Riding the Dragon [by Will Hatchett] is a fast-paced supernatural thriller. It is set in 1939, in the opening days of World War Two. The premise of the book is simple. Prominent Nazis and British pro-Germans attempt to summon the powers of Satan to earth, to help them win the war. The book’s hero, Austin Endicott is a commercial pilot, working for Imperial Airways at Croydon Aerodome. Austin stumbles into the plot after his daughter is kidnapped by occultist Aleister Crowley, who intends to use the innocent young girl in his diabolical plan. Austin enlists the help of his friend Harry Hawkins, foreign editor on the Daily Express, to help him unmask the traitors.
Hatchett says: ‘I am a bit of a conspiracy nut and I also like fiction combined with fact. In my book, made up characters mingle with Crowley, the maverick Labour MP, Tom Driberg, Maxwell Knight, a senior figure in British intelligence in the 1930s and the deputy Fuhrer, Rudolph Hess. The story is based upon real events, including the flight of Rudolph Hess to Scotland in May 1941 and Operation Mistletoe, which was a true-life attempt to use witchcraft to help the Allies to the win the war. The dragon referred to in the title is Austin’s totem. It assists him on the astral plane in his battle against evil.’
The books, Hatchett explains, draws in its style and themes on the largely forgotten novels of Dennis Wheatley – whose energy and imagination he admires, but not his racism – and also upon classic British pulp horror, published in 1960s and ’70s. There are also dashes of John Buchan and Ian Fleming. He adds: ‘I wrote the book on the number 63 bus on the way to work and I have respectfully dedicated it the heroic drivers on that route, even though they rarely smiled or said thank you.’IIIAAAMMM - May 23, 2008 - 02:09 AM Post subject: RE: Riding The Dragon
I'm sure that I would enjoy reading that book. Probably learn something too.