This was really clever and original. I especially enjoyed how we got glimpses of the speaker and their character through the notes. We also get an idea of their opinion towards the Union and Gerrick's revolt through their vocabulary used in the essay. The details were subtle, but brilliant. Even though you never describe the speaker outright, we still get a good idea of what kind of person/martian they are. Very cool.

Nicely done, Manatee! Love your side notes - they really make the story pop.
As a writer, I have to admit that I spend as much time on the academic viewpoint of my world as I do on the literary. It's amazing how it can shift your focus, huh? Not to mention allowing the writer to get the facts down for reference - really helps in the consistency of the story-telling.

Manatee! Love the backstory from Angelium here. I also love the writer's thoughts as he goes through the essay. You say skirmishes a lot. Otherwise, solid work.

Best of luck in this month's contest!

M.C.

This is gold, Manatee. I like the voice of the essay, contrasted with the humourous frustrage (frustration and rage) of the notes. In a few strokes, you injected the writer into the essay. Great stuff.

Augie