Self-Review – When Russia Invaded Texas

A Review of When Russia Invaded Texas

When Russia Invaded Texas originally started out as a shorter story called Odessa. But that ended so abruptly that I felt I could expand on it in a big way.

As a result, Odessa is now just the first section.

I started to write this story during the third quarter of 2021. But I did not finish it until the first quarter of 2025. The original prompt was the word Odessa.

When Russia Invaded Texas: the Background

One thing that I think is kind of cool is that there are a few rather different places in the world called Odessa. Probably the best-known one is in Ukraine. But there are also towns and cities with that name in Texas and Delaware, among other American states.

And so, when I wrote the first part, I wanted it to be a surprise that the Russian army was in America. Everything about the first chapter is coded Russian. That is, except for the last line, where I finally mention Texas.

And then, when I wanted to finish it, the story got some depth and a name change.

Plot for When Russia Invaded Texas

In more or less the present time, everything goes to hell in a handcart when the earth’s magnetic poles shift while, at the same time, the planet’s core starts spinning in the opposite direction.

The power goes out, magnets stop working reliably, and batteries become useless paperweights.

Within a few years after this upheaval, Russia has sent troops over the Bering Strait. The soldiers have to navigate using the stars, and they can only walk, take a simple boat, or travel on horseback.

Welcome back to the 1800s, and a cold war that’s gotten rather hot indeed.

Characters

The characters are Carly Marshall (she’s the POV character); her younger brother Travis; the Russian Commander, Colonel Petroff; and Russian soldier, Vladislav Perchak. Vlad is a translator, and he speaks decent English.

There are a few other soldiers, and Travis and Carly refer to their parents. But we never see the parents, and I don’t give the other soldiers any names and only a few lines.

Memorable Quotes {Carly and Travis are figuring out what to do with a prisoner}

“And then we’ll all sing Kumbaya as the sun sinks slowly in the west and a bunch of rabbits kick in a chorus line.”

Yep, you’re a jackass more often than only sometimes. “You got a better idea?”

Travis was quiet for a few seconds. “Y’know, I don’t. So, when do you want to break it to him?”

“No time like the present.”

“If we end up with a rabbit kick line, I will be seriously bummed if there isn’t at least one of them that looks like Jessica Rabbit.”

“Travis, you’d be lucky if any of them look like Bugs Bunny in drag.”

Rating

The story has a K+ rating. There’s some language, and Carly’s a bit worried about what the soldiers will possibly do to her.

Takeaways

I really like the premise of this one and would have liked to have expanded it some more. And maybe I will someday. At the time, I really just wanted to be done with it. Hmm.

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