Returning to Cogswell, who last showed up with two volumes reviewed in mid-2022.
This is a short story, and so the usual character development and plot twists are naturally compressed. Earth has fallen to predatory aliens, and the last survivor is someone who barely qualifies as “human” -- and that’s going to be a shock to the conquerors. Mostly interesting for its retro sensibilities, this was fun and offered a couple of twists along its very short trajectory.
Smirk factor: All clear: 2 pts
Immersion factor: Shallow water: 1 pt
Writing quality: Average: 1 pt
Character/plot development: Average: 1 pt
Innovative/interesting: Average: 1 pt
Total: 6/10