Author's Interview with Shree Raaman.
1. Could you please introduce yourself to us?
My name is Shree Raaman and I'm a freelance journalist based in Southeast Asia who has previously written articles pertaining to the issue of environmental degradation in the region. In my capacity as a fiction writer, I have also contributed several science fiction and fantasy themed short stories to anthologies that were subsequently published by Woodbine Publishing.
2. Congratulations on your book! What inspired you to write it?
After graduating with a Masters degree in Political Philosophy, I gained an insight into how economic globalization has negatively impacted numerous indigent communities residing across the developing world. The salience of this reality was further emphasized by my investigation into the operations of nickel mines in Indonesia. In order to shine a spotlight upon how asymmetrical power relations within the economic sphere can undermine human liberty, I decided to write a collection of short stories that engaged with this theme.
3. What is your book about?
It explores the unanticipated consequences that ensue when powerful and privileged people encounter otherworldly beings that refuse to conform to their dictates. In Organism X, the titular antagonist is an extraterrestrial being who refuses to relinquish her freedom following her capture on the orders of a terminally ill tycoon lusting after immortality. Similar themes are echoed in Jack's Last Hunt and Sea Sprite.
4. Why did you choose this genre for your book?
Science fiction and dystopian classics such as George Orwell's 1984 and H.G Wells' War of the Worlds served as a medium through which their authors could articulate their thoughts on topics such as totalitarianism and colonialism respectively. In more recent years, Suzanne Collins has unleashed a pop cultural phenomenon with the success of her Hunger Games trilogy. Her novels serve as a warning about how society can slip into apathy when individual citizens choose to immerse themselves in escapist entertainment. Given how well the science fiction/ dystopian genre lends itself to social commentary, I have decided to embark upon a similar undertaking.
5. How long did it take you to complete the book?
Slightly over six months.
6. What makes your book special?
Unlike most science fiction/ dystopian themed stories, I have chose to invert the classic trope featuring brave human heroes who have to vanquish obstacles in the form of hordes of bloodthirsty, mindless monsters. My monsters are independent beings endowed with a sense of their own agency.
7. When can we expect your next book?
My intention is to publish a novel by the end of 2024. I am currently seeking publishers who would be interested in a dystopian story featuring a protagonist whose life unravels when he start turning into a humanoid shark mutant.
8. Did you experience writer’s block while writing? What advice would you give to others who face it?
Since these particular stories had been germinating in my mind for almost a year, writer's block wasn't something that I had to struggle with. However, for authors who find themselves currently confronting this bane, I'd strongly recommend that they take a break from the writing process and instead acquaint themselves with the works of other authors who specialize in the same genre. Inspiration arises when you find yourself questioning the stance that another author has adopted towards a particular topic or issue.
9. Besides being a talented author, what are your other hobbies?
I am an enthusiastic traveler who enjoys visiting countries with a rich cultural and historical heritage.
10. Last but not least, how did you feel during this interview?
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