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Capacity for Greatness
Answering the Human Question: A Gnome’s Essays On Mankind is a story that imagines a world where humans coexist with mythical creatures like gnomes, elves, and dwarves. This is an intriguing setup for a novel that is high in social commentary. What was your moral goal when writing this novel, and do you feel you’ve achieved it?
Our goal with Answering the Human Question was to explore cycles of imperialism, oppression, and humanity’s will to triumph over adversity through a rich fantasy lens. At its core, we wanted to inspire readers to hold faith in humanity and themselves and to keep moving forward no matter what challenges life brings. Through this story of mythical creatures and humans living side-by-side, narrated by an immortal being who observes humanity across centuries, we aimed not only to entertain our readers but to also encourage reflection.
Through the Gnome’s musings on humanity’s resilience, contradictions, and potential for greatness, we invite our readers to see a mirror of their own lives, with echoes of history woven throughout. While the message is ultimately uplifting, we also emphasize caution. As seen in both the story and in our own history, such triumphs often come at a significant cost.
While it’s ultimately up to readers to decide if we’ve achieved our goal, we believe that by staying true to these themes and letting the story unfold authentically, we’ve come close to realizing this vision.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
One of the most fascinating aspects of the human condition—one that lends itself well to fiction is our capacity for resilience and reinvention. Humans are remarkably adaptable, and exploring how characters respond to adversity—whether they bend, break, rebuild, or some combination of such—remains endlessly compelling. From our point of view, this very human trait is at the heart of stories that ask what it truly means to be human.
Another interesting facet that makes for some powerful storytelling is our ability to dream and imagine a future beyond our current circumstances. Characters who grapple with visions of a better world or who dare to push the boundaries of what is possible often lead to stories filled with wonder, hope, and transformation. Such a trait is not limited to personal ambition, it is about confronting fears, learning from failures, and still daring to reach further. At the same time, these aspirations carry the weight of personal sacrifice and unforeseen consequences, reminding us that pursuing progress and success often demands caution and discernment.
Finally, and perhaps most obvious and most significant in the novel, is our paradoxical relationship with time—that is our awareness of mortality yet longing for permanence. We humans are often driven by the desire to leave something behind, to matter, despite the inevitable end. That urgency in turn shapes our passions, our choices, and our relationships. Across fiction, it remains one of the most poignant aspects of ourselves to explore and thus makes for stories that feel both deeply personal and universally resonant.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The themes we consider central to the book are humanity’s conflict with nature, capacity for greatness, and will to overcome adversity as well as the enduring legacy of those we hold dear. These themes are deeply significant because being history nerds, we’ve seen countless examples of them throughout human history. From our biblical fall from Eden to our evolutionary struggle to dominate the natural world, humanity’s rise to where we are now in spite of the odds is an inspiration of its own; as such, these themes continue to resonate, connecting to many on a personal level, making the story poignant and relevant.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
Indeed, we are excited to share that we have several ideas for follow-up stories within the universe of Master Gnome, with one already in progress! This next project is shaping up as a memoir from an ensemble cast of mostly new characters, each offering their own perspective as they navigate the trials of a wartime era. Through their lives and reflections, we’ll delve deeper into the world and its history, exploring the impact of the conflict and the choices people make when confronted by upheaval and uncertainty. We hope it brings readers a fresh perspective on the themes we began exploring in Answering the Human Question and offers an even closer look at resilience and courage in times of hardship.
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To aid in their decision, they summon a Gnome to give testimony. He is the only Elderkin to have witnessed and chronicled humanity’s rise, observing them since their first steps nearly ten thousand years ago. His essays, later compiled into a single text, distill those millennia—from humanity’s humble beginnings in the Stone Age to the brilliant and terrifying present.
“Answering the Human Question” is a tale that chronicles the rise and fall of empires, ages of dark lords and heroes, and the birth of ingenuity in the face of strife—and its consequences. Will Mankind falter and submit to a hostile world, or will it dare to dream of a better one?
Answering the Human Question: A Gnome’s Essays on Mankind
Answering the Human Question is a reflective narrative that imagines a world where humans coexist with mythical creatures like gnomes, elves, and dwarves. Told from the perspective of a seasoned gnome, the story delves into humanity’s evolution, from their early steps into civilization to their complex societies and struggles against darker forces. The narrator, a gnome who’s studied humanity over centuries, documents his interactions with humans, weaving history, philosophy, and cultural reflections into a unique series of essays that ponder what it means to be human.
One thing that stands out to me is the narrative voice. The gnome’s voice feels timeless yet quirky, which gives the prose a humorous edge despite the heavy themes. For instance, in the early chapters, the gnome recounts his first meeting with a human family led by Baruk and Jhalyah, nomads striving to survive in a dangerous world. The gnome’s earnest attempts to communicate with them using basic Elvish and their eventual bonding over a shared meal show the gentle humor and wonder of cross-cultural exchanges. The warmth in these interactions makes readers feel the gnome’s attachment to humanity and shows a rare vulnerability in how he admires humans’ resilience despite their fragility.
The gnome’s musings on humanity’s tendency toward conflict also bring a critical but thoughtful tone to the book. When discussing the brutal wars of the “Jaramites,” a later generation of human warriors, he seems almost mournful, especially in his reflections on Varr Scarhand, a warrior king who turns his people’s peaceful legacy into one of violence. The gnome sees this as a tragic turn, almost a betrayal of his early friends, Baruk and Jhalyah. He questions whether humans are truly learning or just repeating the same mistakes with new tools, and his sadness makes these sections resonate with readers who may feel the weight of human history’s cycles of violence and innovation.
However, it’s in the more philosophical sections that I think the book shines. In the concluding essays, the gnome considers the Elderkin Council’s debate on the “Human Question”: Should the Elderkin (the mythical races) welcome humans as equals, or are they fated to remain as lessers? The gnome’s arguments on humanity’s creativity, ambition, and contradictions are compelling. He highlights moments like the rise of Andrwyn the Great, a human king who unites tribes and promotes peace and education, as proof of human potential. The gnome’s admiration for humanity’s ability to dream and achieve something lasting amid mortality leaves readers with a sense of hope.
Answering the Human Question is ideal for fans of fantasy and philosophical thought experiments alike. It’s a reflective and surprisingly touching exploration of the human condition, seen through the eyes of an immortal, who is, in his own way, captivated by humanity. This book would be perfect for readers who enjoy the lore and ethical explorations in works like Tolkien’s or Pratchett’s but are looking for a unique, first-person philosophical twist.
Pages: 155 | ASIN : B0CW1FX44G
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