Review: A good start for a longer work?
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 13, 2011
(From my blog, Word Vagabond: Reviews of Independent and Small Press Books.  [...] )When the rebel-hunter Pyke chases a teenage girl into a dark alley, he expects to have a bit of fun before turning her over to his alien masters.  What he finds will turn his world inside-out.This short story by geek icon Wil Wheaton feels like the preface to something larger.  The exposition is handled beautifully, setting the atmosphere of a world under siege in a few words, without feeling clunky.  While this story is strong enough to stand alone, I would be very interested in a reading a novel-length work in this world.Although his descriptions are definitely a strong point, Wheaton's characters are intriguing as well, particularly Nina.  I did find the main character's evolution a bit less than convincing, though.  For most of his life, Pyke is himself a resistance fighter, and then one day suddenly decides it's more practical to work for the enemy.  There's certainly a streak of sadism involved in his decision, but mention of a precipitating event might have given the character more depth.I really enjoyed this piece, and I hope it will be followed up by many more!