I am new to the joys of Irish sf, so I will add what I am able.
Was I overwhelmed by the information.
Yes; yet it lent to a sense of the confusion being experienced by the characters.
That said, I was hooked, interested. This exert hooked me, thus it would be worth my time learning to play catch up.
Here is what I could keep up with: your characters.
You did an amazing job developing your characters into people I could relate with and in whom I felt invested.
How did they come across?
John comes across as a youngster whose been through enough adult challenges that he feels insulted by the necessities of qualification through a series of pedantic exams. John is portrayed as being: a young man with great probity (as revealed through his dialogue, and through narrative); he comes across as being intrepid in the face of danger and challenge, as well as clever (able to foil an alien conspiracy—unless I misunderstood this??). There is also a mixed relation between him and Carter—ambiguous mixture of rivalry and respect?? John seems to look up to Carter, yet it is mentioned that he’s pissed Carter off a few times (which suggests he is independent and does what he thinks ought to be done, on the spot, apart from gaining Carter’s consent—Carter being his superior, in age and career status).
About Carter. I like Carter. He reminds me of Gregory House.
Carter comes off as imperturbable. He seems laconic, save conducting necessary investigatory narratives (of everything, even the obvious—habit, I would gander). Carter seems choleric, which will cause conflict between himself and John, to be certain. Carter seems to be a dynamo and a natural leader. He does not flinch, nor draw back—Carter acts. (Carter strikes me as a man of action, little talk).
I would like to learn more about who Stuart is, and the little brother mentioned, as well as Josey—which I take is their big sister?
Have they lost their mum?
In short, you’ve got a great story on your hands.
I noted some confusion with pronouns such as knowing what was being referred to as “it,” as well as some confusion with “him,” “his,” “where,” meaning that as a newbie, I need those filled in with such phrases as, “Larne,” or your wonderful phrase, “shoddy-golden glory,” as well as substituting names for “him” or “his”…but that is because I’m new to this—others may not feel the same.
Also, what is GC?
Who are the Zelo?
Do we find this out later on—are these to hook me in?
It works. I’m hooked.
Hoverdasher.
