AUTHOR’S NOTES: The fanfiction you are about to read is the result of random fangirl musings, hours of poring through Edgar Allen Poe & various historical texts, & my habit of incessantly viewing (& quoting) “Dr. Strangelove” for the past several months. Feel free to have a chuckle or two to yourselves in light of this rather amusing introduction, then once you’re done laughing, allow me to explain the origins of this story in further depth—this time, in a not-so-amusing manner.

For as long as I’ve been cultivating my obsession with the cinematic classic of which I now speak, I, the author, have pondered about the reasons why General Jack D. Ripper, the ill-fated commander of Burpleson Air Force Base, succumbed to insanity. After paying more attention to a certain number of Ripper’s lines, & reflecting upon the possible meanings behind those lines, I have come up with an interesting theory that might offer an explanation about the mental collapse of our late, lamented general. This theory will be elaborated upon, dear readers, in the tale that I am about to present to you.

Now, some of you might be wondering, “Just what kind of a story is this fanfiction of yours?” Think of it as a narrative in the old “Gothic” style of writing, only one that relies more on the conventions of modern language; to capture the overall mood & feel of Gothic writing, I turned to some of Poe’s greatest works—including “The Tell-Tale Heart”, “The Cask Of Amontillado”, & “The Masque Of The Red Death”—for inspiration. I’m hoping that you will be impressed with my efforts in perfecting the effect of the grim & macabre elements that I have added to my fanfiction.

Also, please bear in mind that while this story is rated PG, it’s a very strong PG, as it does contain a few references to “the physical act of love” (as General Ripper so eloquently put it). However, said references are not explicit or overly-frank in detail, & have been written in such a manner that they would probably be considered safe for work (& most homes). I have the authors of several classic novels to thank for providing me with some inspiration & ideas on how to write innuendo that does a clever job at disguising the hidden messages, but (hopefully) doesn’t come across as shoddy or weak or anything of that nature. That having been said, let me offer a few last words to you, before we begin our “feature presentation”.

Our story, which I have entitled “Loss Of Essence”, is told from General Ripper’s perspective, in the moments before Group Captain Mandrake first arrives at his office. Imagine Ripper sitting in a plush chair at his hard-wood desk, quietly smoking a cigar in the solitude of his chambers; the doors to the room are shut, & the blinds are drawn, depriving the area of the bright morning sunlight, which helps to create a feeling of darkness & dreariness that matches the dark & dreary emotions that are raging inside of the general. For behind the façade of cold stoicism & rational level-headedness, there are secrets that General Ripper is hiding...secrets that he feels can only be entrusted to you—the readers who are fortunate to hear his tale. Guard Ripper’s secrets well, my friends, & make sure that they remain safely-hidden from the eyes of the public world...After all, General Ripper does have a reputation to protect.

General Jack D. Ripper & all elements & properties belonging to “Dr. Strangelove” © Stanley Kubrick & Columbia Pictures. I only claim ownership to the story itself.

When you’re finished reading the story, feel free to leave a review. I’ll take anything from simple comments to constructive criticism, as long as they’re not flames or written in a mean, rude, or overly-harsh manner.

And now that my copyright-&-disclaimer is finished, let the fanfiction begin! Happy reading! :D