It's
a magical moment when all the threads of a story begin coming
together. Characters you like but whose paths have been mindless and
destinations whose map was only a figment start unfurling like new
leaves, filling an author with the vigor only inspiration can bestow.
The wonder at discovering the promise of a whole narrative with depth
and intrigue is a potent brew. That is how I began to feel about the
second installment in my 'Call of the Black Panther' universe yesterday,
watching the landscape slip by on a trip to visit family.
If I wanted to get philosophical I suppose the connection makes some sense. There are many concerns touched on in the Panther books but the notion of 'family' is perhaps one of the biggest. Tension between creatures different from ourselves, as well as facets that are considered 'different' within a scientific classification, is not a new theme but which still lies at the heart of our struggles as a species. Embedded in that struggle for balance is the risk of radicalisation, a topic the second book looks at in more detail. Walking the line between security and freedom is of particular importance in our increasingly connected global society. In both books I endeavour to show that neither Human branch is completely good or bad, only that individual choice is of paramount importance. Whereas it is easy to simply 'go-along' with others that inaction can lead to unsettling consequences. Every society benefits from questioning the perceived 'best course of action' and whose desires are met by making particular choices.
Ultimately, because I'm an optimist, I believe that people generally make good moral decisions. Repression, stress, lack of education, lethargy all affect the moral quality of a decision but everyone has the capacity to recognise right from wrong and desire an ethical conclusion. This universe is my own rendition of where such moral tensions can play out, particularly in the thorny area of inter-Human 'difference'. Characters who are good will make bad decisions and have to live with the consequences. The reverse will also be true, the actions of those around these characters constantly affecting their view of cause and effect.
One of an author's biggest challenges is capturing a semblance of life in their work, the complexity of interacting forces ensuring that sometimes even the creator will not fully understand where their words are coming from. Stories are fundamentally lessons about life. They range from the ordinary to grotesque, simultaneously examining and embodying the nebulous nature of our conscious reality. This artistic form is at once a source of pleasure and introspection, enabling us to see what we've come to expect in new ways. That is what I ultimately hope comes from others reading my stories - a new perspective on the world. Perhaps even one that will help it become a better place. As any artist will tell you, it doesn't hurt to dream.
If I wanted to get philosophical I suppose the connection makes some sense. There are many concerns touched on in the Panther books but the notion of 'family' is perhaps one of the biggest. Tension between creatures different from ourselves, as well as facets that are considered 'different' within a scientific classification, is not a new theme but which still lies at the heart of our struggles as a species. Embedded in that struggle for balance is the risk of radicalisation, a topic the second book looks at in more detail. Walking the line between security and freedom is of particular importance in our increasingly connected global society. In both books I endeavour to show that neither Human branch is completely good or bad, only that individual choice is of paramount importance. Whereas it is easy to simply 'go-along' with others that inaction can lead to unsettling consequences. Every society benefits from questioning the perceived 'best course of action' and whose desires are met by making particular choices.
Ultimately, because I'm an optimist, I believe that people generally make good moral decisions. Repression, stress, lack of education, lethargy all affect the moral quality of a decision but everyone has the capacity to recognise right from wrong and desire an ethical conclusion. This universe is my own rendition of where such moral tensions can play out, particularly in the thorny area of inter-Human 'difference'. Characters who are good will make bad decisions and have to live with the consequences. The reverse will also be true, the actions of those around these characters constantly affecting their view of cause and effect.
One of an author's biggest challenges is capturing a semblance of life in their work, the complexity of interacting forces ensuring that sometimes even the creator will not fully understand where their words are coming from. Stories are fundamentally lessons about life. They range from the ordinary to grotesque, simultaneously examining and embodying the nebulous nature of our conscious reality. This artistic form is at once a source of pleasure and introspection, enabling us to see what we've come to expect in new ways. That is what I ultimately hope comes from others reading my stories - a new perspective on the world. Perhaps even one that will help it become a better place. As any artist will tell you, it doesn't hurt to dream.
Image of writing by after-the-party
