Death Sentence!

by J.A. Willoughby

"The award winning time travel reality show, DEATH SENTENCE!, brings you the best in public executions throughout recorded history. This week, we are in Jerusalem for the crucifixion of Christ. You won't want to miss this season's finale!" HISTORY HAPPENS ONCE. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SEE IT AGAIN. Each week the world eagerly awaits the next episode of Death Sentence! The Award Winning Time Travel Reality Show takes the viewing audience back in time to watch famous executions throughout history - live as they happened. This week's program takes us back to Merry Old England for "A Beautiful Day For An Execution" on May 27, 1541. Watch the botched beheading of a feisty old noble, Lady Margaret Pole by her cousin, King Henry VIII in front of 100 of the king's invited soon-to-be shocked and blood-spattered guests at the infamous Tower Green in London. Disguised as British citizens of the time period, Lorraine Brockton and Jason Harker bring you the action up close and personal with their hidden mini-cams directly in front of the chopping block! The second episode is the long awaited, "Season Finale" - the crucifixion of Christ. Watch as the production team takes us through the streets of Jerusalem in 33 A.D. alongside of Yeshua as he bears his cross up to the hill known as Golgotha. See the Romans lash and spike him to a beam where he is crucified in front of his supporters, his persecutors and his mother. Before the broadcast log in to the hours-long webcam feed and watch the worldwide Timecast with billions of others from beginning to end! Will history unfold exactly as we have read or been taught? Will what you now know to be true turn out to be a lie? Will your world change because you watched Death Sentence! ? TUNE IN AND SEE FOR YOURSELF! "Season Finale" is a sequel to "A Beautiful Day For An Execution" (THIS SIDE OF CENTER-ORIGINAL STORIES) and is included in THIS SIDE OF CENTER / ENCORE, the second book in the anthology. In future editions of DEATH SENTENCE, the stories will all be new and previously unpublished.

122 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2017

About the author

Jeff Willoughby traveled much of the United States as a musician in a rock group, as a bass guitarist, singer/songwriter and recording artist. He now lives in the same small Pennsylvania town in which he was born. After leaving the road in 2008, he began writing mostly fiction in the form of scripts and short stories. His first book, THIS SIDE OF CENTER, (released in 2014) is a collection of 15 original short stories. A second book in the anthology, THIS SIDE OF CENTER-ENCORE, released in 2016. He has vowed to continue to write "so long as the voices in my head remain louder than the ringing in my ears." With a penchant for the visual arts as well, when not writing he edits and transforms his photos and images in an ever-growing collection of original art.

Reviews

[Annette Spratte · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a crazy idea! Death Sentence is a TV show which is recorded live. The topic is rather gruesome: Executions – live as they happened! The production crew is transported back through time to the executions and they report the events to the audience at home.
I read this story half laughing, half crying. I totally got a kick out of the backstage view of a TV production doing anything at all to please the audience. And the audience is pleased by death, horror and violence. You doubt it? Well, switch on your TV and tell me I’m wrong. And that is the reason why I half cried – it is so plausible that if show people could make this happen, they would. This story spotlights the harsh and ugly truth about media, sales and advertisement.
But then there’s the season finale – the crucifixion of Christ.
I bow to the author for the courage to touch such a sensitive subject and to deal with it in such a sensitive manner. He cleverly includes the moral dilemma involved with anything to do with faith into the story while he walks the tightrope himself. Even if I do not agree with him in the end, the story is nevertheless brilliantly written.

[J.A. Willoughby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in my media bashing series, Death Sentence!. What would we do with the ability to travel time? Create a reality TV show around it and sell ads, of course!

This book takes the viewer back to Salem village 1692 and the horrific death (by pressing) of Giles Corey. The Network and the viewing audience gets an unsettling surprise at the end of the broadcast, however.

The second "episode" in the book takes us back to 1431 and the death of Joan Of Arc, as seen through the eyes of Allison Jolie, the show's mega-star host. The story centers on Allison's internal conflict to maintain her position on the show and what she wants for herself in her own life. Though the time travel technology runs through the entire story (and book) the stories are very human, personal and emotional and are not diminished by it. The stories are more about people although I had to invent some pretty cool tech stuff to make it all work.

[Kim D’Arcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. Very interesting and unique idea. I would totally watch this show if it really existed. I just wish it was more of a full length novel.

[j v sanford · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and original concept. well written and fast paced. my only complaint is I wished it was longer. The author has a good concept. It would have been interesting if they had covered over historical executions, saving the christ chapter till last. however as short stories go, it ticked all the boxes.

[J.A. Willoughby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was required reading for a class at Susquehanna University here in Pennsylvania. I was invited to speak about my reasons for writing it and answer questions from the students. The following introduction was submitted to the faculty prior to me attending the class. It sums up the book and the series nicely.

"Jeff Willoughby is the author of two short stories, 'A Beautiful Day for an Execution' and 'Season Finale,' dramatizing the ethical implications of reality television media through the lens of a fictional time-travel reality show called "Death Sentence." The stories explore issues of exploitation, entertainment, use of technology, and commitment to personal values that have a direct bearing on the central concepts of the Ethics and Leadership course goals. Hosting Mr. Willoughby in our class will provide [the] students with a unique opportunity to discuss those concepts with the author, and to engage in conversation that fuses fiction and ethical dilemmas in the real world."