Ask the Author: A. Jordan Booth
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A. Jordan Booth
My next, Nova of the Machines, started with a basic question. What would the robots in The Terminator, Battlestar Galactica, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and The Matrix and many many other do if they finally succeeded in wiping out the humans? Its a pretty overused sci-fi trope that robots gain intelligence and immediately try to destroy their creators. The fundamental question that sci fi dealing with artificial intelligence asks is: “What does it mean to be human?” The idea was finally catalyzed by the Futurama film “Beast with a Billion Backs”. In the movie the humans (and all biological aliens) leave Earth to the robots. Without them the machines are listless and directionless. They were lonely.
Though it was played as silly comedy, Beast with a Billion Backs inspired me. I decided to take my Sci-Fi epic in a different direction. Instead machines wiping out humanity, they were left behind. They would be much more innocent than a race of Terminators or Cylons. Their incomplete nature would have to compare to the flawed nature of the humans they would encounter. How might humanity’s children evolve?
Though it was played as silly comedy, Beast with a Billion Backs inspired me. I decided to take my Sci-Fi epic in a different direction. Instead machines wiping out humanity, they were left behind. They would be much more innocent than a race of Terminators or Cylons. Their incomplete nature would have to compare to the flawed nature of the humans they would encounter. How might humanity’s children evolve?
A. Jordan Booth
I've been making up stories since in was in grade school. I have so many ideas, my ambition often outstrips my ability, especially writing part time. The big challenge is finding a way to channel my thoughts. I had a teacher who said that when you write you have to "kill your darlings". Not every thing I think is amazing is any good at all. The key is to set a goal and give myself time to to work towards it. Give all ideas a bit of consideration and their moment to be written. That's the only way to know if you'll need to kill the darling or not.
A. Jordan Booth
I am currently juggling a few projects. I have a science fiction novel titled "Nova of the Machines" which is about to be released. After that I have a crime drama about a boxer who becomes a hit man. It's named "Stone Jaw: The Fall and Rise of Jack Roxxon". Both books are in the final stages of fine tuning the printed proofs. Up next is a sequel to The Superhero's Log. The working title is "The Superhero's Log: To Combat Fear". The manuscript is done but it needs to be edited and tweaked. I've also started the first draft of a fantasy novel called The World of Penumbra. In the grand tradition of Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz, it about a girl who falls into a parallel world filled with fantasy creatures and gods (wiht my own spin on it of course.
So... do you think I'm keeping busy enough?
So... do you think I'm keeping busy enough?
A. Jordan Booth
Creativity is a madness, an obsession, an addiction, a passion, and a whole bunch of other stuff that likes to brainwash you into being a slave to its demands. I know many creative people who struggle to find a an outlet for all that energy. What's amazing about writing is that it isn't just an outlet. Its a way to create worlds, universes and beyond, and all it asks for is a pen, paper, and time.
A. Jordan Booth
I was once watching a show on pottery where the artist was trying to demonstrate how to make a pot. Being billed as a master in her field she was having a hard time getting it to come out right. The vase kept collapsing. Exasperated that she wasn't able to work on camera, she threw the clay out and sighed "It doesn't want to be a pot today." Creativity doesn't always work when you want it to. When I start to get fluster I just tell myself "Your book doesn't want to be a pot today."
With all manner of pent up creative energy I try to funnel it into physical activity. When I run or swim I'm alone my thoughts. Having to balance the characters and plot points in my mind while coordinating the exercise helps me filter out what doesn't work, and sometimes come up with new ideas.
So when the frustration of it not wanting to be a pot gets in the way of the creative flow, I sweat it out and come back to it.
With all manner of pent up creative energy I try to funnel it into physical activity. When I run or swim I'm alone my thoughts. Having to balance the characters and plot points in my mind while coordinating the exercise helps me filter out what doesn't work, and sometimes come up with new ideas.
So when the frustration of it not wanting to be a pot gets in the way of the creative flow, I sweat it out and come back to it.
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