On his latest work, Amagon: The Book of Man
AM: Thank you for taking
the time, let me begin in asking: With Amagon being your break-out novel, what
challenges and benefits most affected your work and have you delved into
writing before?
AU:
The initial idea for Amagon goes back
20 years, to what I originally intended to call The Book of Man. My
intention was to write a novel that gave a new perspective on the true
relationship between man’s science and his religious philosophy, and how the
two, working together have impacted his evolution and advancement. I eventually
settled on the science fiction genre because most of the issues presented are
extremely controversial in the present.
I believed that by moving them into a “future world”, readers might be
able to consider my arguments more dispassionately.
As for previous writing experience, I
had over the years contributed columns to several small town newspapers
addressing contemporary issues, generally in a Twainesquian voice, and
submitted and had published a number of humorous short stories to regional
publications in the Ozarks region of Missouri.
I also amassed a rather impressive collection of rejection slips from
some of the more nationally prominent journals and periodicals.
AM: What were your
biggest influences for having written Amagon, in other words, what motivated or
sparked the creativity needed in creating such a world as found in Amagon?
AU: I
have always been profoundly interested in the tension between human scientific
thought and human philosophy. I was
raised in a religious environment, but my natural interests were in the
sciences. The juxtaposition of these two
worlds has kept me in a state of intellectual tension that needed
resolution. As a result, I have studied
deeply the origins and impacts of these two arenas of human thought
extensively. I have come to the
conclusion that religion and science are not mutually exclusive, but in fact
are complimentary. I am educated in the
sciences and am also an active member of a religious congregation. I find that both pursuits require reasoning
and faith. In Amagon I have tried to represent a future for man where the power
of these two aspects of human existence are melded into one purpose – the
preservation of the species.
AM: Could you describe
some of the themes found in your novel and are they centered on the genre of
science fiction?
AU:
The principle theme of Amagon is
man’s migration from a planetary surface to living free in space. Whereas most science fiction focuses on
travel to other planets, using extreme (and perhaps impossible) technologies
like superlight travel or matter transport, instead, I focus on the simple
notion of escaping the bonds of gravitation and all the effort required to
combat it, and evolving into creatures adapted to live in a micro-gravity
environment. This requires some initially
invasive adaptations to the organism, both behaviorally and physiologically,
like Excision, and various biological supports as the human body adapts to
micro-gravity. Other than that, the
major technology is repurposing the materials of planet Earth and other planets
and moon in the solar system into manufactured Habitats specifically designed
to support biological biomes conducive to human proliferation.
AM: Have you considered a
theatrical or graphic novel adaptation of your work, and if so – do you have
any actors or artists in particular?
AU: I think the only possible theatrical treatment for the novel
would be computer animation, done in the style of Cameron’s Avatar.
Because Amagon is intended to
portray a hopeful future for mankind, it would be absolutely essential that the
production focus on the beauty within the Habitats - the terra, flora, and
fauna.
AM: As an educator, how
has your experience transferred into both the creative art of storytelling and
the struggle of keeping it relevant to your intended audience?
AU:
As a science educator my purpose is to instill in young people the hope
that our further understanding of the universe and all within it is the key to
happiness. So often they see each new
scientific advancement either weaponized or used solely for financial
gain. I try to encourage them to rise
above these primitive urges, and imagine science and technology as the path to
our physical salvation. Of course,
philosophically I also remind them that such a path requires faith in the
existence of a higher purpose than satisfying our individual wants and needs.
AM: Who would you say is
your ideal reader and what have you learned in having interacted with many of
your readers?
AU: Though I believe my work is accessible to many social and age
groups, the reader I had in mind is an intellectually curious young adult,
probably in college, and making the transition from the culture and ideas held
by his family and childhood friends to that brave new world of culture and
ideas we invent for ourselves as we challenge the old ideas and go in search of
the new.
AM: What have you done to
attract such readers to your initial effort in what is the first in a series of
novels?
AU: I have intentionally avoided promoting my book to my current
and future students as a matter of ethics.
I have discussed and promoted my work with past students, many of whom
are now in college. I have also had the
extreme pleasure of carrying on some interesting correspondence from college
students in several different countries.
AM: Speaking of your book
series, are you currently working on a sequel to your incredible first attempt
and if so, when can we expect it to be available?
AU:
I am currently finishing an interquel to Amagon called The Budding of Ptatkurapki.
It isintended to examine more closely
the circumstances from which the Amagon story
evolved, and to further explore the deeper philosophical questions of human
existence and life in general. The
prequel to Amagon, at this time
titled The Last Days of Man on Earth, is
in the works. As a full-time educator, my writing ambitions must as yet take a
second seat to my obligations to students, so I cannot say with certainty when
the work will be forthcoming. But the
story is written in my mind, and only awaits to opportunity to become print.
AM: Thank you again for your time, your first
novel was entertaining, well-written, and a real treat for sci fi enthusiasts.
AU: Thank
you, Adrian. It has been a pleasure.
AM: A. Umaz can be found
on Co-opress.com under the imprint of Helios Press as an Independent Authors
Cooperative Press (IACP) member and on Goodreads’ authors listing as well as on
Facebook and his own website. He is welcoming of fan questions or comments,
does not shy away from thought-provoking conversations, and is someone I am
supportive of and consider a friend. Remember to get your copy of Amagon: TheBook of Man currently available on Amazon and Createspace in both paperback and
e-book versions. Look for book two of the Amagon series: The Budding of Ptatkurapki
Interview of A.
Umaz by Adrian Mendoza September 26, 2015.
There are
memoirs, and then there are memoirs. Sue’s honest and reflective memoir keeps
true to her message of persistence via love and intelligence. In learning to
adapt and unlearn truisms taken for granted, Sue worked hard to break free of
constructs that created more trouble than they were worth. With so many
challenges in life, it is all the more meaningful that she was so openly raw
about some of the most difficult periods in her life. She shares several near-cascading,
life-altering moments that can arise in anyone’s life – it is to everyone’s benefit
to learn from her experiences. 
This is a good thing. In the process of
simplifying the worlds of influence, my appreciation for poetry re-surfaced. Paolo Freire's discussion with Myles Horton later reinforced my line of thinking on the matter but I'll save that for another post. Thankfully, I had kept note
of some genial personalities in my mental network and was fortunate enough to reach out to them and actually have them reply. 
Masterfully written. The story carries the reader to
another world, a future world, one where humanity searches for answers while
clutching unto hope. Faith, reason, and love drive the intriguing narrative as
the author reveals his message in an ordered and thoroughly researched manner. Without
a doubt, the story is best appreciated introspectively. As with the best of
what science fiction has to offer, Amagon keeps stock of the human condition
and its limitations concerning societal harmony. In seeking higher truth, the
loss of self, is the catalyst to truly living. - Adrian Mendoza, author of The Kaleidoscope series. 
