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Hell Ship: The Flying Dutchman
The true catastrophic events of the Fortuyn as witnessed by Tom Hardy, the sole survivor of the aforementioned Vessel.
When an ancient document, written by Tom Hardy, the cabin boy aboard the Fortuyn, surfaces, it reveals he was the sole survivor of the stricken Dutch East India vessel and the gruesome events he witnessed that claimed both vessel and crew.
Because the terrible events he witnessed on board were too fantastical to be believed, Tom kept the truth a secret. However, in an attempt to quell his reoccurring nightmares, he wrote down the events leading to the demise of the crew and the Fortuyn. It is believed by some that the Fortuyn is the lost ship that haunts the seas and has become known as the Flying Dutchman.
Centuries after Tom’s death, the truth can, at last, be revealed.
A ghost ship, also known as a phantom ship, is a vessel with no living crew aboard. These encompass ghostly vessels from folklore and fiction, such as the Flying Dutchman, or a derelict found adrift with its crew missing or dead, like the Mary Celeste.
In maritime folklore, the ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman, has had an impact like no other lost vessel. It has inspired numerous paintings, films, books, opera, etc. The alleged captain, Van der Decken, was on a heading for the East Indies when a ferocious storm overwhelmed them. With sheer determination, he tried to steer his ship through the hostile weather conditions the Cape of Good Hope was famous for but failed miserably even after he vowed to drift until doomsday. Legend declares that since then, ship and crew have been cursed to sail the oceans for eternity.
To this day, hundreds of sailors are credited to having witnessed the Flying Dutchman continuing its never-ending phantom voyage across the oceans. Tom’s account of what happened aboard the Flying Dutchman, however, is considerably more chilling.
When an ancient document, written by Tom Hardy, the cabin boy aboard the Fortuyn, surfaces, it reveals he was the sole survivor of the stricken Dutch East India vessel and the gruesome events he witnessed that claimed both vessel and crew.
Because the terrible events he witnessed on board were too fantastical to be believed, Tom kept the truth a secret. However, in an attempt to quell his reoccurring nightmares, he wrote down the events leading to the demise of the crew and the Fortuyn. It is believed by some that the Fortuyn is the lost ship that haunts the seas and has become known as the Flying Dutchman.
Centuries after Tom’s death, the truth can, at last, be revealed.
A ghost ship, also known as a phantom ship, is a vessel with no living crew aboard. These encompass ghostly vessels from folklore and fiction, such as the Flying Dutchman, or a derelict found adrift with its crew missing or dead, like the Mary Celeste.
In maritime folklore, the ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman, has had an impact like no other lost vessel. It has inspired numerous paintings, films, books, opera, etc. The alleged captain, Van der Decken, was on a heading for the East Indies when a ferocious storm overwhelmed them. With sheer determination, he tried to steer his ship through the hostile weather conditions the Cape of Good Hope was famous for but failed miserably even after he vowed to drift until doomsday. Legend declares that since then, ship and crew have been cursed to sail the oceans for eternity.
To this day, hundreds of sailors are credited to having witnessed the Flying Dutchman continuing its never-ending phantom voyage across the oceans. Tom’s account of what happened aboard the Flying Dutchman, however, is considerably more chilling.
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Published November 20, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 4, 2020
I loved the story within a story aspect of this book. When reading the Tom Hardy story, I felt like I was reading a Jules Verne book. The Tom Hardy story had a handwritten drawing of the sea monster and this was a nice touch; it was a bit different than I had pictured the creature but for the most part, we agreed on a lot of it. It was a quick, action packed read.
September 16, 2020
A creature horror set in the days of the East Indiamen around the Cape of Good Hope. Very well written action scenes, this one doesnt let up until it stripped bare every ship that approaches with fast paced fear and violence. Worth a quick read.
September 3, 2025
HELL SHIP
The Flying Dutchman
The True Catastrophic Events of the Fortuyn as Witnessed by Tom Hardy, the Sole Survivor of the Aforementioned Vessel
by Ben Hammott
The first person account of the misfortune that befell the Fortuyn and her crew as described by Tom Hardy
I am reviewing another book by Ben Hammott. I enjoyed HORROR ISLAND (reviewed HERE) so much that when I have the opportunity to read this this book with the amusingly long title, HELL SHIP - The Flying Dutchman: The True Catastrophic Events of the Fortuyn as Witnessed by Tom Hardy, the Sole Survivor of the Aforementioned Vessel, for free in exchange for an honest review, I couldn't resist!
The story is actually told from two different first person perspectives. It starts from the view of a struggling author of horror at a failure of a book signing. A fan happened to drop by and sow the seed of a horror novel based on a manuscript written by one of her forefathers. From there we are delved into the world of Tom Hardy, a young man looking for adventure on the high seas. Unfortunately he found it in the most horrific way.
While being a brutal and gory horror tale, it also explains how the name FLYING DUTCHMAN may have been invented as well as which ship, Fortuyn, may have even been the one. Even the strange mass of seaweed and strange creatures living in it were based on some fact discovered from Hammott's research.
The book moves at a fantastic pace. It's not long and you can tear through it reasonably quickly. The vile creatures seem to be very Lovecraftian in description, which endeared me to the story even more. The use of maritime vocabulary as well as vernacular of the time lends an extra layer of realism to the story. The massive about of detailed description brings you into the story in a terrifying way. The wave after wave of violence amazes you. Like in a good horror flick, you will catch yourself saying out loud, "DON'T GO IN THERE!"
I adored this book from the very first word to the last and I have already been telling my friends to consider giving this book a slot in their reading schedules. I didn't know that historical maritime horror was a genre, but I sure enjoyed it! I hope you will too!
The Flying Dutchman
The True Catastrophic Events of the Fortuyn as Witnessed by Tom Hardy, the Sole Survivor of the Aforementioned Vessel
by Ben Hammott
The first person account of the misfortune that befell the Fortuyn and her crew as described by Tom Hardy
I am reviewing another book by Ben Hammott. I enjoyed HORROR ISLAND (reviewed HERE) so much that when I have the opportunity to read this this book with the amusingly long title, HELL SHIP - The Flying Dutchman: The True Catastrophic Events of the Fortuyn as Witnessed by Tom Hardy, the Sole Survivor of the Aforementioned Vessel, for free in exchange for an honest review, I couldn't resist!
The story is actually told from two different first person perspectives. It starts from the view of a struggling author of horror at a failure of a book signing. A fan happened to drop by and sow the seed of a horror novel based on a manuscript written by one of her forefathers. From there we are delved into the world of Tom Hardy, a young man looking for adventure on the high seas. Unfortunately he found it in the most horrific way.
While being a brutal and gory horror tale, it also explains how the name FLYING DUTCHMAN may have been invented as well as which ship, Fortuyn, may have even been the one. Even the strange mass of seaweed and strange creatures living in it were based on some fact discovered from Hammott's research.
The book moves at a fantastic pace. It's not long and you can tear through it reasonably quickly. The vile creatures seem to be very Lovecraftian in description, which endeared me to the story even more. The use of maritime vocabulary as well as vernacular of the time lends an extra layer of realism to the story. The massive about of detailed description brings you into the story in a terrifying way. The wave after wave of violence amazes you. Like in a good horror flick, you will catch yourself saying out loud, "DON'T GO IN THERE!"
I adored this book from the very first word to the last and I have already been telling my friends to consider giving this book a slot in their reading schedules. I didn't know that historical maritime horror was a genre, but I sure enjoyed it! I hope you will too!
August 14, 2019
The beginning was very promising. The book started off intriguing and created a good atmosphere of “true story”. Unfortunately, when it came to the catastrophic events it failed to paint a realistic picture. Not only had I problems to imagine these “monsters” visually but also scientifically.
Some explanations:
Also, in the introduction it was told that it is based on the memories of Tom Hardy. But what the story teller made out of it is prose from third person POV. And there is a lot that Tom wasn't able to have witnessed (e.g. because he was asleep or at the other end of the ship). This took gravely away from the built up feel of authenticity.
I also think the story would have benefited from building Tom's character (or any of the sailor's). They weren't introduced enough to make me care. So in the end it was just a gory slaughter of characters I didn't care about.
It didn't work for me the way it was put together.
Some explanations:
Also, in the introduction it was told that it is based on the memories of Tom Hardy. But what the story teller made out of it is prose from third person POV. And there is a lot that Tom wasn't able to have witnessed (e.g. because he was asleep or at the other end of the ship). This took gravely away from the built up feel of authenticity.
I also think the story would have benefited from building Tom's character (or any of the sailor's). They weren't introduced enough to make me care. So in the end it was just a gory slaughter of characters I didn't care about.
It didn't work for me the way it was put together.
August 15, 2019
As other reviews mentioned, the story is a bit short but don't let that deter you from reading! This story begins with a horror author struggling to find his big bestseller and it happens to drop in his lap. He meets a mysterious woman who literally hands him a tale with some shocking evidence. The story that ensues is a horrific one, chock full of sea monsters and pirates and plenty of gore. There isn't much character development that makes you want to know what happens to any specific person, but more just how exactly these characters survived these creatures. It did feel that the story wrapped up slightly abruptly but overall it was a good read.
*I received an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.*
*I received an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.*
August 13, 2019
Although the author creates a present day framework for this story, nearly all the verbiage deals with the desperate struggles of different groups of sailors against monsters of both plant and animal from prehistoric origins. The style of writing is somewhat sparse, and the narratives seems to slip between person and point of view in a disconcerting manner. The story is quite interesting and imaginative, and I liked it!
April 13, 2019
Good well told story!!!😎
I gave five strars,because the characters were well written and developed,including the old woman and the manuscript,would love to read a fourth( ice rift )if that is not asking Too Much!!!,sincerely Robert M. Hamaker😁
I gave five strars,because the characters were well written and developed,including the old woman and the manuscript,would love to read a fourth( ice rift )if that is not asking Too Much!!!,sincerely Robert M. Hamaker😁
August 11, 2019
I found "Hell Ship" really disappointing. It's a great idea and the beginning was good... but I found the rest a bit flimsy, when I'd hoped for the solid read that the blurb led me to believe I would get.
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy.
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy.
April 6, 2019
A TALE OF WOE IT IS....
Hello, this is a good story. A little short, but good none the less. I was entertained through the whole thing. Thanks.
Hello, this is a good story. A little short, but good none the less. I was entertained through the whole thing. Thanks.
May 12, 2019
Robert's Review
Very good, definitely a page turning read. Enough action to keep the most extreme adrenaline junky occupied enough to get though the book. Enjoyed the book.
Very good, definitely a page turning read. Enough action to keep the most extreme adrenaline junky occupied enough to get though the book. Enjoyed the book.
August 2, 2019
Good story. Not great writing. Confusing sentence structure occurred often (see what I mean?). A few edit mistakes in text or word tense. Easy, quick read.
August 19, 2019
What a ride!
This is one that takes you on a sailing journey from start to finish. Don’t get attached to characters because no one is safe in this one.
This is one that takes you on a sailing journey from start to finish. Don’t get attached to characters because no one is safe in this one.
May 21, 2020
Wow wow wow! I greatly appreciated the vividness of the story! I felt like I was there or watching a movie.
February 1, 2021
Well written horrid novel
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews