This should be an easy one to answer. I was reading a story about an alien who crashed in Kansas, becomes a high school football hero, goes to Stanford, buys Stanford because of the wealth he has generated from inventions, becomes the Guardian of Earth, etc. etc. Unfortunately, I haven't been on in a while and the story has recently concluded but I can't remember the name so I can read the final chapters. Any help is appreciated.
All three stories by Refusenik are excellent. Wish he'd write more. I could easily see how sequels to Island Mine and the Human Man stories could come about.
I really don't think either story arc could be continued without straining things.
I would rather he spend the effort to come up with another story or two of comparable quality.
I would rather he spend the effort to come up with another story or two of comparable quality.
Fully agree.
I respectfully disagree. I think "Island Mine" screams for a sequel. I've written to Refusenik several times suggesting that but have never heard back.
A sequel would have very little in common with the original. The protagonist and the source or his "powers" would persist, but the other characters are all dead and he's given up on earth.
I agree that most of the original characters are dead but wouldn't you like to know more about how Waylon Eckermann made it to Mars and what he has done there? What about the girlfriend's parents and little sister in Australia? They now have a protection robot (for lack of a better word) and know all about Waylon's abilities because Waylon told the robot to reveal himself. And finally wouldn't you like to hear more about Admiral Arnold? I think he and Waylon could become friends of a sort.
My take on Island Mine is that Waylon, being a human being (and therefore a social animal) will need human contact and interaction. How, and on what terms, would he be able to make that happen? And how would governments feel about that if they were to find out?
As to Human Man, the material at the very end of the book indicates that Scott may not have lost his powers at all; perhaps he just can't consciously access them anymore. Couple that with a likely wedding and Janie moving in to Scott's apartment (and likely resuming college there), who knows what might happen. Frankly, Scott not getting encouraged to serve his community in some capacity by his adult friends, seems a waste. I could see him becoming involved in governance in some capacity, while at the same time hating the politics of it (or at least having to deal with politics).
By the way, the best definition I have ever found for politics is, "the pursuit or exercise of power with respect to matters of governance."
Actually, Red didn't touch the ring after the scratch was noticed. The only thing that happened was that Scott rubbed it with his finger. And the second-to-last line of the story reads, "He couldn't see that the scratch had disappeared."
You are correct(I looked it up), but I would have put money on Red licking the ring in that paragraph's area.
I still believe that Red is the one that removed the scrtch. He is the one with the powers now - remember the elevator example.
If Red now is the only one with powers, who says they have to work exactly like Scott's did?
On the other hand, what if Scott retains his powers - just can't consciously use them. His subconscious mind would only use his powers in certain cases.