Reviews from

Drowned World

Aliens encounter human invaders

18 total reviews 
Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose
Excellent
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Terrifying aliens you have created. I guess if the table was turned. Humans would do the sa.e. your story is very detailed. You have quite an imagination.

Humans are not good to other life forms either...it's shameful... at least in the movies, but who knows, maybe aliens walk among us.

Well done. You got my vote.

 Comment Written 31-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 01-Aug-2022
    Thank you, Gypsy :-). That was exactly how I started - by wondering, without any intelligent communication, how would we deal with a new species in this scenario. Then I flipped it so we were the new species. I wonder if a lot of how we perceive such Sci fi encounters is based on our own existing self-belief.
Comment from LJbutterfly
Excellent
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I'm spooked and have chills. This is why I never read Alien, Sci-Fi, or Fantasy tales. Now that I have, this is almost believable. I've enjoyed your descriptions and detail, and I am overjoyed your last word is "smiled." Very creative. Best wishes in the contest.

 Comment Written 31-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 31-Jul-2022
    Thank you :-). I'm so glad you liked it! This was a challenge to write but I was pleased with the result.
Comment from tempeste
Excellent
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Ciao!

You have 15 votes now.

I'm a sci fic nerd so and I found your story engaging.

I'm guessing that the Humans were not aware the planet was inhabited and the sea creatures were similar to Earth s , so when they were confronted with a formation of sea creatures they, out of fright, started shooting.

PS ( you mention they have gills and fins so I imagine the patrol squad are sentient sharks maybe and Phayron is a dolphin )

PS2(Not even amongst ourselves are we good at communicating.. )

These aquatic aliens don't lack in aggressiveness either though.. they didn't waste time slicing apart two barrans to see how they functioned and find any weak points to exploit against this intruder/enemy in case of an invasion.

I'm not so sure if it's was such a smart idea in the late 70s to send into space info about our species , our dna, and where we are ..

 Comment Written 31-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 31-Jul-2022
    Thanks so much :-). This was fun but challenging to write. I didn't see the dissection scene as necessarily aggressive - more dispassionate and practical. These beings certainly aren't soft and innocent, but I saw them as harmonious with themselves, and hence unused to direct violence. Our main character's burgeoning feelings, of course, are very aggressive. He is learning to hate from the human invaders.

    I'm so happy you liked it :-)
Comment from Paul McFarland
Excellent
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Very unique story and told very well. The story moves along smoothly, and the grammar seems to be right on. You should do quite well in the contest.

 Comment Written 30-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 31-Jul-2022
    Thanks, Paul. I'm really glad you liked it.
Comment from Sandra Nelms-Ludwig
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I have two 6's left and you get one. This was such a well-written story. The font size also made for easy reading. I went through a period in my life where Sci-Fi books were what I consumed weekly. Now this story would be one I would gladly read. This is a good foundation for another story. Well-done, and now I will vote for you. LOL

 Comment Written 30-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 31-Jul-2022
    Thanks so much, Sandra :-). I'm really glad you enjoyed this one. It was quite a challenge to write but I was pleased with the outcome. I liked the idea of total communication failure, and how we and another species might deal with it.
reply by Sandra Nelms-Ludwig on 31-Jul-2022
    You are welcome. Well, if from Earth, we try to kill those we don't understand.
Comment from GARY MACLEAN
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Well, I'm pleased you held the story to two gender variants at least. "They don't behave very evolved." Ain't it the truth. These aliens must have picked up a couple of Democrats, don't get defensive, just saying.

What a freaky tale, Remove the lower limbs, then the upper ones and just twist the head off? Yikes. I do not want to meet these guys.

Great tale, I'd love to see the movie.

 Comment Written 30-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 31-Jul-2022
    How dare you! lol, thanks Gary. I think how people perceive themselves is up to them, but you can't change your biology, and (barring extremely rare anomalies) we are clearly a two gender species. I wanted to see how a completely alien species, which we couldn't communicate with, might deal with us. Not good!
Comment from WLHall
Excellent
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I like this one the best. It held my attention throughout the story. Got my vote. The way you describe humans from the perspective of the real aliens was very creative. I actually like the gore. Brilliant to have the non humans under water. I could picture the prisoners in a sort of bubble. Humans see fish as being in an aquarium , the creatures see humans in a like way. Well done and good luck!

 Comment Written 30-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 31-Jul-2022
    Thank you :-). I started by imagining how we would deal with an aggressive underwater species that appeared on Earth, and flipped it. Without emotion, without self-awareness, I imagine we would just be a creature to be studied, like any other. I'm really happy you liked it.
reply by WLHall on 04-Aug-2022
    Mike, just the other day I was watching Turcker Carlson Today and he had this guest on who has been commissioned by the CIA to deeply investigate into the existence of UFOs. There are a lot of videos showing these coming out of the ocean using technology way more than we can understand. I thought of your story when he said that. Incredible! Are you working with the aliens?😏
reply by the author on 04-Aug-2022
    Hush, now - we mustn't let anybody realise we know ;-)
Comment from Bill Schott
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Drowned World is quite a unique and interesting story seeing invasion through the eyes of those being "visited" by aliens. I see the pains taken to keep Phayron and Gondar in character.

 Comment Written 30-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 31-Jul-2022
    Thanks so much, Bill :-). This was quite challenging to write but I'm really glad I stuck with it.
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
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Oh, dear! This is not the ending I suspected. I was feeling sorry for the Barrans, but that was misplaced. But our finned-friends know how to hate also, it appears, when faced with hatred itself. Perhaps the message here is that we're not built to live in peace - anywhere!

You've told a very engaging story, turning the usual invaders into victims. I also like that their world is like ours, but they live on it in a different way. Very creative.

Really enjoyed reading this and I think you have a great entry for this contest. Good luck.

Pam

 Comment Written 30-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 30-Jul-2022
    Thanks so much, Pam! This took me a while to write but I was pleased with the result in the end.
Comment from John Ciarmello
Excellent
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This is an excellent entry. I loved the prisoner aspect of it, which was super entertaining. It has a great storyline and a spectacular ending of wonder and extended thought. I wish you the best in the contest. Best JohnC.

 Comment Written 30-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 30-Jul-2022
    Thanks, John! I'm really glad you enjoyed it, my friend :-)