The ideas of him giving gift baskets was so weird, and so right. What an ass. Many people will be horrified at what happened to him, but he will not be missed. Come to think of it there is one man I would love to see with an exploding head. He, too, would not be missed. But that's a different story. Nice work, Clancy.
I actually stole that idea from a real life NY Post rumor that Derek Jeter did the same! It always seemed to me like the epitome of jerk. Thanks for reading Sharron!
Damn, loved this one! I saw your note the other day that mentioned your next piece would be in the sci-fi vein and I was curious as to how that would come out. I'm admittedly not much of a sci-fi guy, but this pulled me right in, and the pay off was glorious. The concept of the talk show is such a weird modern take on what human interaction is, and I just love how you pulled this all together.
Thanks Bob! Yeah, I don’t usually do sci-fi. But when I do, it’s not too “hard sci-fi”. Like this one was only really sci-fi at the beginning and end. But I really enjoyed writing it.
Bravo! More than once I caught myself smiling at the wordplay while cringing at his behavior. [it’s a special facial contortion I just picked up]. And…whammo! Couldn’t have happened to a nicer fella.
After the unveiling at the end, I immediately went back to the beginning. It was then that nimbleness of the writing knocked my socks off. Somewhere in here you commented that only the beginning and end were sci-fi; after I considered that fact, I marveled even more. This piece double crosses the reader with a triple twist. By the time of the explosion the reader really doesn’t mind so much that this guy gets his due. The first two twists, the gift basket is a twister, the exploding alien is the second, and then the third is the return to the beginning like a cat chasing its tail. That second pass through the third twist makes the ice cubes in the spine and the chrome sky super salient. Beautifully done!
Loved this, and having just seen Colbert on the Late Show yesterday, it now makes me wonder who was really pulling the levers. Your character development is always really quick and solid. The surprise at the end was out of this world.
The ideas of him giving gift baskets was so weird, and so right. What an ass. Many people will be horrified at what happened to him, but he will not be missed. Come to think of it there is one man I would love to see with an exploding head. He, too, would not be missed. But that's a different story. Nice work, Clancy.
I actually stole that idea from a real life NY Post rumor that Derek Jeter did the same! It always seemed to me like the epitome of jerk. Thanks for reading Sharron!
Loved this! Imagined Jimmy Fallon the whole time. Loved the gift basket as a shitty attempt to fill the void felt after being thrown out
Damn, loved this one! I saw your note the other day that mentioned your next piece would be in the sci-fi vein and I was curious as to how that would come out. I'm admittedly not much of a sci-fi guy, but this pulled me right in, and the pay off was glorious. The concept of the talk show is such a weird modern take on what human interaction is, and I just love how you pulled this all together.
Thanks Bob! Yeah, I don’t usually do sci-fi. But when I do, it’s not too “hard sci-fi”. Like this one was only really sci-fi at the beginning and end. But I really enjoyed writing it.
This is The Boys level of craziness! I absolutely adored it!
Wow I hadn’t even thought of The Boys but I have seen it, that definitely influenced me in terms of gore haha! Thanks for reading Andrei
Bravo! More than once I caught myself smiling at the wordplay while cringing at his behavior. [it’s a special facial contortion I just picked up]. And…whammo! Couldn’t have happened to a nicer fella.
Thanks Mr. Curtis!
This would make for an epic opening sequence to an alien invasion film.
I also appreciate the interesting blend of horror and comedy. To be disturbed and laughing simultaneously- well done.
Thanks CM!
Yeah, like people all over are getting inserted with aliens to host. You're totally right haha.
Came back to reread this. Enjoyed it even more!
I can’t believe anyone would read my work twice. Thanks PW. When’s your fiction coming out???
After the unveiling at the end, I immediately went back to the beginning. It was then that nimbleness of the writing knocked my socks off. Somewhere in here you commented that only the beginning and end were sci-fi; after I considered that fact, I marveled even more. This piece double crosses the reader with a triple twist. By the time of the explosion the reader really doesn’t mind so much that this guy gets his due. The first two twists, the gift basket is a twister, the exploding alien is the second, and then the third is the return to the beginning like a cat chasing its tail. That second pass through the third twist makes the ice cubes in the spine and the chrome sky super salient. Beautifully done!
Wow, what a great comment. This totally made my day. Thank you so much for reading, Terry!
Excellent short story. Well crafted, and weird in all the right ways. When he sniffs her fingers - LOL.
Thanks Sean. Def a weird one, but fun to write.
"hoping someday he would be someone worthy of abduction"...
There's a wild (and shamefully relatable) vibe!
Ain’t it though? Thanks for reading, JJ!
Thanks for writing! Keep it up, my friend!
This made my butthole pucker.
Mine’s sore just reading it again.
Loved this, and having just seen Colbert on the Late Show yesterday, it now makes me wonder who was really pulling the levers. Your character development is always really quick and solid. The surprise at the end was out of this world.
Thanks Bryan. I really wanted to make him a character you wouldn’t mind seeing explode at the end!
Mission accomplished!