The Monster has been on a rampage with all these interviews. Here is another one with T. Lucas Earle, author of The 13th Prophet and Monkey Talk.

Your short story, Monkey Talks, is about an intelligent monkey that struggles with his species new place in the world. In the synopsis of the book you mention that your story is derived from the story, Journey to the West, and the main character, Sun Wukong (Monkey King). Can you tell us a little bit about how that 16th century novel inspired your work? 

The thing that I found so interesting about Sun Wukong was that he bested all the gods in the heavens. He proved that he was the greatest fighter of all time, and yet he never really won, because they still looked down on him for being a monkey. It’s interesting to me, because what was being discussed in China in the 16th century is what we now call the “glass ceiling.”

The 13th Prophet is about people’s fixation on self improvement through personality upgrades. The story reminds me of people’s fanatical devotion to Apple products and the way you tell the story gives it a religious undertone. Why ‘Prophets’, why ‘personalities’, and why ‘upgrades’?

Our current view of celebrities is akin to idolatry. We worship them, in our own strange ways. But our celebrities are generated by powerful media conglomerates. They are chosen, and then presented to us for worship. The world of the 13th Prophet is not all that different from the one we inhabit now. I’ve just called a spade a spade.

So far, or at least as far as I know, you have only written short stories, do you plan on writing anything more substantial in the future? 

I’ve also written a short film, called Abduction, which is on the festival circuit right now. (It was premiered at the LA Shorts Fest, and will be shown at the LA New Filmmakers Fest on January 11th.) I am working on a novel about the relationship between a disabled young woman and a giant. And I’m in the process of revising the first book of a science fiction trilogy about space and robots and all that fun sci-fi stuff.

Find out more about T. Lucas Earle at http://www.tlucasearle.com/