.
“Keeping the secret remains an expensive undertaking, but everyone involved agrees it is well worth the expenses incurred,” Billy explains. He takes a healthy swig of beer and locks eyes with mine. “One photograph of a flying reptile could change people’s perceptions of the world forever.
“The creatures only ask for one thing: stay outside the canyon’s parameters. So, the fences were erected in the 1940s and have remained in place ever since, clearly demarcating the safety perimeter. The restricted airspace has never changed since its inception.”
I smile while writing more notes in my pad.
Billy laughs, then says, “Most people believe to this day that the Grand Canyon’s greatest mystery is how it was formed. Very few people realize that the greatest mystery is what still lives inside these now-forbidden lands.”
We’re happy to announce that Target List will soon be available to view in new locations throughout Europe, as Target List, LLC has recently signed a new European distribution deal.
Our movie has recently been formatted with new subtitling in preparation for its release in many brand-new locations.
As soon as we have more detailed information on specific platforms and channels, we will announce those here. The new distribution deal will likely take effect later this year and in early 2027.
Thanks so much to all the visitors here who have supported our movie since its 2023 release.
John
The One-Hour Diner
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Released July 4th, 2026
About the Book
Over sixty minutes in an isolated roadside diner in rural Montana, two strangers are forced to confront suppressed and traumatic memories, discovering that time, guilt, and truth are far more dangerous than the authorities awaiting them.
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Inventing a cancer cure was their first mistake!
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Sometimes fiction is not an escape from reality, but rather the only way to talk about it.
–John Reizer
Truth Engines
Pre-order Available at Select Retailers
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 unique storytelling, these writings explore a wide range of important subjects currently impacting all human beings.
Releasing September 1st, 2026
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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
Beta Reviews
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
Truth Engines is an incredible reading experience!
–A Beta Reader
Releasing October 31st
Hunted by an all-seeing surveillance network and powerful forces desperate to recover three mysterious data chips he is carrying, Dave Morrison, a bike courier, is forced into the Smart city’s hidden underground tunnel system in an attempt to stay alive.
The Big Pharma Conspiracy Movie
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
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