Second Suicide: A Short Story (Kindle Single) (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
This short story was a great read and really cool! It was not what I was expecting. It's hard to know what to expect with a title like Second Suicide. What the heck could that mean? And why would I want to read about suicide anyway? You'll find out if you read this book. It was written in first person through the eyes of a character who has tentacles. Yep, you just read that right - tentacles. He is an alien who is in a spaceship headed for a planet that he and his kind are going to try and take over. It is amazing how easily you find yourself quickly relating to this character even though he is an alien with long slimy appendages. He thinks like you do, plays cards, uses the toilet, fights, and researches. He learns of the cultures that he and his fellow aliens are heading towards to take over.I'll let you read the story to discover what the title's meaning is all about but let's just say it's a very intriguing idea. You may rethink suicide, not for us humans but for the characters in the story once you learn of their society and circumstances.Somehow this is a huge story and at the same time a very small story. Its first person narrative draws you in and you feel for the main character right away. I wanted to know how he felt about his situation and what was going to happen to him. I also wanted to know about his spaceship, what it was going to do, and what his entire alien race was going to do. Howey gives you just enough information to keep you satisfied as you read. You get little snippets and snapshots of information about the aliens and their past. So you're learning about one being's life and the massive race he belongs to as they fly through space ready to try and conquer another world among many.I thought the character and point of view of the story were very inventive and it was really cool reading a story where the protagonist is an alien so different from me physically and yet very relatable and likable. I was very pleasantly surprised by this intriguing science fiction story. You will be too. I bought this on a whim, the 99 cent price was great for that. It's a short story about an alien invasion except it's told by the aliens.It's funny with some aliens who would fit in very well in South Park. There's a mystery surrounding the prep for an invasion and a suicide of an alien which causes the protagonist to be transferred to a new position just 8 days before the career making invasion begins.Hugh has a great sense of the absurd as well as humor and also crafted a great tale. Well worth the read.
What do You think about Second Suicide: A Short Story (Kindle Single) (2014)?
An awesome little story from a very cool perspective. Howie's genius shows again!
—zadruga
An interesting short story. Made me wish there was a little more.
—lauralee123
Awesome short story, I'm amazed at Howey's writing talent.
—breemcclellandd
