Beta-Testing the Apocalypse

A LitRPG Adventure

De: JG Spaulding

Narrado por: Ryan H. Reid

A LitRPG Apocalypse Series about an IT worker who is given early access to a somewhat buggy System.

Battle through pocket dimensions full of monsters. Report bugs to the System. Survive.

Dex is just your average, everyday I.T. Professional. Eyes tired from working late, the strange glowing gem floating in the middle of his apartment didn’t exactly grab his attention. Until it opens into a portal and starts counting down to his death.

In a life-or-death situation, an autistic quality assurance engineer probably isn’t your first choice for a hero. But he has a certain set of skills that catches the attention of the Daemon System as it implements a secret beta-test on Earth.

The impact of the Essence Wavefront is imminent. With it, humanity will unlock access to fantastic power. To have any chance to survive against the countless invaders who will seek to take that Essence power from us, humans will need the structure of the System.

And who better to ensure the induction of 9-billion humans goes smoothly than Dex, the self-proclaimed God of Q.A.?

By reporting bugs while fighting for his life in pocket dimensions full of deathtraps and monsters, Dex will win rewards, earn Essence, and grow more powerful than he can imagine, all while slowly uncovering the truths of the upcoming horrific apocalypse.

Because work-life balance is important, right?

Experience this unique take on a LitRPG Apocalypse, featuring a weak-to-strong MC who gains early access to a somewhat buggy but non-sentient System.

©2025 Aethon Books (P)2025 Aethon Audio

Solid System Type Personal Preference Complaints only

A good balanced system type requiring a decent amount of forethought and path choice making self, equipment, information etc… Only thing that got to me a bit is kind of a personal preference the more a character squirrels resources the more I’m rooting for them to die. I’m a maximum effort every time fan; not an economical type treating resources like an investment banker at-least it’s not the whole time tho so still solid.

novel take on the genre

it was a somewhat refreshing take on the genre, but I feel like there was a potential for more.

A 4 1/2 star fantasy read

Beta-Testing the Apocalypse: A LitRPG Adventure, my first read from author JG Spaulding. A unique, captivating, page-turning, well-written read, purportably the first book in a series. “I received an Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author, and in this series as they're published. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

Awesome character development with great story

Wonderful story, great characters. The story arch was a little off but it worked. Can’t wait to see more!

pay to ask

every interaction has him spending this seemingly nonregenerating resource for everything and then he goes and spends so much on unimportant questions it is really upsetting

Fun Despite Authors Blatant Social Commentary

I liked the book. It's always fun to see the main character try to hide aspects of the fantastical and then have other people slowly catch on to it. We had that here, with the MC traveling through portals to level up in preparation for the impending apocalypse. It was kind of of a monster killing slice of life where he would go through portals, come back and then chill in the real world with his friends. Book one only covered about a week of the 2 months of prep time afforded him. My only gripe about the book was the author using it to not so subtly pontificate about various social issues. Use social media to get up on your soapbox if you must. In a book, it only breaks immersion from an otherwise good story.

Great story

I have a few nitpicks like how he kept forgetting about equipment that would help him, that he has but forgot that he has, it other than that I found the story fantastic even got a laugh out loud out of me for the primal Hunter reference lol

Interesting take

This is almost a sci-fi litrpg, it hints at being more mechanically based than magic. I enjoyed it but if your delicate sensibilities are offended by such horrible things as pronouns and LGBTQI perhaps it will make you clutch your pearls. I’ll be looking forward to book two.

Loved it!!!

Great start.
MC is great.
Side characters are great.
System is good.
Narration is great.

I'm looking forward to how this story develops, and will be looking out for the next installment.

To the reviews that will undoubtedly be posted about the author having side characters that are not heterosexual; gay people exist, get over it.

Very good!

Different approach. I really liked the originality. Main character is an average nerd, a few friends are a little hard to believe would exist but doesn’t take away from the story. Looking forward to book two!