My First Review

This review was written by Sean Stubblefield

(Please also read my opinion after the review)

BRIEF SYNOPSIS (spoiler free): A woman is granted what seem to be magical abilities, in preparation for a coming time of crisis. Abilities that will prove to be her family’s legacy. 

PROS: The basic story, though flawed and awkwardly composed, is interesting and conceptually solid. I especially like how the magical aspects are normalized and secondary-- kept in the background as a B Plot within what is primarily an old school detective story.

At first glance, I was perturbed by the crudeness of language. Not vulgar or profane (although there is minor profanity), but very simplistic and written at maybe a third grade level.

But then during chapter 3, I realized "the language, style and tone resemble the kind used for stories in pulp magazine up until the `60s. Not only in the aesthetic style, but the characters` Gee Whiz mannerisms and speech are indicative of fiction from 1950. If this effect or approach was intentional, then that is a daring and brilliant creative choice-- and should / could be used as a selling point. It would be a hard sell for today’s audience, but it has a charming nostalgic or historic quality that may enhance the book’s appeal. Sometimes, it almost has a Young Adult vibe (this could also be a bad thing, depending on POV).

The Silver is the first of a planned trilogy, and might be treated as an origin story for an alternative kind of super hero.

CONS:

Unfortunately, the author confesses the old pulp style is accidental was not an intentional gimmick. This just makes it seem badly written and poorly edited.

Even accepting the stylized pulp mag approach, that writing style from a previous era can be difficult to relate to by today’s standards, today’s readers. Also, even excusing that, the writing could still use a lot of adjustment to refine the pacing, flow and sentence structure. Not to mention development of various narrative aspects. Many elements could use more elaboration or explanation, and further re-conceptualization (in my opinion).

RECOMMENDATION: Despite the clumsiness of composition, the story itself is not bad.  

If you engage the story as being told in the old pulp magazine style (as I did), you might find The Silver appealing. Assuming you like that sort of thing.

The Authors Opinion

I have posted this review as I will post every review I get, good or bad. This one is both unfortunately. I do agree with some of what Mr. Stubblefields says here, and not just the complimentary parts. I have learned a few things about my writing from what he says.

I disagree with some of what he says also. The first thing I believe is that he over complicates it. While I do believe there is such a thing as a style of writing. To suggest the book is written at a third grade level is insulting to say the least. That is his opinion and I will respect it as that and that alone. I don’t have to agree with it to respect it. I worked very hard to make the story flow as best I could. My publisher told me there are abrupt scene changes throughout the story. That was intentional because I didn’t want the reader to be bored with the boring things that occur in everyone’s life. Those parts are meant to be inferred rather than actually written about. Let’s face it there are boring parts of everyone’s life. I intentional didn’t put those in.

He said the book was written in a fifties ‘pulp fiction’ style. I did tell him it was accidentally written that way as I wasn’t aware there was a fifties pulp fiction style per say. You have to realize I have never taken any writing courses. I just have stories in my head I want to write. I define my writing as a story, that’s it. I fail to see why it has to be complicated and dissected to the point that Mr. Stubblefield did. Sometimes a story is just a story, you know what I mean. While I realize that not everyone will like my story. Like it or don’t like it just because you do or you don’t like it. Take it for what it is, without dissecting it.

I also want to address the ‘Gee Whiz’ factor he alluded to. Hopefully I am not revealing too much when I say this story is about the emergence of a new kind of superhero. This was intentional also. You have to understand that my intention is to write three books to fully tell the complete story. This book is the first third of the story. I intended this book to the beginning of the overall story and the ending to this part of the story only. I wish to site examples of this very thing. The great Stan Lee wrote “Spiderman”. Remember Spiderman wasn’t always Spiderman; he started out as Peter Parker, a bright and bungling college kid who supported himself as a photographer. While Superman was an alien sent to earth and had his powers from the start. He spent his youth on a farm in Smallville as just another high school kid named Clark Kent. In both of these examples there is a ‘gee whiz’ part of the story. Also we must understand that in both of these examples the hero didn’t become a hero just because of some magic power. They had regular people, there families, to help them in the emergence of the hero inside. That was my intention in writing the first book of my story. I realize I probably revealed too much but I feel it is necessary in this case.

In closing, I just want to say I don’t write stories about some far away galaxy filled with alien characters. I realize that those kinds of stories are entertaining; I just choose to write my story on earth with characters that are human. If that makes my story old school then so be it. If my story is in a pulp fiction style I can’t help that. I believe in the style I write. Accept it or not it is totally up to you. I believe there is an audience for this style of writing. All things old can become new again. I want to thank you for reading my opinion.

R. L. Harlan