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Sujan Sundareswaran's avatar

This should be a new genre—“Raw, human sci-fi”.

Fantastic read!

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thank you, Sujan, I often wonder if my sci-fi is too sentimental, but I love the term you gave it! Thanks for reading and commenting.

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Sujan Sundareswaran's avatar

Ha, cheers!

Lots of people think that sci-fi means exploding spaceships and nasty aliens—I like to call that “surface-level sci-fi”—and they completely forget the real reason anyone ever wants to tell a story—the human aspect.

This, I think you do really well...hats off!

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

🤩🤩🤩

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Miriam Kresh's avatar

No way is your fiction too sentimental. The scenes of palpable human feelings in a sci-fi setting are why I enjoy reading your stories.

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thank you, Miriam, I greatly appreciate that!

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Meg Oolders's avatar

You ARE a romance head.

Loved this.

TBH. I wanted it to end with "end transmission." I was both teary and eyed and satisfied at that point.

I didn't need the rest of it. But that's just one take on an awesome story.

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thanks, Meg! I ended it that way in my first draft, and was going to publish it that way, and then I went on a walk, my brain started working, and the second piece popped in my head. I'm glad to have received your feedback. 😁

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Tom Pendergast's avatar

Agreed with Meg on the ending. I didn’t need the “coda.”

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Gah, still learning to trust that instinct! But I'm really happy you both let me know. That kind of feedback is very helpful.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

I found myself reading faster just to see what happened. Superb Brian!

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thanks, Jim, I'm glad it's because you were excited to read, and it wasn't one of "Ugh, when will this ever end!" 🤣

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Joleen’s Readings And Writings's avatar

Great story! I found it more mysterious if u stopped at “end transmission”. But I also like the last section as it allowed for more possibility for more... is he dead or not? Will he find Prudence again? Thank you for this read !

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thank you for reading, Joleen, and thank you for the additional feedback! It really helps me improve as an author.

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Simon K Jones's avatar

A fascinating, small, human story that then hints at something much larger in the conclusion.

Any plans for a follow-up, Brian? :)

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thanks, Simon! No plans right now, but I'll never say never. 😁

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Tom Pendergast's avatar

Oh man, Brian, that was such a sweet story! I didn’t know you had this kind of soft spot ... Well done.

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thanks Tom! I'm definitely the softy in our family. A hard chocolate exterior with a caramel center.

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Sunny Hochberg's avatar

Great story, Brian! I listened as I took my walk and it was riveting! I find myself wondering (hoping) if there will be a sequel to let us know what happened to him!

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thank you so much, Shielagh! How exciting that you're listening while on an activity. I love that! The audio reader for Substack really is great. I like to leave a little up to the imagination of the reader on some of my stories, but I think there's one version where he could make it back to Prudence... or, some version of him makes it back. 😁

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Sunny Hochberg's avatar

Either sounds intriguing!

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Redd Oscar's avatar

Full of heart. Great read.

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thank you, I appreciate that!

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May 31, 2023
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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thank you, Peter, I appreciate your feedback, and I love a good multi layered story!

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