Oswald Bastable is a manifestation of the Eternal Champion with the uncanny ability to survive fatal explosions. His story was told to Moorcock's grandfather: Michael C. Moorcock.
History[]
Bastable was initially a Captain of the 53rd Lancers. In 1902, he was sent to Kumbalari, an independent state ruled by a powerful wizard known as Sharan Kang. Sharan invites Bastable and his men to the ancient city of Teku Benga. During dinner, Bastable and his men are drugged by Sharan. Sharan and the Kubalaris attempt to kill Bastable, but he escapes into a the labyrinthian tunnels below the ruins. Whilst in the tunnels, an earthquake shakes the foundations of Teku Benga, sending Bastable through the time streams to the year 1972.
1972[]
Waking up in the ruins of Teku Benga, Bastable flags down an airship. He feigns amnesia to avoid being locked away in a psych ward. After his return to London, he gains a position on a luxury airship known as the Loch Etive. Unfortunately, after a scuffle with an obnoxious passenger, Bastable is fired and forced to find employment elsewhere. Bastable meets Captain Korzeniowski and is hired aboard his airship The Rover.
Upon learning The Rover is carrying a known terrorist, Bastable attempts to stage a mutiny. His mutinous attempts are quickly thwarted and he is thrown into the brig. The Rover is soon overtaken by a group of pirates lead by O.T. Shaw, the Warlord of the Air. Shaw takes The Rover and its crew to the Valley of the Morning, a village found in China. Shaw explains that he has been capturing airships and using them to build an army. He has also created flying machines equipped with recoilless guns which sound like hornets.
After seeing people from different backgrounds living in harmony, Bastable begins to sympathize with the residents of the Valley of the Morning and agrees to pilot an airship for them. Shaw explains how his scientists have been working on a special bomb and explains his plan to drop the bomb on Hiroshima, where several airships are currently housed. Bastable, Shaw, and the crew of The Rover take the bomb to drop it on Hiroshima. After the bomb is set off, millions are killed in the explosion, except Bastable, who is sent to the 1903 of another Earth. Wracked with guilt for all the deaths he accidentally caused and unable to adjust to this alternate universe, he becomes addicted to opium. After relating his story to Michael C. Moorcock, he escaped back to Teku Benga, hoping it could help return him to his own world.
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