Reviewed by: BigAl
Genre: Science Fiction/Short Story
Approximate word count: 3-4,000 words
Availability
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on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or
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Author:
Alain Gomez
mostly makes her living in the field of music, but has also had a passion for
writing since her teens. She’s written a novella and numerous short stories in
several genres that are available for your favorite eReader. Gomez also blogs
at Book Brouhaha.
Description:
“Set in the
not too distant future, Dan Cooper hopes that his new job at the spaceport will
allow him to get his life back on track. While taking passengers to the space
hotel ‘Moonwalk,’ a collision with an unknown object threatens to bring his
dreams... and possibly his life... to a screeching halt.”
Appraisal:
In the last
year, I’ve read a lot of short fiction, from novelettes down to collections of
“drabbles” (100 word flash fiction stories). Judging works of different lengths
was difficult until I realized the same rules applied. While more focused, to
make a good read, shorter works require the same elements as a novel, only
less. You need enough characterization to understand the motivations, history,
and personality of the character for the specific story. Too much detail is
bad, just like trying to give too much detail about a character in a novel. The
same concept applies to plot or any other story element we might think of.
This story
hit the mark. We learn a lot about Dan Cooper, the protagonist, because as the
main character and narrator we need to understand him the most. Gomez fills us
in on life events that brought him to his situation as the story starts. We
understand his motivations and why he reacts the way he does. The minor
characters we get to know just enough, but not too much. The plot is tightly
focused and appropriate for the length. Last, there is a twist at the end,
which I especially appreciate in short fiction.
Format/Typo Issues:
No
significant issues.
Rating: **** Four stars
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