I found that as I wrote World Builder, the world that these characters lived in became more and more immersive. At first the Observer was sort of removed and distant, but as I went along I got deeper into his mind and found that I really began to sympathize with his situation. What would it be like to be stranded on a planet that is not your home, with no memories, and an insatiable urge to observe and catalogue? This question is what drove the first few chapters of the book. As his powers are revealed it is quickly apparent that he is not fully using his abilities to their maximum affect.