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Degrees of Intelligence
The Scorching: Just Press Play follows a sea cop whose job is to guard a deep-sea mining operation alongside his octopus unit who uncover a plot to seal radiation-rich minerals for the seabed. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The original concept came from wanting to write about a very possible near future in terms of the ‘The Scorching’ and the environmental situation we have been developing. Once I had the world in my head, I then needed to ensure there was an engaging story to be told. If everything is doom and gloom, who would want to read it? Therefore, I knew from the off I wanted a buddy cop style of partnership. One where humour plays a huge part in the development of reader engagement. I also liked the idea of benevolent aliens trying to help.
However, I always love a twist, so the story requires the first person POV to enable the gradual reveal of what’s happening rather than throwing everything at the reader at once. Therefore, the vehicle of a vlogger’s narration fits nicely and enables the breaking of the fourth wall as they provides insight and interlude (and humour).
With the humans and Drathken working together, there is bound to be a big learning curve between species. What was your approach to writing the interactions between characters?
I needed the Drathken to be distant and use human intermediaries. Their enigmatic role enables the paranoia of the human terrorists to breed in the vacuum of disinformation we humans like to construct. Therefore, focusing on the major relationship between Nkosi and his octopus Marc, as his partner, provides a humorous dialogue, while Nkosi’s difficult relationship with the Drathken Police intermediaries and the terrorists enables the thriller and mystery element to unravel. The reader has a role too, as the ‘viewer’ and goes through their own relationship with Nkosi and, to a degree, Marc as they flashback or provide interludes.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Firstly, that Nkosi is a person in development – that we are all putting on a façade to some degree, some more than others. For many, they are coping strategies that get us through our days. His journey, especially his relationship with a modded Marc, is vital to show we are complex beings with many layers to our beliefs.
In addition, it was vital to explore degrees of intelligence. Though Marc is a genetically enhanced common octopus, her view of what is beautiful and lost is there for the reader to experience and is trying to emphasise that we are custodians of this planet with a duty towards all life.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
I am aiming for three books that are based in the same world. The second is written and explores the human colonists mentioned in Book 1 and their journey to the stars. It is a mystery thriller at heart and has two plantships with one main character on each who discovers more about the Drathken, the plantships, and the actions of those aboard the ship in bringing about The Scorching. Both protagonists will have dilemmas, and only half the information. This means the reader will be the only one who knows the full story by the end of the book.
The third will be a return for Nkosi, though that’s all you’re getting!
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Nkosi and his sarcastic tentacled buddy are forced to enter the Burnout Zone, only to come face to face with humanity’s stark future when the hunt for the terrorist’s lab takes a devastating twist. As conspiracies deepen and the jokes fly, Nkosi and Marc enter a dark journey of discovery—one they decide humanity desperately needs to listen to.
The Scorching: Just Press Play
The Scorching: Just Press Play, by Nick Snape, is an exhilarating sci-fi novel set in a future where Earth has been ravaged by a catastrophic climate event known as The Scorching. Amidst this devastation, the insectoid alien race Drathken arrives with their plantships, promising to heal the planet. The story follows Joshua Nkosi, a sea cop whose life of routine security guarding and vlogging in a deep-sea mining operation is upended when he and his tentacled MARC Unit become entangled in a plot to steal radiation-rich materials from the seabed. These materials are crucial to a terrorist faction’s plan to destroy a Drathken plantship and disrupt the alien/human alliance.
Joshua and MARC are thrust into the Burnout Zone, facing extreme temperatures and uncovering deeper conspiracies. Their quest to locate the terrorists’ lab leads them through escalating dangers and harsh realities. The narrative is enriched with humor, interludes, and flashbacks that vividly depict a world in turmoil. Nkosi’s journey with MARC, an intelligent octopus encased in a metal exoskeleton, highlights the complexities of their mission and the dark truths of their world. The story masterfully blends sci-fi, mystery, and thriller elements, culminating in a satisfying conclusion that leaves readers contemplating humanity’s fate.
Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the novel explores the impact of climate change and human-alien alliances. Snape’s engaging writing style, incorporating vlogging and social media formats, adds dynamism and relatability to the story. Joshua Nkosi emerges as a charming protagonist, with his interactions with MARC adding a delightful layer to the narrative. The world-building is exceptional, with intriguing concepts like the Drathken plantships bringing the story to life.
The climate fiction backdrop is seamlessly integrated, portraying the gradual rise in temperatures and societal changes with stark realism. The pacing is well-balanced, mixing action, humor, and introspection. Clever interludes and flashbacks enrich the narrative, providing deeper insights into the characters and their world. One of the book’s highlights is its emotional core, as Nkosi navigates personal struggles and the broader implications of his mission. The final twist and resolution are satisfying, leaving readers with a sense of closure and contemplation.
The Scorching: Just Press Play is a must-read for sci-fi and climate fiction fans. Nick Snape’s creative storytelling, rich world-building, and engaging characters make this book an unforgettable journey into a future that feels both distant and alarmingly close.
Pages: 251 | ASIN : B0D3QS8KGB
LITERARY TITAN 