23 Comments
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Bence Ádók's avatar

I like this ending a lot. Great conclusion to a fitting series.

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Edward.Marlo.Ruiz's avatar

Honored you like it. Kind of glad for the change in our character.

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Bence Ádók's avatar

I always like a story with some form of catharsis - I prefer a violent one, but any catharsis for the characters is so good to read about, in this case, the violent rejection of the mechanical and the technological by means of brute force, humiliating rejection resulting in violent realisation of individuality, the capital I AM

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JLG Noga's avatar

A surprisingly hopeful ending, which is honestly rare with a story like this! i've watched too much black mirror lol

This was honestly really gripping though. You learned from the school of the old serials (of which I have read my fair share), and it shows. I'll admit that this final chapter didn't land in the way I wanted it to, perhaps I was hoping for more of a catharsis or ramping up of the story. But I also did really enjoy the quiet, contemplative parts of both this chapter and the second one. I liked the intermingling here between contemporary dating and AI dependence--it's very prescient and is an idea I'd love to see explored further! I kind of wish this was a full novel or novella so i could see you truly rummage through the meat and bones of what happens when you delegate pieces of your life to something that isn't really equipped to handle it.

I dug how pulpy this was though. Any story that manages to sneak in a little pulp under the guise of literariness gets all the stars in my book. Excited to check out more from your body of work!

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Edward.Marlo.Ruiz's avatar

Man thank you so much for this comment. These types of comments mean so much to me and I’m glad you’re being honest on where it fell short for you! But generally, thank you for reading and sitting with it like this. It’s fucking awesome.

And I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t somewhat agree with you on how I feel about the ending too. I think when I wrote it, I focused on the quiet more than anything. I enjoy the second part the most myself. Fortunately I can look back and think I could write this better. Which I feel is a good thing.

Again, thank you so much dude and hit me up whenever. I’m down to work on anything and I dig your whole vibe, definitely need to catch up on your bigger piece

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JLG Noga's avatar

It's the mark of a great creative to point out one's flaws and feel the urge to redo. Even just now I was reviewing some of my antara posts and slipping in some last-minute post-posting edits lol

and yes! we totally need to run it

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MP's avatar

Just read all three back to back, what a story! Super captivating from start to finish. Never stop writing please thank you :)

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Edward.Marlo.Ruiz's avatar

You are absolutely amazing for that, thank you for simply reading, and I really appreciate your comment. Thank you so much

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Keith Long's avatar

Not at all where I expected it to go — but I like it.

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Edward.Marlo.Ruiz's avatar

Could’ve gone one of two ways, and decided to end it with a slight bump of positivity I think. 💭 glad you read it. 🙌

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Keith Long's avatar

Yeah I was thinking maybe he would end with an even heavier reliance on Buddy and then Buddy would tell him to do something sinister, or he would just be reliant on it. I like the violent break with Buddy — it’s a happy horror ending lol

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Pablo Báez's avatar

DUDE.

Respect. Night and Day from part 1.

You got it.

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Edward.Marlo.Ruiz's avatar

Thank YOU! Couldn’t have done it without your insight. I appreciate it all. 🙌🙏

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Pablo Báez's avatar

Nah, I just pointed out some things you were already close to.

Well applied. Cool thing is that whatever you learned here carries to your next piece and so on.

Keep pushing.

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Edward.Marlo.Ruiz's avatar

Lmao thank you for that. Sometimes I really feel like I just don’t know what the hell I’m doing. So others words help push me forward.

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Happy Nielsen's avatar

I wish this were a novel and not a short three parter! Please write more of this!

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Edward.Marlo.Ruiz's avatar

Wow I’m so glad you liked it! I am very sorry to say but I believe I truly enjoy where this ended. 😭🙏 thank you for reading, though!

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Happy Nielsen's avatar

I understand. it was a good ending! I guess I’ll have to just read more of your stuff! ☺️

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Edward.Marlo.Ruiz's avatar

Same to you! 🙏 Going to dig into your work SOON.

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Annieguile Bentulan's avatar

The ending was expected, but the execution made it worth the slow burn. I loved how the story explored our dependency on AI and how, even after everything, he still clung to scraps of denial. Tho the grin at the end, left me thinking...

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Edward.Marlo.Ruiz's avatar

I appreciate your reading and thoughts as always! I had another ending in mind but I felt this is where I was dragged to, the inevitable crash out.

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Annieguile Bentulan's avatar

I thought I already shared this lol, was at work when reading this EMR.

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Parker McCoy's avatar

Thanks a lot, Buddy. Haha. There was no fooling her. I hate that it didn't work out, though. Honesty is the best policy. Great story, EMR.

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