Read an Exclusive Excerpt from Tom DeLonge’s New Dystopian Novel
Today marks the release of Poet Anderson …Of Nightmares, a new novel co-written by Angels and Airwaves leader, and former Blink-182 member, Tom DeLonge. The book is the first installment of a planned trilogy co-authored by young-adult-fiction writer Suzanne Young. Poet Anderson …Of Nightmares tells the story of two teenage brothers whose parents have died in a plane crash, and according to DeLonge, the novel is set in “an unknown world where dreams meet reality and the chasm between the two sometimes disappears.” In August, we premiered a song from an Angels and Airwaves EP based on the novel’s themes, and here, we’re presenting an exclusive excerpt from Chapter 14 of the book itself.
“You need to start remembering, Poet,” Jarabec said. “Remembering your dreams.”
“Well,” Poet started. “This has been a pretty fucking traumatizing evening, so maybe this one will stick.”
“I am sorry,” Jarabec said. “I’m sorry for all of it. Since your mother never got the chance, I will train you how to be a proper Poet. We’ll start tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Poet scoffed, annoyed that the Dream Walker would even dangle the possibility of it in front of him, only to make him wait. “I’m ready now.”
Jarabec held his eyes. “You’re not. I can’t bring you into the dreamscape when you’re this emotional. That’s not where you start.”
“Look,” Poet started. “I’m perfectly capable of—”
There was a loud smash of a dish hitting the floor and Poet jumped, dissolving the rest of his sentiment. A group of soldiers were stalking through the dining room in his direction, their heavy boots clanking and the dishware rattling as they bumped tables unapologetically. Poet jumped up from his seat, terrified, until he realized they were wearing red armor—not black. These were Dream Walkers.
“Christ,” Jarabec muttered under his breath, without looking back at them. He drained the last of his wine and then wiped his hands on his napkin before standing. “Keep in mind what I’ve told you tonight, boy,” he told Poet as he got to his feet. “Now there’s something I must attend to.”
Poet took a step back as the Dream Walkers arrived at his table. Two men and one woman stood in full armor, helmets in their hands. They looked battle-hardened and cruel. The woman had a scar on her upper lip, pulling it to the side in an eternal sneer. One of the men wore an eye-patch, and when he saw Poet looking at him, he smiled, flashing a gap of missing teeth.
A handsome, and intimidating, guy stepped forward and he and Jarabec exchanged a greeting. He turned to examine Poet. “This the boy?” he asked in a thick Australian accent.
“He’s not ready, Flint,” Jarabec replied curtly. Poet could tell he was annoyed to be wearing a suit and tie while his comrades were decked out in gear. Still, Jarabec gave little pause when stepping in front of him to block the other Dream Walkers’ view.
“I say we take him into the woods,” Eye-patch called out, “and beat it out of him.” He smiled again and the woman next to him laughed.
“Don’t look so scared, darling,” she told Poet in a British accent. “We’d never hurt that pretty face.”
He knew her, Poet realized suddenly, only she looked quite different in the Waking World. She was the woman who arrived the other night while he was working as a doorman. The red dress and the accent.
“Yes, I know,” she said, reading his reaction. “I am much lovelier in person.” She took a step forward, and Jarabec held out his hand to stop her from getting any closer to Poet. She sighed, and looked at him impatiently, reaching to adjust his tie. “Come now, Jarabec,” she whispered. “Remember that I know where you sleep.”