Official Review: Out of Control: Slow Death of the Soul
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Official Review: Out of Control: Slow Death of the Soul
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Out of Control: Slow Death of the Soul" by Paul Little.]
Out of Control: Slow Death of the Soul is a fictional short story by Paul Little which takes an abstractedly philosophical look at the technological age we live in, and furthermore questions our purpose in life. The author has already published several short stories which also dissect different parts of humanity. This particular story is consistent with the authors original style and is extremely fast paced.
It chronicles the life of a young man named Eric and the story goes through his life from his youth through to fatherhood and beyond. Written in first person it is engaging, and with a smattering of questions to the viewer creates an interactive experience.
While it is a short story, the author manages to make mundane tasks seem exciting, bringing inanimate objects like aeroplanes and trains to life. In this sense it gives a new perspective on things that many people take for granted in today's society. The protagonist at one stage talks about his fear of flying and appropriately gives a very disgruntled description of his flying experience. Of particular interest was how the fear of the character was reflected in his hyperacute description of the flight.
Over time, the protagonist matures. He has a child and continues on with his daily life. Later on in the story he goes on another flight but see it in a more positive light. It cuts up the normal tasks of his days. The philosophical parts of the story when Eric reflects on his daily tasks and the situations he finds himself in are very direct: the questions are given out in a rapid-fire sequence, there is no long-winded discussion of what the meaning of life is and neither are the questions so superficial that it loses its deeper meaning. There is a poem in the middle of the story which is presumably written by Eric and this leads for further characterization.
Overall it was quite a good read and I give it a 3 out of 4 stars. The sudden shifts in tense and tempo make sure that the reader is on their toes. It does not lend itself to someone who is looking for something to casually flip through for a thrill or a feel-good story. However it does give a good insight into Eric's character but the author does not tell us what he looks like and there is little description of the man's surroundings. We never really get to know the other important people in his life but this story is all about Eric and his outlook on life. The author is forcing us to make all the connections, giving the story an intellectual element. I would recommend this for anyone who is looking for a fast-paced read with a philosophical twist to it.
***
Buy "Out of Control: Slow Death of the Soul" on Amazon
Out of Control: Slow Death of the Soul is a fictional short story by Paul Little which takes an abstractedly philosophical look at the technological age we live in, and furthermore questions our purpose in life. The author has already published several short stories which also dissect different parts of humanity. This particular story is consistent with the authors original style and is extremely fast paced.
It chronicles the life of a young man named Eric and the story goes through his life from his youth through to fatherhood and beyond. Written in first person it is engaging, and with a smattering of questions to the viewer creates an interactive experience.
While it is a short story, the author manages to make mundane tasks seem exciting, bringing inanimate objects like aeroplanes and trains to life. In this sense it gives a new perspective on things that many people take for granted in today's society. The protagonist at one stage talks about his fear of flying and appropriately gives a very disgruntled description of his flying experience. Of particular interest was how the fear of the character was reflected in his hyperacute description of the flight.
Over time, the protagonist matures. He has a child and continues on with his daily life. Later on in the story he goes on another flight but see it in a more positive light. It cuts up the normal tasks of his days. The philosophical parts of the story when Eric reflects on his daily tasks and the situations he finds himself in are very direct: the questions are given out in a rapid-fire sequence, there is no long-winded discussion of what the meaning of life is and neither are the questions so superficial that it loses its deeper meaning. There is a poem in the middle of the story which is presumably written by Eric and this leads for further characterization.
Overall it was quite a good read and I give it a 3 out of 4 stars. The sudden shifts in tense and tempo make sure that the reader is on their toes. It does not lend itself to someone who is looking for something to casually flip through for a thrill or a feel-good story. However it does give a good insight into Eric's character but the author does not tell us what he looks like and there is little description of the man's surroundings. We never really get to know the other important people in his life but this story is all about Eric and his outlook on life. The author is forcing us to make all the connections, giving the story an intellectual element. I would recommend this for anyone who is looking for a fast-paced read with a philosophical twist to it.
***
Buy "Out of Control: Slow Death of the Soul" on Amazon
Latest Review: "A Wandering Warrior" by Harry E. Gilleland, Jr
