The Streamer

By Russell Cordner

Zero followers. But that's about to change.

Any fool with a webcam can be famous. But Foster Reywood isn't looking for merely fame. He's set his sights on stardom. And after two years of cup ramen five days a week, he's becoming a full-time streamer.

But jumping into the deep end is a risky leap of faith, and when it looks like he might hit rock bottom, a mysterious stranger offers him a way to the top.

If you're a fan of The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror, you'll enjoy this cautionary tale for the YouTube Age.

Buy The Streamer by Russell Cordner today and don't forget to smash that like button.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Russell Cordner
• Release date: May 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393949589

Russell Cordner

Born in Toronto, Russell Cordner has lived across Canada and Japan. Exploring multiple genres, including crime, speculative, and general fiction, he writes both adult and young adult fiction. 

Book preview

By Russell Cordner

Short Stories

The Masq

The Acid Trip Prophecy

The Streamer

Novella

The Humid

C

racking open his first Sabertooth Energy Fuel, Foster Reywood’s jaw stretched with a yawn, mimicking the beast on the can. He’d made it twelve hours without caffeine, but there was no way he could last another twelve. It was time to switch gears.

I’d like to thank Sabertooth for all their support, Foster said into his mic, picturing a day when the energy drink might actually be a sponsor.

But before that happened, he had to get followers. And Reywood’s 24-hour Super Stream was his promotional brainchild to kick off the new channel.

After two years of scrimping and saving at every turn, working doubles and eating cup ramen five days a week, he was finally doing it. He was fulfilling his dream of becoming a full-time streamer.

New computer, new cameras, new headset, new chair, and enough cash in the bank for two month’s rent. He turned his desk, so it was facing away from the wall, hanging his favorite posters and moving the bookcase with all his figurines into the shot behind him. A good backdrop was an important component to creating professional content.

After creating the perfect studio, the final piece of the plan was put in place yesterday. Quitting his job.

He’d been one of the longest-serving assistant managers at The Gamer’s Gate, and he was relieved to be gone. A national chain of retail stores with a reputation for ripping off customers, the company somehow managed to treat their employees even worse.

One of the few who lasted more than a year, he toughed it out just past his second anniversary. He’d been another compliant cog in the corporate machine, until walking into work wearing a vintage t-shirt for an old movie called Take This Job and Shove It. The threadbare swath of cotton had cost him a full day’s pay, but it was worth it.

His boss Gregory stopped him the moment Foster stepped through the door.

Reywood, why aren’t you in uniform? Gregory demanded. He had a thing for calling everyone by their last name.

"Read the shirt—Schaeffer." Foster stuck out his chest, unable to suppress his grin.

Very funny. Now get changed. You’re already going to be late as it is. Don’t make me write you up.

Can’t you read?

What? Gregory said, folding his arms with a shrug. Are you asking me to take that shirt literally? Is this your way of quitting?

How very astute, Foster said. I expect my vacation days to be paid out on my final paycheck.

He turned and walked out the door, leaving his boss dumbfounded, muttering something about maturity, job references, and whether or not Foster was for real. None of that mattered, for he wouldn’t need job references ever again. His followers certainly weren’t going to care what Gregory Schaeffer had to say about Foster’s punctuality or work ethic.

Walking away from that job was nothing short of cathartic and may have been the most liberating moment in his twenty-one years on earth. He was empowered, stronger, more confident. He even felt taller.

On the way home, he picked up a case of Sabertooth and some snacks to get him through his marathon launch day. He even ordered a pizza to celebrate, confident his ramen days were coming to an end.

Then he went to bed and got a good night’s sleep.

Peepr was the internet’s hottest new video platform, allowing content creators to monetize both live and recorded content. They paid well and they didn’t ban people for crazy stunts or offensive content. Peepr represented what the internet was meant to be—in the hands of The People. When it came to choose a platform on which to launch his channel, they were the obvious choice.

We’ve just passed the halfway mark peeps. It’s the perfect time to start watching, because stuff is gonna get crazy!

Foster leaned back in his chair and let loose a wolf howl, then looked at the bottom corner of his computer screen.

He couldn’t understand why nobody was watching. He’d hyped it like crazy all over social media, highlighting the fact he was doing a 24-hour live stream. With absolutely no breaks! With his headband cam, viewers could even follow him to the bathroom. Because he was going non-stop. There would be no secrets, no tricks, no gimmicks. He was the real deal.

In the discount bin of a nearby vintage shop, he found a bunch of old t-shirts with iron-ons from the eighties. He bought a dozen, deciding that would be his signature look. For launch day, he chose to wear the original Conan the Barbarian movie poster—a painting of some hot chick squatting beneath a vein-rippled Arnold Schwarzenegger before he got old. A good choice. It would appeal to both gamers and film buffs, and fans both young and old.

He’d followed the day’s plan to a tee.

Waking up at seven a.m., he showered then tossed back a protein shake alongside toast and scrambled eggs. Energy is essential when you’re about to do a marathon. After boiling a pot of chaga tea, he