"The Wreck of the Aetherwing"

[dr. locrian]

No, I'm not talking about the sudden, preternatural dissolution of my dear friend, Aetherwing (AKA James DeWitt)!

Rather, I'm proud to announce the debut of Jimmy's first professional story in The Night Land, a website devoted to William Hope Hodgson's epic novel of the same name (the literary masterpiece that H.P. Lovecraft himself called "One of the most potent pieces of macabre imagination ever written").

"The Wreck of the Aetherwing" by James DeWitt is a fantastic short story based in the world of WHH's The Night Land.

Please check it out at http://home.clara.net/andywrobertson...g.html#content

Scroll down a bit, and you'll find a link to Jimmy's excellent tale of horrific adventure! Congratulations and good show, old bean! ;D

[Aetherwing]

Thanks for the kind words, Doc! I worked hard on that story, and to all you writers out there...hats off to you! It is NOT an easy task of leisure, as some critics have suggested.

At any rate, anyone who reads my tale, I hope you enjoy it, and thanks again, Doc.

-Jimmy

[dr. locrian]

Thank you! "The Wreck" is not only very well written and highly imaginative--it also has some nice Lovecraftian (and even Ligottian) elements woven throughout (e.g. the foul Elik-puppet-thing <shudder>).

[Aetherwing]

Easy to see what Masters have influenced me, isn't it?

BTW, the Elik-Thing is also a homage to John Carpenter's PRINCE OF DARKNESS. The bit where Wyndham delivers his message?

Suddenly and Preternaturally Disoluting,
-Aether

[dr. locrian]

Hello? Hello? I've got a message for you. And you're not going to like it. Pray for death.

Yep! Thought about that line during my last read! Very cool.

[matt cardin]

Congratulations on seeing this story finally published, Jimmy! (Or Aether -- I'm amenable to both. Wink ) I certainly enjoyed it myself. In terms of pure storytelling and atmosphere, I think it's quite an accomplished piece, especially for a first publication. Which means that I found it a very enjoyable read. I also think you did a nice job of maintaining the elevated heroic prose style in which you chose to present the tale. (Perhaps this is derived from Hodgson's original source novel; as you know, I've not read it.) Ditto for your your presentation of the characters in such broad, epic-heroic strokes.

I hadn't thought of the PRINCE OF DARKNESS connection, but of course it seems obvious now that it's been mentioned. In truth, when I read that scene, especially the description of the Elik-thing's first appearance, I flashed for a moment on Captain Picard's assimilation into the Borg on STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION.

And while we're talking influences, am I on-track or off-base in thinking that I might have detected a whiff of STARSHIP TROOPERS in there as well? I've never read Heinlein's novel, but I enjoyed the movie adaptation, and was reminded of several scenes from it by a certain battle scene in your story.

Congratulations again. "The Wreck of the Aether-Wing" is a most impressive first showing.

[Aetherwing]

Thank you, Matt!

Actually, my prose style is very dissimilar to WHH's. Mine is probably greatly influenced by sources such as Tolkien, the Icelandic Eddas, and Beowulf. Oh, and no doubt Dunsany, and Robert Howard as well.

Now that you mention STARSHIP TROOPERS, I think you may probably be correct. The battle with the Mantids in the original version was very probably subconsciously flavored by the "Bugs" from that movie. Although, the rewrite has the Mantids removed (the editor insisted...) and replaced with more aberrant adversaries.

Interesting remark about Picard/Locutus. I'd not considered it, but it is certainly reminiscent. Also, on further thought, it also seems similar to The Mouth of Sauron in some ways.

Thanks for your comments: coming from an accomplished writer such as yourself, they are very appreciated!

-Jimmy (or Aether...doesn't matter!)

[barrywood]

Jimmy, this is good, tight writing. I enjoyed it and to me it seems much like Ligotti's writing, but I am so new to Ligotti's that I shouldn't say things I don't know anything about. I do know you write well, Jimmy.

Barry