AuthorsDen: Reviews at a Glance

Recent Reviews for Alex Drinkwater, Jr.

In the Name of the Sun (Book) - 11/17/2008 4:35:05 AM
Hi Alex -- (No, you aren't going to like this.) I couldn't get through four pages. What is the quotation mark doing in your first sentence of the description of your piece? Within 3 to 4 pages, we have: Sullivan, Castello, Shapiro, Fielder, Teng, Lieutenant, Captain, General, Zraqad. We also have alot of "shit," "fuck," upstairs, downstairs, and some techno jargon not essentially explained. I believe that if I have to run to the dictionary within the first four lines, to look up an antiquated expression such as "copasetic," (copacetic), trouble is brewing. And then to see you spell sonofabitch as "sunovabitch" -- does not quickly become endearing. Your lead-in: "Having A Blast in Orbit..." brings connotations of a light, breezy nature. We are barely in, and castrophe strikes. But it isn't "felt." (With pronouncements, nonetheless.) And then "Jim, get those people into Module Four! NOW!" -- would be a little more exciting than an afterthought trailing along with a lackadaisical "If anyone's left after decompression." You also look like you are trying to write a screenplay, and not a novel. If a screenplay, you'll have to pare the dialogue. If a novel, it would be nice to have something going in the way of descriptions. What does this place look like, the people? Are they blue-eyed, red haired, fat, ugly, or just names? I think I've gone far enough. You may have a fine record of technical writing behind you, but I would suggest honing your craft a bit more before considering publishing. I'm no expert, nor fount of wisdom, nor literary genius. I know what I like. I know good writing when I see it. And I think I have probably hurt your feelings, but one sometimes needs the shake-up, to reconsider and evaluate what is happening. I'm doing this in a spirit of constructive criticism; I have no axes to grind, nor do I delight in being harshly judgmental. But this was not (to me) something I'd wish to pursue... and I am part of your prospective audience. Best wishes, Rick A.

The Ghosts of Hanoi (Book) - 11/8/2008 1:59:44 AM
Good luck with your book

The Ghosts of Hanoi (Book) - 7/28/2007 7:24:25 AM
Alex, I am mesmerized by the plot and I believe you got a winner here---just need to get it in front of the right set of eyes. I plan to go to Hanoi in a few months myself and visit the "Hilton" Best to you--- Aloha, Myles in the Desert

The Ghosts of Hanoi (Book) - 6/21/2006 3:58:18 AM
Dear Alex; I got angrier, by the sentence, reading this. President Bush (elder) declared America "healed" of the Vietnam war experience. As long as one vet remains alive, that will continue to be a load of self-serving feel-good b-s. I am involved in Homeland security, and the politics of it all are maddeningly frustrating, as were the politics of the prosecution of the war. I wish you all the best in getting this thing published. It is a good read. Doc Harding, Navy, '65-'70.

The Ghosts of Hanoi (Book) - 11/18/2003 5:47:33 AM
Great reading, hope you find that publisher, soon.

Let There Be Lights (Short Story) - 11/3/2009 11:01:48 PM
great story will read more liked it

Last Tango in Paradise (Short Story) - 8/28/2008 8:40:35 AM
Interesting read. I can re;late. I go ballroom dancing three nights a week. I really enjoy the outings. My partner is 85 years old and I'm 78 but we are close to the best dancers in the clubs around Sebring FL. It's excellent exercise. Being active adds years to your life. When I have a best weller Ruth and I are going to have our last tango in Paris. Yesh! Baby! Red beans and ricely...

Let There Be Lights (Short Story) - 8/25/2008 5:02:02 PM
Great universal blog all in the universerse should have an opportunity to read it. It is an amazing story and easily read and followed. I like the ending so much. A vast universe is what we have and it should be passed on to others to enjoy too.

Wrong Gates (Short Story) - 7/7/2008 7:47:40 AM
It brings it all back to me that day, a horrible morning. Was tending to a man I was taking care of who had altheimer's and gall bladder cancer. He did not know what was on the T>V> but I did. Phoned my daughter and she thought I was crazy telling her to turn on the T.V. planes had hit the towers. It was so true though and will be remembered by us living for eternity. Good write and saying things that happened so true, but they did not get their 7 virgins or whatever they thought they would. Oh that more would understand that their religion is not to be.

Wrong Gates (Short Story) - 5/6/2008 9:50:09 PM
You write very well and I feel as if I were there, which is un-nerving. As a Christian, I can say that you have accurately portrayed the destiny of those who brought about such a horrific act. They are pawns of Satan, deceived into thinking that they are serving the true God. A very courageous write! Well done.

Rico, DeePee, Leaky and the “War Wagon” (Short Story) - 1/1/2008 7:37:16 PM
enjoyed the read

Let There Be Lights (Short Story) - 9/24/2007 5:48:45 PM
Memorable characters in a well-told tale! Yours is an original voice! Keep up the great writing!

Rico, DeePee, Leaky and the “War Wagon” (Short Story) - 8/4/2006 8:28:56 AM
ROFL...you are some story teller. Brought back some memories...

Present Arms (Short Story) - 7/28/2006 4:24:16 PM
Well. it was written well, a few errors, but it's alright. i do dislike the ending though. but i suppose that it is accurate because America does things like that. with their unfair trickery...

Wrong Gates (Short Story) - 12/4/2005 2:34:32 PM
Like many religious fanatics, I do believe they really are confused, taking the path to hell when they thought they'd aimed toward heaven. I don't believe they reached heaven either...

Last Tango in Paradise (Short Story) - 9/10/2005 9:48:52 AM
Excellent! I stumbled upon your den and noticed this story's title. I love "the tango" and I've recently completed a horror, dance studio story. I'm glad I stopped by and read your story which is intriguing and well writen. I sincerely enjoyed it.

Let There Be Lights (Short Story) - 1/13/2005 10:15:21 PM
Congrats on getting this story published. This is definately a tight story and very creative; you should try to get this one published in print somewhere. Since I started writing Science Fiction myself I've been looking around in the Sci-fi genre these days. What kind of Sci-Fi stories do they take?

Last Tango in Paradise (Short Story) - 12/18/2003 4:36:07 PM
Wow...this sounded like the twilight zone. I loved this story. It held my interest all the way . I kept waiting for a girl in a red dress to reappear. You have talent galore in this beautiful tale of intrigue. Visit me in the poetry section sometimes:) *Linda*

PIP Van Winkle (Short Story) - 11/10/2003 10:14:51 AM
Great writing. Enjoyable read.

Wrong Gates (Short Story) - 11/10/2003 10:02:32 AM
Absolutely captivating. This was well written and grabbing from beginning to end. Well done.

The First Amendment Gets Kicked Around - Again (Article) - 9/20/2009 8:41:16 PM
"Shout down speakers you disagree with" I agree, That is horrible. Did you see those town hall forums? Those people had no right to go in a shout down those who only wished to speak to their representatives. I am glade you understand and agree!

The First Amendment Gets Kicked Around - Again (Article) - 9/20/2009 6:41:43 AM
Alex, It is becoming neigh on impossible to opinionated against a minority without being called a racist or a bigot. Even the homosexual has become 'a minority' that if you opinion against besets you into the realm of the 'Homophobic. The way I see it, the only way we can fight this dilemma is to write on and be proud to be a bigoted, racist homophobic! Excellent Article!

The First Amendment Gets Kicked Around - Again (Article) - 9/20/2009 4:29:33 AM
Very well written article, Alex and your words could not be truer. Anything in opposition is now labeled racist or hateful... "Hateful?" Hate comes from the left as seen by eight years of hateful, and, in my opinion, treasonous words and actions aimed at President George W. Bush in time of war, including a movie based on the assassination of George Bush. How much more hateful can you get then that? Mark

The First Amendment Gets Kicked Around - Again (Article) - 9/20/2009 4:13:34 AM
Lou is the only newsman they have. When he leaves, he'll take their last 20 inteligent viewers with him. There's a new Washington term...Legal Illegals! It was created by the insane sane people there. This is a congressional/government lead invasion. Can you spell traitors boys and girls?.... "C-O-N-G-R-E-S-S" I knew you could!

Leon Panetta - new CIA Director? (Article) - 1/12/2009 5:33:22 PM
I agree with you 100%, Alex. However, you used too many words in the opening line. I would have went with....A man without intelligence is apparently going to be the next CIA Director.

Column Left, March! (Article) - 5/17/2008 3:17:54 PM
I don't understand because I see that going on now in the USA. Liz

Political Correctness” – No Longer a Joke, But a Menace (Article) - 6/28/2007 11:15:52 AM
"Political Correctness" is simply adhering to the words of your current power structure. It is called "being safe" by some. It is called "copping out" by me. I never met a politician who was bullet-proof. I speak my truth and I do not give a damn what any politician thinks about it, now or tomorrow. Calling me on the carpet for being "politically incorrect" can be a very dangerous event. In the 1950s and 1960s I fought in the bloody campus riots for "freedom of speech," and we will not lose that battle to any "politically correct" idiotic press or organization. The proponents of "political correctness" cannot afford to wear kevlar, so they are no menace to me. They can test this whenever they like. They will be disappointed at the results. I am part of the expunging, and they can take that to the bank. Ted

In Commemoration of the Event Known as the Holocaust (Article) - 6/12/2007 6:14:15 AM
Nie Wieder - "Never Again." Unfortunate though it may be, that will have to suffice. ..the same fate was suffered by the Croatians during the Serbian agression ..do you perhaps recall that war?..it was only ten years ago..yet no one mentions it..strange..mmm Vesna

In Commemoration of the Event Known as the Holocaust (Article) - 3/24/2007 11:28:04 PM
A very good article. So glad people still remember.

In Commemoration of the Event Known as the Holocaust (Article) - 3/24/2007 8:57:12 AM
A very fine article. I find controversial to be an odd word for this piece. The event happened, the world watched and if survivors and descendants wish to proclaim "never again" that is their right.

The Writer's Plight (Article) - 10/31/2006 3:50:10 PM
Points well taken, Alex, It's true! To paraphrase Roger Dangerfield "We writers don't get no respect". Mike

What Ramsey Clark is Up To (Article) - 8/14/2006 2:44:51 AM
God bless Ramsey Clark... Bush is frighteningly delusional and out of touch...and an utterly arrogant simpleton when it comes to understanding the value of diplomatic skills, or in his case, the total lack of. Now there's a good word, "lackey."

What Ramsey Clark is Up To (Article) - 3/22/2006 6:43:44 PM
Haven't seen his web site....wouldn't be any purpose to it. Haven't seen Barbra Stresland web site either...There is nothing to learn from stupid people...The more they babble and rave, the less interest there is what they say...People like that are best ignored..Nice writing on your part though...

What Ramsey Clark is Up To (Article) - 3/15/2006 7:47:31 PM
It takes a lot of gall and ignorance to accuse anyone who doesn't hold your opinion of being un-American.

What Ramsey Clark is Up To (Article) - 3/14/2006 11:09:52 AM
I am so weary of all this. Thank you for writing this article. Whatever happened to the word treason? America is imploding. Fast.

The Writer's Plight (Article) - 3/10/2006 5:11:46 PM
Dear Alex! Very interesting & apt read! Unsurprisingly, I am in this situation too, and in Australia it's seemingly more difficult and rare to gain attention & respect from publishers or agents! Apparently, the odds are only 1 in 1000 unknown authors published each year here.. But still we must stay true to our missions and trust that what is meant to come will come ... of course, not without our one hundred percent motivation! Thank you for sharing so much in 'The Writer's Plight'. Love & kinship Suzie :-D

The Writer's Plight (Article) - 10/17/2004 12:32:48 PM
Alex, You make an excellent case here. It is true whether online or off, writers are expected to carry a huge financial load. Bottom line, unless you're Stephen King or Tom Clancy, we bear the costs of trying to get published. If anything the pillaging of online writers talents and works is atrocious. Seems we're fair game here for any opportunistic clown to pimp us blind. Well done! Candida

The Writer's Plight (Article) - 12/5/2003 2:16:08 PM
Except for the SASE point, because they get too many unsolicited pieces and would go broke paying for return postage, points well made! We write because we love to write, some of us because we aren't good at anything else! And so we take the good with the bad, like everyone else. Respect??? I think that's what we all look for, even more than money! Thanks for sharing! Mo

The Writer's Plight (Article) - 11/30/2003 6:33:37 AM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts in a humorous way! I would like to add to that (after submitting a children's book to over 20 publishing companies) that very seldom does anyone tell you why they aren't interested! So we continue to walk blindly, believing in our work, hoping someone else will see what we see!

The Writer's Plight (Article) - 11/30/2003 2:49:52 AM
Points well made, Alex, though [on the "my glass is half full" side of it] unlike years past now you can affordably go the Walt Whitman route and self-publish your book [as did I] and get some objective feedback without having your hard-worked mss wind up in an editor's slush pile for months on end. Print mags have seen better days. A lot have gone belly up in recent years. The ezine and ebook may be the wave of the future so keep typing away and do not give up, rejection being an expected part of any business where you have to sell your services. Thanks for sharing!