Let me preface my comments on this story by telling you a little bit about me for starters.
Firstly, my personality type (under one system anyway,) is known as a ?Peacemaker?. My ?type? prefers an amenable, relatively stress free lifestyle. It also abhors the concept of mindless violence.
Secondly, if I am going to comment on someone else?s work, I always try to do so in a positive manner. I don?t believe I have the life experience, imagination, skill, or perseverance to craft the sort of high quality stories hosted on this site. And, if I can?t write stories like these, what right do I have to be critical of those that do.
Finally, I am definitely a ?tad? on the romantic side. I can?t help it ? I like a happy ending <g>. I can still read stories that end tragically, but they would never be my first choice. When Josh asked me to help him with editing ?The Least Of These?, it was conditional to it having a happy ending. I didn?t want the risk of another ?Sea Change? ? happy tears are always preferable to sad ones.
So, what did I think of ?One Life?? Ryan is a very talented writer; there can be no doubt about that. It is a beautifully crafted and well written story. And there is no doubt the story was crafted to achieve maximum shock value.
So why do I feel ?cheated?? Probably because it was so well crafted. From the beginning of the final chapter the villain was ?effectively? excised from the storyline. His son wanted nothing to do with him, his wife disowned him, and the story concentrated on the remarkable love between these two young men. And then, at the height of their joy, at the most remarkable time in their two young lives, he suddenly reappears to snuff out their future, to totally destroy their lives and the lives of those closest to them.
Did the epilogue redeem the story? To a degree it did. The outlook for Tyler was at least positive ? he had managed to move on. But, to me, it still left unanswered questions. How and where did Jordan appear in Tyler?s life? Does Tyler have a partner? If not, can a young man without a partner legally take responsibility for the life of a young child? Maybe I just want to ?know? too much <g>.
So, on the one hand, I say congratulations Ryan on a well crafted, provocative, and challenging story. On the other hand I?d say, why couldn?t you have prepared us for the grieving we were about to experience by retaining the menace of Tyler?s father during the final chapter? Or, alternatively, why couldn?t you have allowed Jaylin to fully recover, after a long battle for his life, to fulfil his future with Tyler?
See, I?m a romantic <g>. I also hate the thought that mindless violence is the victor. No doubt it is the reality for some, but I read predominantly to escape that reality, not to have it rammed down my throat. On a more positive note, you?ve promised never to do something like that again ? thank heaven for that, I couldn?t handle it <g>.
Regards
