The soldier who kept saying no
Private Malcolm Dow had one rule.
Don’t risk a court-martial.
It sounds like self-preservation, and it is — but it’s also something deeper. Malcolm is a Black soldier in 1947, and he’d learned early that sticking your neck out doesn’t always end the way it should. His father had died a hero, giving his life to save a white officer. Malcolm had watched how that sacrifice was repaid. He’d learned to take up exactly as much space as he was allowed, and not one inch more.
So when an alien ambassador crash-lands in Roswell and asks two junior soldiers for help, Malcolm’s answer is simple: not my problem.
When his only friend gets captured trying to deliver that message, his answer is still: not my problem.
He means it, too. Right up until he couldn’t.
What I love about Malcolm is that he never makes a speech. There’s no dramatic moment where he decides to be brave. He’s jogging laps around the base, trying to outrun his own conscience, and then he just… stops. Turns around. Mutters something about not liking bullies.
That’s the whole thing. That’s his arc.
Roswell: First Contact is a story you can finish in one sitting — most readers are done in under an hour. It follows first contact from the ground level: not generals and presidents, but two junior soldiers who happened to be standing in the right place at the right time, and who had to decide whether that mattered.
You may have already downloaded it — but if not: books2read.com/RoswellFirstContact
Until next week,
Tony
P.S. Malcolm’s story is just the beginning. The Earth’s Secret Alliance series follows these characters across six interconnected novellas — each written from a different point of view, with overlapping scenes that let you see the same moments through entirely different eyes.
Free Books & Great Reads
Here are some collections I’m part of this month — filled with fantastic authors and free reads. Take a look and find your next favourite book!
📚 E Pluribus Unum — Anthologies, Box Sets & Collections
A speculative fiction collection for readers who love getting more story in one volume.
February 28 – April 2 👉 Browse the collection
🏡 Cozy Family Reads
Wholesome chapter books, middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction — clean, cozy, and free.
Through March 31 👉 Find a cozy read
🚀 Inside the Pages!
A curated collection of fiction from talented authors across genres. Browse, discover, and grab a free read.
March 1 – 15 👉 Browse the collection
🐾 We Love Pets
Fiction that celebrates our animal companions — touching, funny, and heartfelt tales. (You can see why I’m in this one.)
Through March 15 👉 Find your next pet story
Stay in the Loop
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