Challenge 300 response: “The Tower”

by Carmen Ruggero

Challenge 300 asked:
Brian C. Petroziello’s “The Tower” can serve as an introduction to any number of “larger stories” or “spin-offs.” Mark Mogen’s family history would be a start. What others can you suggest?

Brian C. Petroziello’s “The Tower” is entertaining, but it leaves me with more questions than answers. It seems to open doors rather than tell a complete story. It would be interesting to know what made Morgen’s family so undesirable. What happened to them? Why is Morgen so interested in the sunken town? What happened in that town? Who are the monsters? Too many lose ends.

I wouldn’t have two characters in close proximity named Morgen and Murdock unless I were planning a comedy.

“Murdock filled Ralston in while they sat in the waiting room.” — Murdock could not be in the waiting room, filling in the details of the accident to Ralston. Murdock is the injured one.

Copyright © 2008 by Carmen Ruggero

Thank you, Carmen. When Morgen and his men destroy the tower, they preclude any sequels involving contact with the aliens. Maybe that’s a hidden lesson in the story: if you have good ideas, for pity’s sake, don’t blow them up!

I also question how hostile the aliens really are; it’s easy to surmise that they react more out of fear than anything else. After all, they’ve been on Earth for a rather long time. Aside from intermarrying with the Morgen family in earlier years — the poor things must have been desperate — what have they done? Not a whole lot. They’ve been met with suspicion from the locals from the first, and now here come Morgen and his men bearing satchel charges. It all seems like a wasted opportunity.

Don