
'All that I am' - 2015
A short story by Dennis Lowery
'All that I am' is a short sci.fi story written by US-based (Florida, Jacksonville) author and publisher Dennis Lowery and it is currently available over at Amazon.
What I read, and what I am reviewing is a properly finished encapsulated short story per se, but also in many ways still a work in progress title, and seed - with a strong potential for a full-length book, or even multiple books spanning this universe further down the road. Depending of course on exactly where Dennis take his promising start.
It is a character driven science fiction saga with it´s strong points being by far the emotional and genuine presence of the ordinary everyday life characters that inhabits this world. There is to the point, and swift, brutal action too, but the story neither lingers on the violence and action nor does it make it the focal point of its storytelling. It is more like a suitable additional filling in your carefully constructed Friday evening sandwich :).
There isn't that many pages written yet, but what there is I enjoyed once Dennis ventured beyond the first chapters sci.fi techno terms. Which was in no way badly written, just the weakest part of this promising beginning. In the end what I want is even more. More pages, more of the main characters, more of the obviously large backstory, more of what is to come. More of the protagonists, more of the other worlds and colonies, more on life on Earth, the occupation, pre and post. Yes, I want more and if you like character driven science fiction, than I am positive that you will want to see more of this story too :).
music of the day while you are reading my article
Beautiful with you by Halestorm
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My Verdict
short and sweet
My verdict is as short as it is sweet. As it is, this is a 3 out of 5 stars short story. Due to the obvious work in progress nature of the copy which I sat down with. The potential for so much more is there, in scope and quality, and that is what I would like to see. And if you do read this short story that for most of the part takes place in a realistic and real life grounded present day Earth, that is what I am certain that you too will feel, the verdict for me, is a clear "give us a full-length book Dennis" :).
For full disclosure, I feel that I have to point out that I am a creative acquaintance of Dennis, that however have not in any way kept me from giving an honest read and review of this still developing short story, nor did Dennis ask me to give him any favours, in fact, he requested that I would do it in my usual "this is just how it is" way.
Beyond the real life grounded, present day Earth setting, the sci.fi parts comes from the fact that humanity is just one of many oldish colonies, seeded by another advanced humanoid race, of which we humans have seemingly all completely forgot everything about. And when the short story kicks off, that race seems to be entangled in a fight for it´s very survival, a fight that starts off far away in another galaxy (no pun intended Disney) and rapidly pulls Earth, it´s entire global population and our main characters into it´s very real claws. The story gives you the reader a proper start and closure, but also a clear foundation for future books and stories to continue the story arch - both pre and post the original short story.
Writer and photography
Michael A Koontz
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Photography by Mike Koontz
All That I am by Dennis Lowery
And for the curious of you, a short quote from Dennis sci.fi story 'All that I am'. But first, what I originally told Dennis once I had read this short story for the first time.
"I really liked it and it especially hit it's stride once you toned down the Sci Fi techno terms from the first chapter. The humanness in it, the small touches and grounded everyday people, their little things, doings and feelings is what sold me. The swift action itself was made the stronger because of the moshy stuff, and vice versa, a very well balanced story - a little Game of Thrones'esque in that regard."
October 31, 2012 - The house
The old Woman smoothed long, still glossy, hair away from the woman´s face. Cradling her head, she gave it two more strokes then set the brush aside.
She awkwardly slid from under her; lifting the head from her lap and setting it gently on the pillow.
Although she knew the woman would not wake - she never had.
Read more, or buy this short book by Dennis at Dennis Lowery at Amazon or Dennis personal website
This Book in Numbers | |
38 pages | |
Price: 1 US$ | |
Character driven Science Fiction | |
Time to read less than 1 hour | |

Book cover 'All that I am'
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