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A Cautionary Tale
Yesterday’s Tomorrow unravels a slightly futuristic, alternative Earth, where a protagonist challenges a system gone awry, leading readers on an introspective journey that questions the essence of humanity. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The world Mr. Orwell described in 1984 scares the living life out of me.
Though at the moment I wrote this response, I slightly chuckled, that doesn’t change my sentiment. And since I drew heavy inspiration from dystopian books of the past, it should be evident that I am looking at the future under that light.
I don’t speak out of academia, most of my youth was spent in a country governed by a totalitarian regime. I have an intimate knowledge of what it feels like to have your entire life dictated by someone you have never met.
One thing that should be obviously visible in the novel is children. Or the lack thereof. That in and of itself is a cautionary tale that humanity should take note of. Technological advances will, at some point, step in. And if we aren’t careful to maintain our human lineages, we will inevitably lose our humanity. Might as well become robots.
Previous dystopian works weren’t my only inspiration, however. I did consult actual research papers. One of the most notable is the Mouse Utopia Experiment.
The combination of these works gave birth to the framework I used to build Yesterday’s Tomorrow.
Your protagonist, Elton Nett, is an intriguing character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I wanted to portray the world as seen through the eyes of someone that walked on the streets of all the worlds in the novel. Not someone that was special or gifted in any way. I wanted to show the little nooks and crannies of this reality. And I believe the best way to do so is by putting myself, and the reader, in the shoes of Elton as he just tried to make do with what he had. Heroes, or those who find the fortitude to make a change, aren’t usually who we think they are. His strength didn’t come from some deep-seated belief. It doesn’t take someone special to push back and say enough is enough.
Throughout the novel, you subtly weave in philosophical questions about humanity. How did you approach integrating these themes without overwhelming the adventurous plotline?
The big overall questions were posed as I began my research. They set in as I further developed the world and finally were accented with the events in the book.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
It’s a little early to say when, but I currently have two books in my hands. The continuation of Imprint Legacy, which now is at almost 90k words. (I know I promised this book years ago. I am diligently working on it.) And, together with Cozy Reads Publishing, I’m working on a novella that involves time travel.
Additionally, together with a comic book artist, I am developing This Is NOT a Bedtime Story from the Morning Star in a comic book with the goal of transforming the entire Morning Star in that form as well.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
It follows main character, Elton Nett as he experiences the firsthand degradation of society as governments become ever so reliant on automation, computer systems and Artificial Intelligence.
Times have changed, people have changed.
Most would argue that we’ve evolved, but what good is evolution if, in the process, we lose our humanity?
For all intents and purposes, Elton Nett is a refugee. He and his family fled their birthplace and settled in a new world with hopes of a better life. A world where they could be free to decide their own fate, or so they thought.
Simmered in a sea of lies and deception, humanity was tricked into obedience and compliance. Elton and the majority of his peers were deceived by the same evil his father had cautioned about—the System.
While some aspects proved beneficial, the System exhaustively broke them down. Physically and mentally morphing humanity into something new—something unthinkable.
They called it progression.
Thankfully, the essence of humankind can’t be measured by what encases it.
Yesterday’s Tomorrow
Set against a backdrop not dissimilar to our own reality, Yesterday’s Tomorrow unfolds in a world that echoes many before it—a conventional setting graced with humble beginnings yet uniquely spun. In this science fiction novel, readers will encounter a protagonist propelled into action, a daring individual who challenges the status quo and urges us to contemplate a new reality.
Should you muster the courage to plunge into this seemingly too-familiar fictional realm, you will find Yesterday’s Tomorrow to be a compelling read. The book invites readers on a journey as narrated in the first person. We come to embody the central character, Elton Nett, viewing this curious and strange world through his discerning eyes.
Yesterday’s Tomorrow provides a slightly futuristic, alternative perspective of Earth. It’s a world where The System—a process created to benefit us—begins to inflict harm. Though this may sound like a familiar narrative, Keys’s rendition stands apart. His storytelling echoes inspirations from works he’s read, paying homage where appropriate, yet this remains unequivocally his tale. This is Earth, but not as we know it; it’s the world as Keys wants us to perceive it.
Having existed for at least a generation, The System was not welcomed with optimism or naiveté, and yet humans are infamously pliable. We often cling to innovations, lured by promises of ease and convenience. But what defines humanity, and how does it separate us from mere animals? Yesterday’s Tomorrow poses unsettling questions, probing what we become without those defining characteristics.
This undercurrent of thematic exploration accompanies the adventure we undertake with Elton. True craftsmanship in writing is assessed not merely by what is conveyed but how. Some authors might force their narrative upon the readers; others, like Keys, subtly draw them into the story. With almost effortless grace, he weaves a narrative that captures the mind, allowing readers to lose themselves in the plot.
Blending elements of science fiction, post-apocalyptic scenarios, and alternate reality, Yesterday’s Tomorrow stands as a multifaceted work. If you seek a novel that transcends genres to deliver a gripping story, then Yesterday’s Tomorrow by Dorian Keys will prove a satisfying read.
Pages: 217 | ASIN: B0BND2BPJ1
LITERARY TITAN 