Hi Viking!
I'm really glad that you've posted your comments. Yours is the most detailed appraisal I have received so far, and I see you have delved a lot into the substance of the plot and the characters. This is what interests me most rather than the structure. To be honest, the structure really came as a secondary consideration. For the first few months of writing, there was no plan. It just kind of evolved!
My original intention was to just follow the characters in modern day Britain (1957) and occasionally dropping dark hints of the word outside, and how we had got to this situation. (I wrote Incident over Japan in this style) I wanted to keep the reader guessing. However, I realised soon that there was simply way too many unanswered questions, that would ultimately have caused too much confusion, and perhaps frustration. So the structured historical flashbacks were really an afterthought!
My main inspiration was to explore human nature and the concept of good and evil, within an AH setting. (This comes out in the final narrative) I was fascinated by the characters in George RR Martins books that left you wondering if you liked or disliked a character. I attempted to delve somewhat into that idea.
A lot of the comments I have received talk about the repeated 'cliff hangers' and suspense. The reason that this style developed in such a repeated manner, was that I was posting the sections on another site originally, and wanted the followers to keep coming back for more, which they did. This has inevitably led to a novel that compels the reader to keep turning the page, and saying "just half an hour more", as their bedtime passes! Feedback is that this is a book that people don’t want to put down, as they race through it.
There are only 2 PODS in the book - Dunkirk and Roosevelt. Everything else butterflies from that. I fully realise that some of the developments from the PODs may well be far-fetched and questionable, but I always took the view that this was first and foremost - a thriller, and I was going to use some artistic license, even if the purists were offended. I must admit, however, that I did take some serious advice from a bacteriologist, and refined my 'Red Death' to make it technically possible. My original idea was that it would be instant acting. (I was inspired by the great thriller - '48' by the great British horror writer, James Herbert, who I have thrown a nod to in the book.
I'm glad you picked up on the drift towards a 1984 scenario. The section of the book "We are the Dead - a Side Issue" was intended as a tribute to those many AH timelines I have seen that have attempted to complete that mammoth task.
The Mrs Robinson reference was great fun! The words just seemed to fit the characters! I also had references in there to the great Morrissey - with "Sheila take a Bow' and 'Alma Matters'. I also used lyrics from the OMD song - Enola Gay, and even lyrics from 'Jesus Christ Superstar'! I find song lyrics can give you a lot on inspiration.
The constructive criticism I have had is from people who thought that there may have been too much historical detail, and that this got in the way of a good thriller. In addition, one person didn’t like the supernatural references, and felt it was unnecessary. I suppose I could be guilty of trying to cover multiple themes at the same time.
Thanks again for your feedback. I hope you enjoy your second read and may pick up on even more nuances and hints, second time round!
Cheers
Nick
P.S. the English translation of "ein Dämon mit einer toten Seele" is "a demon with a dead soul", not an 'angel.