Into the Heart of the Labyrinth
In Burning Bright, S.M. Thygesen doesn’t just write a sci-fi thriller—he invites readers into a chilling psychological maze. The story follows Gabriel, Simon, and Marcus—three brilliant minds recruited by the mysterious Australian research firm, Myriad Arc. These aren’t your everyday hires. They’re imaginative, sharp, and just morally ambiguous enough to be ideal candidates for work that demands forgetting.
Myriad Arc promises prestige and a generous paycheck, but there’s a catch: employees must submit to a memory management system involving eerie, special lights deep within the company’s lower laboratories. The lights do more than manage memory—they distort it. While workers forget their actions in the labs after each day, the lights unlock everything again the next time they return. But over time, these lights begin to trigger more than just scientific recollections—they peel back layers of repression, unleashing hidden corners of the mind that were never meant to be explored.
As Gabriel, Simon, and Marcus get further entangled in the experiment, the true cost of their brilliance emerges. Without judgment, oversight, or memory, who do they become? And more importantly—what part of themselves will they have to face when all the barriers fall away?
Science Meets Existential Terror
Thygesen’s debut novel doesn’t shy away from weighty questions. This isn’t just about government secrets or corporate greed—it’s about identity, ethics, and the invisible boundaries we build inside ourselves. Burning Bright explores what happens when people are given complete freedom, stripped of consequences, and let loose in the dark depths of their own consciousness.
The lab becomes more than a workspace—it’s a mirror reflecting their inner chaos. Myriad Arc may have thought they were installing a security protocol. What they’ve created, instead, is a psychological minefield. With no memory of what they’ve done and no moral anchor to guide them, employees gradually mutate into rawer, more volatile versions of themselves.
And then comes the confrontation—one not just between coworkers, but within themselves. When memory returns, and with it all the buried emotions and truths, the fallout is staggering. The novel pulses with philosophical tension, emotional grit, and suspense that tightens with every chapter.
From Finance to Fiction—Thygesen’s Journey
S.M. Thygesen’s road to authorship isn’t typical. A full-time finance professional from Denmark, Thygesen holds a Master’s in economics and business administration from Copenhagen Business School. He spends his days navigating the solid, structured world of financial analysis at a media company. But behind the spreadsheets lives a passionate creator, whose childhood was steeped in the cinematic visions of Spielberg and Lucas.
Burning Bright began nearly 20 years ago as a screenplay—born during the time he once considered film school. Over countless Sunday afternoons and spare hours, he slowly transformed that script into a novel. It’s a testament to the creative spark that refuses to die, even in the busiest lives.
For Thygesen, creativity isn’t a side note—it’s a parallel track. By structuring his free time around clear goals and realistic timelines, he’s carved out a path many dream of but few pursue. His approach offers a powerful reminder: passion doesn’t have to wait for a career break. It can coexist—if nurtured intentionally and patiently.
Inspiration for the Side-Hustle Generation
Thygesen’s debut novel isn’t just a work of fiction—it’s also a quiet call to action. He’s not selling a fantasy of overnight success. He’s living proof that with a structured plan, a passion project can thrive—even in the margins of a full-time career.
For anyone stuck in the monotony of a nine-to-five but aching to create—this story and its author offer both entertainment and inspiration. Burning Bright might be a psychological thriller, but its very existence is also a love letter to slow-burning ambition and creative persistence.
Through the surreal corridors of memory loss and moral ambiguity, Thygesen delivers more than just twists and suspense. He delivers a message: your passion doesn’t need permission. It just needs time, belief, and a little fire to keep it burning bright.