What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Author Insights: Among your current projects is a dystopian novel titled, "Sector 12" set in the not too distant future. How did you develop this book and what makes for good dystopian fiction?
L. J. Bonham: I’m a big news junkie. I culled reports about technological, political, and economic trends for the premise behind “Sector 12.” Once I identified interesting technologies, I applied my historical knowledge and then let my mind wander down dark rabbit holes. People have used every technology invented to further their ambitions; our strongest ambitions are for power, wealth, and access to mates. So, I see a trend and then ask, “How would ambitious people misuse this?” It doesn’t take long to ride a toboggan down that slippery slope.
Then there's the law of unintended consequences, and that’s the fuel for a story when combined with human nature. History’s darkest chapters were cloaked in good intentions. People either used them to cover a hidden agenda, or ruthless opportunists coopted the moment for their benefit. The 1917 Bolshevik revolution in Russia is a prime example of the former and the French revolution typifies the latter. So far, humans haven’t been able to overcome their deepest drives, and I don’t think they will anytime soon.
AI: Sounds grim, are you a pessimist?
LJB: No, just realistic. I have great confidence in human nature.
AI: What about other dystopian stories?
LJB: I like ones that are a bit unpredictable. “The Road Warrior,” is a fun movie, but it relies on worn clichés to arrive at its premise. Stories like “Fahrenheit 451” are more subtle and turn expectation on its head. Bradbury takes a conventional modern feature (firefighting) and twists it to propel a totalitarian society. It’s believable because most readers understand the darker side of humanity and want to explore it vicariously.
AI: So how does “Sector 12” work?
LJB: I’ve taken trends that many think are good, turned them upside down, handed them to power hungry people and then pushed events into a sinister world. Only the hero and a small band of revolutionaries have a chance to save humanity from the abyss. It’s a dark vision, but try to remember that it is just one possible future. Probably.
L. J. Bonham: I’m a big news junkie. I culled reports about technological, political, and economic trends for the premise behind “Sector 12.” Once I identified interesting technologies, I applied my historical knowledge and then let my mind wander down dark rabbit holes. People have used every technology invented to further their ambitions; our strongest ambitions are for power, wealth, and access to mates. So, I see a trend and then ask, “How would ambitious people misuse this?” It doesn’t take long to ride a toboggan down that slippery slope.
Then there's the law of unintended consequences, and that’s the fuel for a story when combined with human nature. History’s darkest chapters were cloaked in good intentions. People either used them to cover a hidden agenda, or ruthless opportunists coopted the moment for their benefit. The 1917 Bolshevik revolution in Russia is a prime example of the former and the French revolution typifies the latter. So far, humans haven’t been able to overcome their deepest drives, and I don’t think they will anytime soon.
AI: Sounds grim, are you a pessimist?
LJB: No, just realistic. I have great confidence in human nature.
AI: What about other dystopian stories?
LJB: I like ones that are a bit unpredictable. “The Road Warrior,” is a fun movie, but it relies on worn clichés to arrive at its premise. Stories like “Fahrenheit 451” are more subtle and turn expectation on its head. Bradbury takes a conventional modern feature (firefighting) and twists it to propel a totalitarian society. It’s believable because most readers understand the darker side of humanity and want to explore it vicariously.
AI: So how does “Sector 12” work?
LJB: I’ve taken trends that many think are good, turned them upside down, handed them to power hungry people and then pushed events into a sinister world. Only the hero and a small band of revolutionaries have a chance to save humanity from the abyss. It’s a dark vision, but try to remember that it is just one possible future. Probably.
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Author Insights with L. J. Bonham
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