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Our Aspirations and Our Limitations
Red Dirt Part I: The Star Bearer follows a half-synthetic woman and one of the last organic humans who get caught in the crossfire of an old war, leaving them in a battle for survival. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I grew up shaped by a lot of science fiction, both by means of video games and cinema, and I have always been drawn towards anything that is related to our relationship with technology. I wanted to create a universe where these artificial beings, created in the image of mankind, are portrayed in a very human way; we witness them struggle with emotion, we witness them trying to survive, we witness them grow, learn, go through grief, etc. So, as you go on this adventure, it puts the reader in a position where they have to question what it means to be human. With the advent of A.I., which is still in its infancy, I felt that the timing was right for me to put this book out there and also pay homage to the likes of Asimov, Mad Max, and Blade Runner.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
What fascinates me about the human condition, and what I think makes for powerful fiction, is this constant tension between our aspirations and our limitations. We are creatures of immense potential, driven by curiosity, emotion, and the desire to shape the world around us, yet we are also bound by our fear, ego, and this struggle to understand ourselves. This tension creates very fertile ground for storytelling.
As someone fascinated by AI and technology, I am especially intrigued by how we project our hopes, fears, and ethical dilemmas onto the things we create. The rise of artificial intelligence, for example, forces us to confront questions about consciousness, identity, and what it truly means to be human. I often think of Asimov’s work and how he used robots not just as speculative technology, but as mirrors to reflect our own moral and societal frameworks. That approach continues to inspire me: using futuristic elements to explore timeless human truths and obstacles.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Legacy is a big one. How we are remembered and honored is a theme not just in Part I, but also in Parts II and III. Without giving away anything, it comes full circle, but what is interesting is, again, this idea that humanity lives on through means of their creations; that in a way, the idea of what it means to be human isn’t physical but rather tied to how something thinks and feels. There is also the theme of Identity. The synthetics are carving out an identity in this new world, while humanity is struggling with their inevitable obsolescence. Maternal mentorship is also something you will notice in the book; I had several mentors growing up, incredibly smart, wonderful women, so the idea of maternal guidance is explored throughout the series.
Can you tell us what the second book will be about and when it will be available for fans to purchase?
Yes! The trilogy is complete and available, both via Kindle and paperback. Part II is a sequel that picks up where Part I left off, and Part III, the longest of the three books, picks up a couple of years later. All I will say is that Part I sets the table for a very emotional and thought-provoking journey. Part II is darker and isn’t afraid to pull punches, and Part III wraps it all up in a way I don’t think anyone will see coming. I am working on other projects at the moment, but I will undoubtedly revisit the Red Dirt universe.
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One hundred years after the Earth goes inexplicably silent and the colonies founded on the Red Planet destroy one another, the highly advanced synthetics created in the image of mankind have evolved and built their own civilization from the ashes of humanity. What peace has come to fruition, however, is suddenly put under threat.
A novelette series inspired by the works of Isaac Asimov and a love of video games, Red Dirt © is a love letter to the great science fiction franchises of our time exploring what it means to be human.
Red Dirt Part I: The Star Bearer
Red Dirt Part I kicks off in the dusty aftermath of humanity’s fall, where synthetic life forms—called the Vestige—have built their own societies on a Mars abandoned by Earth. It’s a story about memory, legacy, and survival. At the heart of it is Miri, a scrappy, half-synthetic woman with more attitude than caution, and the Star Bearer, a quiet, deeply complex Extant—one of the last organic humans with a mysterious past. Together, they’re caught in the crossfire of an old war being reignited by Commander Sutherland, a terrifying war-machine of a man hellbent on reclaiming Mars for what’s left of humanity. It’s sci-fi with soul. And it’s damn good.
First off, the writing is tight but poetic, with lines that just land. One that stuck with me was when Miri, heartbroken after losing her droid companion Lazer, asks, “What happens when we die?” The Star Bearer answers, “We are remembered by those who miss and honor us.” That hit me. It’s not just pretty language—this book digs into what it means to be alive, to be remembered, to matter. There’s something really haunting about a post-human Mars where machines are the ones asking the big questions. It flips the usual sci-fi trope on its head. And Miri is wild. She crashes a grav bike through a ventilation shaft to save the Star Bearer. Like, that’s the kind of unhinged loyalty and heart you only get when a character is real on the page.
The worldbuilding is top tier. Saint Forsaken is this grimy, neon-drenched underground city filled with holograms, synth food, and old Earth relics. It’s like Blade Runner moved to the outback. There’s this moment when the Star Bearer enters a club full of all women—an ex-military hideaway—and everything is both sensual and surreal. You can feel the tension and the hidden history. Also, the action scenes are solid. They don’t drag, and they don’t try too hard. Just the right amount of grit.
Red Dirt Part I: The Star Bearer is less about machines and more about meaning. It’s for readers who like their sci-fi with heart and grit. If you loved The Mandalorian, Mass Effect, or The Expanse, but wanted a bit more raw emotion and fewer lectures on quantum physics, this is your jam. It’s got action, found family, ethical dilemmas, and the kind of quiet, devastating moments that stick with you.
Pages: 40 | ASIN : B0DVVLXML5
LITERARY TITAN 