72. Detectives, Magpies, and Metaphors: Stefan Mohamed and 'The House on Utopia Way'

Stephan Mohamed, award-winning author and spoken word performer, takes us through his eclectic journey in creative writing sharing tips on editing and publishing. Discover the surreal and mind-bending world of his latest novel, 'The House on Utopia Way,' a noir detective tale set in a city where reality is fragmented.This episode explores the influences of internet echo chambers, the evolution of AI, and the vital role of human connection in a post-truth world.Join us for an insightful conversation that blends fiction with the complexities of modern life.Books of his we discuss: The House on Utopia WayFurther info on this and other episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Finally, you can also find the podcast, and follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefutures.substack.com⁠⁠

In this episode, I sit down with M. Lazslo to discuss his evocative novel 'Anastasia's Midnight Song.' We delve into the creation of a richly detailed, cross-genre tale set during World War I, where characters grapple with schizophrenia and blurred lines between reality and fantasy. Laszlo shares insights on historical settings, the impact of music and technology on the human psyche, and his own experiences living in East Jerusalem. Don't miss this dive into the mind of a writer who masterfully blends the real and the surreal.Books of his we discuss: Anastasia's Midnight SongFurther info on this and other episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Finally, you can also find the podcast, and follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefutures.substack.com⁠⁠

In this episode, I interview LG Jenkins, author of the new adult dystopian Merit Hunters series. Discover the intriguing world of 'The Sun of Endless Days,' where merit points dictate every aspect of life, and explore the inspirations behind Jenkins' gripping tales.This episode, recorded live at the Harrogate Library, delves into the pressures of modern society, the challenges of writing and marketing books, and the messages woven into dystopian science fiction. Jenkins shares insights into her creative process, her take on today's societal issues, and why she thinks we're already living in a form of dystopia.Books of hers we discuss: The Sun of Endless Days (Merit Hunters series)Further info on this and other episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Finally, you can also find the podcast, and follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefutures.substack.com⁠⁠

In this episode, I chat with Brent Golembiewski, a retired US Air Force veteran turned indie sci-fi author. Brent shares fascinating stories from his military career, including his time working on electronic warfare and flying Huey helicopters. He also dives into his transition to writing, discussing his Flat Earth Trilogy, the captivating middle-grade 'Central Fire' series debuting with 'The Boy, The Cube, The Elf,' and his upcoming dystopian novel, 'Social Score.' Explore insights into his creative process, publishing experiences with Scrivenings Press, and his thoughts on the future of freedom and technology. Perfect for fans of sci-fi, military history, and aspiring writers!Books of his we discuss: The Boy, The Cube, and the Elf; Social Score; The Flat Earth seriesFurther info on this and other episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Finally, you can also find the podcast, and follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefutures.substack.com⁠

In this episode, I dive into a fascinating conversation with Ben Paris, an experienced NASA consultant and science museum executive director. We explore his work, including his novel 'Mars Armor Forged' and the complexities of human colonization on Mars. Ben shares his thoughts on political intrigue, the potential of synesthetic heroes in fiction, and the future of humanity in the face of AI and declining birth rates. Whether you're a sci-fi aficionado or just curious about our celestial prospects, this episode is packed with insights and compelling ideas.Books of his we discuss: Mars: Armor Forged, Wade of AquataineFurther info on this and other episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Finally, you can also find the podcast, and follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefutures.substack.com⁠

Ovid Vesper fought in one of the worst battles of the U.S. civil war where he was almost killed in an explosion. As he returned to the land of the living, something came with him and it's been following him on his journey to reconnect with post-war America, ever since.In this episode, I chat with Frederic S Durbin about the history and themes underpinning his latest novel The Country Under Heaven. Why did he set a paranormal story of post-war trauma in the Wild West? What similarities does the mid-1800s have to the modern era, and what important differences? And just how many analog typewriters can one person own?Books of his we discuss: The Country Under HeavenFurther info on this and other episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Finally, you can also find the podcast, and follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefutures.substack.com⁠

Imagine being able to see 5 seconds into the future and being able to chose the path you want from the myriad of posibilities. Preble Jeffereson has that ability and he knows how to use it. So, what could stop such a person?In part two of my chat with Alexander Boldizar, we delve more into the philosophical ideas behind The Man Who Saw Seconds. We discuss Laplace's Demon and whether omniscience is truly possible, we explore Asimov's Mule - the unexpected variant that can destabilize a society, and we consider the trolly problem as a foil to limited omniscience.Books of his we discuss: The Man Who Saw SecondsFurther info on this and other episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Finally, you can follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefutures.substack.com⁠

Being able to see 5 seconds into the future may not seem like much, but in Alexander Boldizar's latest novel, The Man Who Saw Seconds, it's enough to change the world. This fast-paced story explores the dynamics of power structures, the line between good and evil, and the power of family. And it invites the reader to consider some serious questions:Can you return to what you were after you've crossed the line?How far is too far to save the people you love?Just how powerful is 5 seconds of local omniscience?In the first of our two-part discussion, I chat with Alexander about his path from law to writing, publishing with Clash Books and navigating the financial side of bookselling, and how to craft an entertaining story that can still be a vehicle for the exploration of ideologies.Books of his we discuss: The Ugly, The Man Who Saw SecondsFurther info on this and other episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Finally, you can follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefutures.substack.com⁠

Sean Robins' latest, Echoes of Extinction, the opening novel of his Voidwalkers Chronicles series, lives up to its title, serving up hefty doses of near extinction events. But it's not all doom and gloom. Canadian ex-pat Robins also seasons his story with an abundance of fun pop culture references, a sardonic AI companion, and the toughest Canadian to explore the galaxy.I chat with Sean about how teaching English has led him to travel the world, curing his OCD through writing, and just what does he think of the latest Star Trek offerings?As usual, there are also the Big Questions.Books of his we discuss: Echoes of Extinction (Voidwalker Chronicles series), Crimson Deathbringer seriesFurther info on this and other episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Finally, you can follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefutures.substack.com⁠

In Zack Samo's Exodus 2065, humanity encounters an extinction level event. They flee the Earth for an unknown future, chased by 'demons' from the bowels of the planet. But some choose to stay and face the threat, forging a new future for humanity on Earth.I chat with Zack about being an optometrist who writes science fiction, apocalypses, generation ships, artificial intelligence, and the importance of facing your demons.As usual, there are also the Big Questions.Books of his we discuss: Exodus 2065Further info on this and other episodes, as well as author info and content, can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Finally, you can follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefutures.substack.com⁠