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The “Hard Question”
The INCARNEX Rebellion follows a scientist and the girl he is raising in hiding as they try to survive the aftermath of a Britain reshaped by mind-transferring technology. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
The idea began with the “hard question” in consciousness theory, which asks where consciousness truly resides. Is it biological, something created by the mind and body working together, or something that exists beyond our physical form? That led me to wonder what happens in the moments after death and when exactly consciousness disappears.
Of course, if we ever discovered exactly where consciousness exists, someone would inevitably try to control it. That idea formed the core of The INCARNEX Compound, where resurrection is possible but comes with consequences.
For The INCARNEX Rebellion, I wanted to take things a step further. A company that could restore consciousness into a new host body would no doubt eventually try shifting it between bodies. Body-swapping is a classic sci-fi trope, but I wanted to explore it from a different angle, asking what happens when consciousness itself becomes something that can be transferred, stolen, or turned into a weapon.
The science inserted in the fiction, I felt, was well-balanced. How did you manage to keep it grounded while still providing the fantastic edge science fiction stories usually provide?
Thank you. That balance was something I worked hard on. My approach was to let the science serve the characters instead of overshadowing them. At its core, the story is about David and Celia and the people they join along the way. Their emotional journey keeps the technology grounded. If the characters feel real, the science feels more believable as part of their world.
I also made sure that INCARNEX had limits and real-world implications. These flaws helped keep it realistic and also added pressure and urgency to the story. The science needed to feel like a step forward from what we understand today, not something so advanced that it loses connection to reality.
What is the most challenging aspect of writing a trilogy?
The biggest challenge for me was developing character arcs that felt authentic across all three books. The events of the first novel have long-term consequences, and I needed to reflect how those experiences shaped everyone’s goals, fears, and choices in the second book. I did a lot of reading on trauma and psychology to help keep those reactions believable.
Another challenge was keeping everything cohesive while still escalating the stakes. I had to blend action, science, and character development into one larger narrative that still allowed the second book to stand on its own. It was a difficult balance but has also been one of the most rewarding parts of writing the trilogy.
Can you give us a glimpse inside the final installment of the INCARNEX trilogy? Where will it take readers?
Certainly. The final book is titled The INCARNEX War. Britain has split apart, and the events of the second book have pushed the country into full-scale civil war. David and the rebels lead the south, while the north is controlled by a regime built on fear, control, and ruthless ambition. It becomes a classic struggle of fascism and corporate power on one side and the hope for freedom and liberty on the other.
But war is not the only threat. A terrifying discovery forces the characters to confront choices far more difficult than they expected. They are no longer fighting only for freedom but for the survival of everyone touched by INCARNEX. A few familiar faces return, old rivalries resurface, and the stakes rise to their highest point.
Readers can expect a dramatic and intense conclusion, with twists, sacrifices, and the largest war dystopian Britain has ever seen!
David Harris has spent years in isolation, desperate to protect his adopted daughter Celia. But when his technology is weaponised in horrific new ways, hiding is no longer an option.
As Celia flees to New London, determined to take vengeance on the man who murdered her mother, David faces an impossible choice: join the rebels’ brutal scorched earth campaign and risk becoming the very thing he’s fighting, or lose Celia and any hope of a normal life.
Hunted, deceived, and pushed to their limits, both are forced towards lines they swore they’d never cross. To defeat a monster, they may have to become something worse.
The INCARNEX Rebellion
The INCARNEX Rebellion, by A.J. Roe, is a dystopian sci-fi adventure about a fractured Britain, a world reshaped by a mind-transferring technology called INCARNEX, and two people trying to survive its aftermath. We follow David, a reluctant scientist carrying the weight of his past mistakes, and Celia, the sharp, stubborn girl he’s raising in hiding. When Celia runs away to confront the man responsible for destroying their lives, everything spirals into a collision with rebels, corrupt leaders, and a system built to keep ordinary people powerless.
The writing stays close to the characters, especially in the early chapters, where we see the quiet rhythms of life at the cottage and the messy push-and-pull between David’s fears and Celia’s hunger for freedom. I liked that the writing doesn’t feel rushed. It lets moments breathe, even the simple ones like a missed step on the stairs or the silence between two people who care but can’t quite say so. When the action hits, it hits hard. There’s a grit to it that matches the world: street gangs armed with acid, labour camps, and collapsing governments. The scenes are vivid without feeling showy, which kept me invested rather than overwhelmed.
What stood out most was how the author handles the ideas behind the plot. The INCARNEX technology could’ve easily become a cold, high-concept gimmick, but instead it’s tied to identity, memory, grief, and the messy ways people try to fix what’s broken. David’s guilt and Celia’s anger feel real because they’re rooted in that same question the book keeps circling: what do we owe each other when the world falls apart? The political threads, especially the growing fractures between cities and the power struggles after Julius’s downfall, add a believable weight to the stakes without losing the human focus. Even the final scenes feel grounded.
By the end, I found myself caring about these characters more than I expected to. The story balances tension with warmth, and even in its darkest moments, there’s an undercurrent of stubborn hope. If you enjoy character-driven dystopian science fiction with a mix of action, moral questions, and emotionally messy relationships, The INCARNEX Rebellion will sit comfortably on your shelf. It’s a great pick for readers who like stories about rebellion but want them told through the eyes of people who never planned on becoming heroes.
Pages: 315 | ASIN : B0FX3F2C3W
What If We Did Not Die?
The INCARNEX Compound follows the creator of a compound that can bring people back from the dead, who has to confront the darker side of his creation and the fact that there is a flaw that could cost him and others their lives. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As an avid fan of science fiction and follower of scientific advancement, I’ve always been fascinated by technologies that fundamentally change how we live.
Death is the one true universal human experience we all share. This made me wonder: what happens when we remove that commonality? How would it affect our relationships, our ambitions, our very understanding of what it means to be human?
The idea grew while I was reading about recent breakthroughs in life-extension medicine, but INCARNEX goes beyond mere life extension into true regeneration, which opened up a fascinating realm of possibilities. This led me down a rabbit hole of research, exploring works by philosophers and researchers who tackle the big questions: What happens when we die? What is human consciousness? What makes us who we are? Are we simply the sum of our memories and experiences, or is there something more fundamental to our identity?
These are the topics The INCARNEX Compound sets out to explore, amid the world of a dystopian thriller!
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from and how did it change as you were writing?
The setting was heavily influenced by my experiences last summer when I returned to the UK last from Vietnam, where I live most of the year. I was struck by how the wealth divide had grown starker than ever before, particularly in London where you can walk from a street of luxury to one of poverty in mere steps. This disparity became a crucial element of the world-building, as I realized how a technology like INCARNEX would inevitably deepen these societal divisions. Who gets access to immortality? Who decides? These questions shaped not just the physical setting but the social landscape of the novel.
Many of the locations in the book, including the observatory, the school, and the farmhouse, are drawn from real places I’ve spent time in and that readers can visit. I find that grounding fictional elements in real-world settings helps create a more immersive and believable story, especially when dealing with such huge concepts as the INCARNEX technology.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
At its heart, this book explores the deep connections we share with those closest to us. Just as INCARNEX challenges the boundary between life and death, the story examines how our bonds with loved ones can persist beyond physical limitations. Ultimately, it’s about how the people we care for, and the lengths we’ll go to for them, define who we are.
The INCARNEX Compound also delves deep into the ethical implications of playing with nature’s fundamental laws and the conflict between scientific progress and moral responsibility. What price would we be willing to pay for immortality? And perhaps more importantly, should we pay it at all?I believe that in the ever-changing, technology dominated world in which we live, these themes have never been more pertinent to explore than they are today.
Where does the story go in the next book and where do you see it going in the future?
The next installment, The INCARNEX Rebellion, is currently in editing and picks up two years after the events of The INCARNEX Compound.
David and Celia face unprecedented challenges: a brewing rebellion, a revolutionary advancement in INCARNEX that pushes the boundaries of what we thought possible, and a new team of characters whose loyalties remain uncertain. It’s shaping up to be an intense, fast-paced continuation of the story that I hope to have out in early 2025.
The trilogy will conclude with a final installment that brings all the threads together in a world-altering climax. Our characters won’t just be fighting for survival – they’ll be fighting for everything they’ve ever known and believed in. The conclusion will force them to confront the true nature of consciousness, identity, and what it really means to be human in a world where death is no longer a certainty.
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Or he was, until he woke up handcuffed to a bed eight years after being shot in the head.
With no memories of the attack that claimed his and his twin sister’s lives, adjusting to resurrection is grim. Especially since the compound he developed, INCARNEX, is to blame.
Unfortunately, David has woken up in a world with far bigger problems. Bringing people back from the dead is expensive—global-revolution expensive. Meanwhile, a fatal flaw in his creation leaves David in a race against time before his and millions of other host bodies shut down entirely.
When an enigmatic stranger offers David a deal—the chance to redeem himself and save countless lives, including his own—he has just one hundred days to confront past mistakes and unravel the dark secrets of INCARNEX.
As dangers and betrayals mount, David’s frantic race against death becomes ever more desperate. Can he save himself and what remains of society before time runs out, or is the cost of immortality simply too high?
The INCARNEX Compound
Eight years ago, David Harris engineered a groundbreaking compound to defy death itself. Eight years ago, he and his twin sister perished in a tragic accident. Now, David wakes up—handcuffed to a bed in a world unrecognizable. The once-promising INCARNEX, his revolutionary cure for mortality, has spiraled into failure, plunging society into chaos. As time runs out, David must race to undo the damage he’s unleashed. With countless lives hanging in the balance and danger lurking everywhere, he faces a chilling reality: he doesn’t know who to trust, and every second counts.
The INCARNEX Compound by A.J. Roe is an electrifying dystopian sci-fi novel that follows David Harris on his heart-pounding journey to make amends for his catastrophic mistake. Roe crafts a riveting story that refuses to let up. David’s perspective captivates readers, drawing them into his internal struggle while keeping the tension high. His relatability adds depth to the narrative, making his fight to correct his past all the more compelling. Even the side characters shine, each layered with intrigue and unpredictability, keeping readers guessing at every turn. The plot is a whirlwind—packed with suspense, action, and moments of genuine surprise. Roe’s storytelling never loses momentum, offering a relentless pace that ensures there’s no room for boredom. The novel consistently challenges expectations, keeping the audience engaged and hungry for answers. The intricate web of trust and deception is masterfully crafted, and the thrill of discovery is palpable throughout.
For fans of dystopian sci-fi, The INCARNEX Compound is an absolute must-read. A.J. Roe delivers a well-written, gripping tale that is nearly impossible to put down. His ability to balance fast-paced action with thought-provoking themes is exceptional, making the book both exciting and intellectually satisfying. Roe keeps readers questioning everything, while his knack for narrative twists keeps anticipation high. This novel is an exhilarating ride from start to finish, and I’m eagerly awaiting what Roe has in store next.
Pages: 347 | ASIN : B0D11B92SB
LITERARY TITAN 