Author's Statement

This website is a work of fiction (but this author’s statement is not).

One defining feature of e-literature is its relationship to technology, not only in its current form but also in what it has been and what it will become. E-literature harnesses the new structure, language, and interface of its digital medium. Since the digital medium is subject to constant change and evolution, works of e-literature are often closely tied to the time when they are created, sometimes so much so that these works exist only in archived form, their original site having been removed.

The content and the format of this work explore the unique properties of technological evolution and time. Many times, the invention of the World Wide Web has been compared to that of the atomic bomb. Fair enough, as both are significant landmarks in technological and broader social evolution. In this work, I followed the conventions of hyperspecific, personal websites coded in HTML, a trend scarcely seen since the early 2000s. The narrator follows the conventions of homemade nuclear fallout shelters, a practice that began (rightfully) fading in the 1970s due to its futility.

E-literature is integrated into the evolution of technology, rather than simply observing it. Hypertextuality, interface, and net art directly influenced the direction and growth of the internet. The narrator of this work may or may not directly affect the technological sphere of nuclear weaponry.

I was particularly inspired by a few other works: Dr. Strangelove, clearly, in terms of themes and tone. Ted’s Caving Page, a work of horror fiction in hypertext format. Twilight, in the use of various navigation tools.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed :) -Eddie