Alexander Copperwhite is one of those writers capable of weighing his words very carefully without limiting his ability to say whatever he wants. That quality is so evident that his writings acquire a foundation of credibility and clarity that, when enhanced by his masterful skill in crafting plots laden with intrigue and mystery, creates a succulent cocktail that is easy to digest.
The Island of Jan Mayen is a fine example of what I just described, since the fluid, well-researched dialog, as well as parallel plots driving the story forward, enables the reader to experience the mystery surrounding the submarine in the story in a more direct, dramatic and tangible form.
A great story told within a 40-page short story, which speaks volumes of the writer's ability to synthesize what is truly necessary and vital so that a narrative taking place in time periods far removed from one another becomes a highly comprehensible and exciting story. That description in no way minimizes the essence, aromas, sense of color and visual flair of the surroundings and atmosphere so skillfully created by the author. Copperwhite has known how to portray the environment inside a submarine during wartime in fantastic and informative fashion. The reader feels the high tension, cramped quarters, anxiety, harshness and magnificence of every detail in an intensely sensory, visceral way.
Similarly, the Island of Jan Mayen is a clear example that history exists by and for some purpose. It is one of those literary works that demonstrate the fact that the past cannot be erased and that history is the most evident proof of the actions, adventures and misadventures of human beings.
But this short story also comes with a conclusion full of the magic, romanticism, humanity and hope that we all need at some time. When you read this work, it is impossible to avoid thinking that, when we step back to look at history in a broader, more general sense, we understand that if we reflect deeply on our time, the greatest milestones and events of humanity are invariably the cumulative result of a succession of anecdotes, small passages, mysteries and isolated incidents that have undoubtedly changed the world. And although fiction is invented and reality happens, the mind only imagines what it is open to conceive of happening.
The Island of Jan Mayen: "A brilliant, absorbing and rewarding tale".
Víctor Manuel Mirete Ramallo