Alone

What would you do if you woke up one day completely alone? In ALONE by Weldon Payne, Jim Todd wakes to find the world empty, friends, family, and acquaintances — all gone for no apparent reason, with no apparent explanation. The story that follows is one that explores many lofty concepts, such as life and death, love and hate, and faith in God and His plans.

The story takes many unexpected turns, ending up in a surprising and religiously charged place. The story is highly creative. It is obvious that Payne has given a lot of thought to religion, the meaning of life, and the existence of an afterlife. Stylistically, the story would have benefited from an editor’s eye. The story changes tenses, from first to third, frequently and without warning. It is effective as a device for demonstrating Jim Todd’s struggle to come to terms with the new world around him, but makes the story difficult to read in places. Most of his sentences lack proper punctuation, which would have helped with pacing and also made the complex concepts explored by the characters easier for the audience to comprehend.

Overall, I thought this was a brave attempt at a very complicated and high-minded novel. With a little more refinement, it could be a very meaningful story for those who struggle with concepts of faith and the meaning of life.