36 Comments
User's avatar
The Transom's avatar

This is a great line

"Countless choices made for the choiceless, you and me, the choiceless who are always first to die."

Lancelot Schaubert's avatar

Why don't presidents fight the war? Why do they always send the poor?

AZALI Bol's avatar

Who are always alive... per say.

Nick Winney's avatar

Hits all my spots...dystopian post alien invasion. gritty atmosphere runs through it. obviously want a whole novel if this please.

Doug's avatar

This is excellent. Is there more available?

Consider self publishing a full novel. Ever read ‘The Last Tribe’ by Brad Manuel? He did it and so can you. Carry on.

Michael McSweeney's avatar

Thank you! It's something I am considering for sure

Bill Wonka's avatar

BTW, Manuel’s book contains many chapters that take place in Boston and surrounding area.

Alice M.'s avatar

this is fabulous

Tiffany Hodson's avatar

I love how this drops us into the rubble of a seemingly-unfixable afterwards, then leaves us to grapple with the complexity of a moral-immorality.

Where other commenters want more writing, it’s the detached & numb rationality vs. the unregulated emotional volatility that makes this a perfect stopping point for me. The just-right conclusion where we begin to understand the invasion, the invaders, and the victims…. while also questioning if, perhaps, the victims include more than just earthlings.

I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time! Thanks for writing and sharing!

Michael McSweeney's avatar

Thank you, Tiffany, feels like you saw the wavelength I was reaching for. Means a lot

Beatrice Sloan's avatar

So well done. More please!

Michael McSweeney's avatar

Thank you! There might be more coming on this

troy adkins's avatar

fantastic work, brother. will be reading more

Michael McSweeney's avatar

Thanks man, I really appreciate that

Raya's avatar

This is so good! Never read anything like this before, in a good way. Your narration has such a nice rhythm and tone, well done!

Michael McSweeney's avatar

Thank you! V glad you liked it

kyle r seibel's avatar

Remarkable, friend. Achieved something significant here, I believe.

Michael McSweeney's avatar

Thanks man, this means a very great deal coming from you

Cyril W Wyche's avatar

Well written creative piece. I enjoyed reading it.

Michael McSweeney's avatar

Thank you for reading!

Erichka's avatar

You did such a great job with the protagonist's inner monologue. It maintained his matter-of-fact journalistic viewpoint but added a subtle layer of emotion and reflection that really elevated not only the character but the piece overall. That last scene with the invader was 10/10. Really terrific work!

Michael McSweeney's avatar

Thank you, I'm a fan of your work so this means a lot

Dave Mantese's avatar

Really nicely written - great language and economy. I think I see Cormac McCarthy and Vonnegut lurking around in there somewhere, though maybe you won't take that as a compliment depending on your tastes haha.

Would like to know how Connecticut made out. Hartford could use an overhaul anyway...

Michael McSweeney's avatar

Thanks for reading Dave, much appreciated. As for Connecticut, more on that soon perhaps…

kieran staunton's avatar

Like, it. This is HG Wells terrirory, a dystopia for our times.

Perhaps the invader is AI?!

آئین's avatar

Lol

Michael del Castillo's avatar

I love this started as a dream. I can almost see you writing it. Would love to see the dreamer become a character!

Julie Campbell's avatar

That was very depressing and the last bit shows how inhumane humans can become.