Hephaestus AUTHOR
PUBLISHER + DATE
Ethan Peterson-New ’13
Self-published, 2013
Reviewed by Anna Newman
TITLE
Writing a novel is a difficult endeavor—but imagine doing it while finishing your homework, applying to colleges, and keeping up with the other demands of being a Deerfield Academy student. That’s exactly what recent graduate Ethan Peterson-New ’13 did this year, when he completed and published his novel, Hephaestus, a story of discovery and adventure that takes place on a distant planet. After a four-year trip across space, First Mate Walter Murray and his crew land on the planet Hephaestus, charged with finding a new energy source for Earth. They soon discover that the seemingly uninhabited planet is home to more than just thick jungle and strange creatures. Ambushed and imprisoned by the inhabitants of a colony on the planet, Walter and his crew become entangled in a dangerous and worldthreatening conflict that makes them question their loyalties to each other and to their mission. What makes Hephaestus such a captivating read is its complex characters, whose pasts are illuminated through a series of flashbacks. The ethical dilemmas that the characters face in this futuristic world have echoes in today’s society, making them relatable and relevant to the reader. Hephaestus is the product of four years of hard work, most of which was accomplished during the winter term of Mr. Peterson-New’s senior year, when he received a co-curricular exemption. Working with English faculty member Joel Thomas-Adams, Mr. Peterson-New was writing five to ten pages a day, a hard task, he said, while trying to do well in all of his classes. But finally, this past spring Mr. Peterson-New published his novel through a self-publishing company and sold copies to his classmates. Even after hitting this milestone, Mr. Peterson-New’s work continues. He has been editing Hephaestus in the months after releasing it to the Deerfield community, acknowledging in his author’s note that “Hephaestus, as it exists now, is essentially a rough draft,” and soliciting feedback from his readers. This fall he plans to send the novel off to an agent in the hopes of having it published in a wider market. Hephaestus is not Mr. Peterson-New’s first novel—as a student at Eaglebrook he caught the writing bug by completing a 150-page novel for an English assignment—nor will it be his last. He has other stories in the works and plans to continue writing at Middlebury College this fall. ••
90
Fall 2013
Walter was checking the surroundings and considering setting up a perimeter when a loud thud sounded as something struck the tree in front of him. It was a metal dart with a sharp tip and green feathers. Tranquilizers, he thought. “Everybody down. Now!” he yelled. “We’re under attack!” The squad searched for cover, but it was useless, as more darts poured down from the trees above them. A few found their mark, and Walter saw Christian and Edward go down. A dart found Aaron’s neck. Those still on their feet ran as fast as they could, firing randomly into the trees above. Darts stuck in the trees and the ground as the men searched for any means of shielding themselves, but their attackers seemed to be everywhere. As Walter reached the top of a small hill, he collided with Sam, sending him sprawling into the underbrush, and disappearing beneath low-growing bushes. There was a sickening sound, and Walter felt a sharp pain in his right arm. He looked down to see that a dart had sunk deep into his flesh. He yanked it out and tried to continue running, but whatever the dart contained was quite potent. Beginning to slip out of consciousness, Walter fell to the ground. The last image he saw before his world darkened was that of his men falling all around him.