Beta-Testing the Apocalypse

A LitRPG Adventure

By: JG Spaulding

Narrated by: 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!

bit boring

maybe I've listened to too many litrpg book but I want more characters interactions and world building to enjoy it. this is mostly a dungeon dive with one interaction chapter every other 2 or 3 from diving but if that's your thing you might like it

This was absodamnlutely AwesomeSauce!!!

What an AwesomeSauce beginning, to what's shaping up to be a dynamite series! And ye Gods I can hardly wait for the next book to land... Even though I've never read J.G. Spalding, I'm gonna be looking for his other works! This is Dex's story as he's one of the few selected to beta test the system that's about to be released onto our world. Being a game developer himself he has no issues sliding into the system, to do his best finding bugs, and leveling as quickly as he can. So just another Tuesday, 'cept for the possibility of dyin. You can imagine how strange his life became. Both in game and in real life too, as his new abilities work, even when he's having a quiet dinner with his friends.
So yeah grab a pizza and the audiobook because Ryan H Reid has a pedal-to-the-metal action-driven story to tell you!

Ohhhh and here's a handful of quotes that tickled me:

"Morning and I have never had a friendly relationship. Sort of a grudging respect and tolerance of each other."

"I was like a Honda sleeper with a V8 hiding under the hood."

"Besides, it was just in my nature as a gamer to grab every minor healing potion, every single copper piece, every damn cheese wheel, until the world is wiped clean and all NPCs are in their underwear."

"...it would be good to have some extra food around, especially a tasty gyro or six."

"It would be embarrassing for her to give me a light punch and have my hand fall off onto the hibachi."

Really couldn’t get into this one…

I’m not sure if it was the narrator or the way the story reads but it only got interesting at the end. I thought about stopping and returning it several times.

Great story, great narrator.

This is just a really good book, it has good flow, it has interesting character growth, the author has an excellent sense of humor. I will by book two the second it comes out.

Also thenarrator is absolutely fantastic, and i am about to go see what else he has done.

everything needs beta testing, even the apocalypse

follow Dex, a video game beta tester as he is chosen to basically beta test the end of our world. progression fantasy, level up or die.
well narrated. well written. lots of twists & turns as he moves from barely surviving to thriving in a one month preview of a brutal future.

give it a listen, you'll love it.

and truly enjoyable listen

the story is very well put together capture your attention from the very first second and manages to keep it as a perfect blend urban fantasy and sci-fi 100% recommend can't wait for book two to come out