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Drone Man
Should one man be judge, jury and executioner? Lee Savage plots the perfect crime: hunt and kill his sisters murderer using an armed drone. How will he cope with the diabolical situations he finds along the way, and will he pull the trigger on the man responsible?
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Published January 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 16, 2017
Drone Man by Andrew C. Broderick is a short novella exploring the temptation of an ordinary person using a position of unique capability (owning a small, manoeuvrable aircraft) to carry out vigilante action in a city, with all the associated ethical dilemmas that entails (unlawful, deceitful, guilt).
The glaring question if you choose to do this is “Do you become the thing you hate the most?” In other words, taking the law into your own hands might be satisfying and quicker but it turns the point of focus, the problem if you like, in on yourself. This is hardly a new existential question, as Nietzsche got there first, describing exactly the same pitfall in several different ways: "Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster” and “for when you gaze too long into the abyss...” and "If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself.” Strangely, Nietzsche’s students turned out to be the worst monsters of all, so they heard but they did not listen.
Drone Man is a good story, nothing wrong with the writing style, but I felt the author didn’t want to go through with the scenario far enough and give the hero a taste of his inner dark place. He sort of did but it was a little too polite and there should have been the Devil in this. He showed and skirted around the moment of choice but didn’t reach out and almost touch evil, a fingerprint away from the fall, before thinking again. An angel on one shoulder, a lying demon on the other, the demon is about to win the soul and then - No! The author, I think, wanted the man to be likeable all of the way through, from the fun gadget guy to the family man to the capable protector, but I think the story would have been more powerful if the writer had read Heart of Darkness before he journeyed up that river.
One other observation: A drone is, if I understand it correctly, a robotic autonomous vehicle with no pilot on board. This story is about a pilot in a gyrocopter. It’s about wrestling with one’s consciousness and choosing the right path, so represents an original and well told presentation of this concept, but I just don’t think Drone Man does that in a drone. He’s Gyrocopter Man.
Drone Man is okay, as a quick introduction to Andrew C. Broderick, but The Cosmic Bullet by the same author is a superior work and I recommend you start with that.
The glaring question if you choose to do this is “Do you become the thing you hate the most?” In other words, taking the law into your own hands might be satisfying and quicker but it turns the point of focus, the problem if you like, in on yourself. This is hardly a new existential question, as Nietzsche got there first, describing exactly the same pitfall in several different ways: "Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster” and “for when you gaze too long into the abyss...” and "If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself.” Strangely, Nietzsche’s students turned out to be the worst monsters of all, so they heard but they did not listen.
Drone Man is a good story, nothing wrong with the writing style, but I felt the author didn’t want to go through with the scenario far enough and give the hero a taste of his inner dark place. He sort of did but it was a little too polite and there should have been the Devil in this. He showed and skirted around the moment of choice but didn’t reach out and almost touch evil, a fingerprint away from the fall, before thinking again. An angel on one shoulder, a lying demon on the other, the demon is about to win the soul and then - No! The author, I think, wanted the man to be likeable all of the way through, from the fun gadget guy to the family man to the capable protector, but I think the story would have been more powerful if the writer had read Heart of Darkness before he journeyed up that river.
One other observation: A drone is, if I understand it correctly, a robotic autonomous vehicle with no pilot on board. This story is about a pilot in a gyrocopter. It’s about wrestling with one’s consciousness and choosing the right path, so represents an original and well told presentation of this concept, but I just don’t think Drone Man does that in a drone. He’s Gyrocopter Man.
Drone Man is okay, as a quick introduction to Andrew C. Broderick, but The Cosmic Bullet by the same author is a superior work and I recommend you start with that.
July 7, 2017
Like the product description says: Short story.
I would love to see this one morphed into a novel, but at the same time, there is a sense of fulfillment at the end of the story that seems like a good place to end it. Andrew Broderick has a good sense of humanity, and does not let the power that comes from being Drone Man become a cheap source of vengeance. A simple concept, on the surface, but one that is worth considering.
I would love to see this one morphed into a novel, but at the same time, there is a sense of fulfillment at the end of the story that seems like a good place to end it. Andrew Broderick has a good sense of humanity, and does not let the power that comes from being Drone Man become a cheap source of vengeance. A simple concept, on the surface, but one that is worth considering.
August 11, 2017
"... to fly like superman."
A short but sweet little story of a young computer coder whose love of flying drones becomes an obsession after the death of his sister. Nicely written, the story soars over the rooftops of Chicago. Easy to read and enjoy.
A short but sweet little story of a young computer coder whose love of flying drones becomes an obsession after the death of his sister. Nicely written, the story soars over the rooftops of Chicago. Easy to read and enjoy.
December 10, 2017
Held my attention to the end and took me soaring over Chicago. Wished it was longer.
February 6, 2018
This short story had promise, but really did not deliver in the end. I like where the protagonist ended up, but the story took an inconsistent and rushed feeling path to get there.
October 15, 2019
OK story but seems somewhat bare bones. In many cases I find the novella form to be too short to develop characters to the level I prefer.
September 26, 2022
I liked the way that Drone Man took things to his own level, saw a few errors in the story but overlooked it as the action continues.
December 20, 2016
Lee flys a drone in the evenings over Chicago with his friend Tim. It was fun flying like Superman through the lens of his drone until one day tragedy struck. Lee decided to use his newly "upgraded" drone to safe guard the streets of Chicago. Will his do good or turn into the same thing he is trying to protect the citizens from?
June 11, 2017
Drone Man
Andrew C. Broderick
Revenge is a dish best dish served cold. But just how far is one person willing to go to get it.
Lee Savage has the time of his life during the night life of Chicago. Racing his unregistered drone with his friend Tim. Then the unthinkable happens to his family, his sister is murdered. Bent on justice he decides to make a weapon to be reckoned with. Only will he be able to pull the trigger when the time comes?
Andrew C. Broderick
Revenge is a dish best dish served cold. But just how far is one person willing to go to get it.
Lee Savage has the time of his life during the night life of Chicago. Racing his unregistered drone with his friend Tim. Then the unthinkable happens to his family, his sister is murdered. Bent on justice he decides to make a weapon to be reckoned with. Only will he be able to pull the trigger when the time comes?
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews