J.M. Erickson holds a BA in psychology and sociology from Boston College and a Master’s in Social Work from Simmons University. A dedicated mental health professional, he balances a multifaceted career as a high school counselor, community therapist, and adjunct professor, teaching graduate-level behavioral science.
Erickson’s work resonates with Melville, Hemingway, and Shelley because he shares their obsession with the "shadow side" of progress and the isolation of the individual.
Herman Melville: The Obsessive Quest
Like Melville in Moby Dick, Erickson’s protagonists are often driven by an all-consuming duty or vengeance that blinds them to their own morality.
Similarity: In Heavy Weight of Darkness, Captain Bennett’s hunt for Cassandra Kurtz is deeply "Ahab-ian." He is a man obsessed with a "monster" (a revolutionary) only to realize the real whale is the corrupt system he serves.
The "Sea" as Space: Erickson treats the Martian subterranean wilds and the vacuum of space much like Melville treats the Pacific—as a vast, indifferent wilderness that strips men of their societal masks.
Ernest Hemingway: The "Iceberg" Prose
Erickson adopts Hemingway’s "Theory of Omission." His writing is sparse, focused on action and dialogue, leaving the heavy emotional subtext beneath the surface.
Similarity: The Birds of Flight series mirrors Hemingway's "Hard-Boiled" style. There is a grit and a "manly" stoicism to the characters—they don't talk about their feelings; they act, they suffer, and they endure. It is a prose of "grace under pressure."
Mary Shelley: The Promethean Warning
This is the most direct link (explicitly referenced in Future Prometheus). Shelley’s Frankenstein is the blueprint for Erickson's sci-fi.
Similarity: Like Victor Frankenstein, Erickson’s scientists are often horrified by what they have created. He shares Shelley’s romantic-period skepticism: just because we can create life (or AI) doesn't mean we have the moral right to do so.
The Monster’s Perspective: Just as Shelley gave the Monster a voice to critique humanity, Erickson uses AI characters like Aletheia to highlight the "human stupidity" and cruelty of the caste systems in his novels.