Author's Interview with Andrew G. Berger

Before we dive into our exciting conversation with today’s remarkable author, let’s start by getting to know the creative mind behind the diverse and captivating stories. 

1. Could you please introduce yourself to us? 

My name is Andrew G. Berger. I have studied German Literature, Political Sciences and History. Today I live and work in Berlin. I am married and have two children. Over time I developed the idea for “THE SUPERFLARE”, my first long novel. It was published in 2022. The story is set in the near future and explores how humans might behave in extreme situations. An artificial superintelligence plays a central role in it – and not by chance. The question of what impact the triumph of AI could have on humanity’s future has long been the subject of controversial debate. Since Chat GPT was launched, this discussion has reached the public – and gained even more urgency.

2. Congratulations on your book! What inspired you to write it?

One day I was sitting in a subway train and looked around me – everybody around me was staring at some kind of digital screen. This example is just the tip of the iceberg. Today we are completely dependent on countless digital helpers – smartphones, navigation devices, laptops, iPads, tablets, smart TVs, smart watches, Alexa, Siri, Cortana, smart homes, Google, the Internet, etc. And I thought to myself – what if some catastrophe caused the digital world to collapse? What if all our digital devices stopped working overnight? How would people react if they were suddenly deprived of all their technical and digital helpers? That seemed to be the interesting core of a thrilling story. But what could cause such a catastrophe? After some in-depth research, I found out: A worldwide EMP, triggered by a gigantic solar storm, could do the trick. Based on this concept, I designed possible scenarios that branched out and condensed more and more. The story that would eventually be told in THE SUPERFLARE slowly began to emerge.

3. What is your book about?

Here is a short description: How far would you go to survive in a post-apocalyptic world? When a gigantic solar storm hits the earth in 2051, a worldwide EMP destroys almost all digital devices and power supplies. The artificial superintelligence Tron withstands the EMP in a shielded bunker and disempowers the people. Life in the clean cities collapses. They sink into barbarism and chaos. In the turmoil of this apocalypse, Julia (17), a girl from the clean city CC 12 turned living hell, meets 

Winston, an 18-year-old settler, whose village lies in the wilderness and whose people strictly reject any use of digital technology. The catastrophe made the once separate worlds collide. In the adventures and battles Julia and Winston endure together, they’re forced to confront the principles of their worlds and to fight tooth and nails to stay alive. But Winston and Julia discover also their love for each other and their destiny in the fight of the free people against Tron and his machines. For Julia possesses a special and powerful gift… 

4. Why did you choose this genre for your book?

Science fiction books and films have always fascinated me. They are mind games that start from the present and extend and play out certain technical or social developments into the future, whereby there are no limits to the imagination. But ultimately, they reflect us humans and our present, possibilities, desires and risks in a futuristic setting and thus perhaps also allow insights that could be relevant to our lives today.

5. How long did it take you to complete the book?

Well, I think it took me two years from scratch to the final draft. But it was originally written in German. The English translation and editing was done within another year.

6. What makes your book special? 

Artificial intelligence plays an important role in this book. Current developments in AI are progressing at a much faster pace than I would have expected. I called my book a near-future science fiction novel, but this future seems to be closer to us than I though. We seem to be approaching it with giant strides. In this respect, my book is becoming more and more topical.

7. When can we expect your next book?

Right now I am working on several projects, so the second book will come, but it might take a while.

8. Did you experience writer’s block while writing? What advice would you give to others who face it?

So far I have not really experienced writer's block. Sometimes the words simply do not flow. Then I get up and do something else. But finally, I always returned to my desk to continue. I went back in the text, read some earlier chapters, polished something here and there - and sooner or later the flow was back. And often I have learned that the flow of words did stop simply because I was walking in the wrong direction.

9. Besides being a talented author, what are your other hobbies?

I tend to keep private things private and separate from my work as an author and from my other lines of work and private life. 

10. Last but not least, how did you feel during this interview? 

Well, I am always gratefull for the opportunity to share some background information about my work with my readers.

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