Entertainment Monthly News Interview with James Carman
By Lisa Patrick, Entertainment Monthly News
James Carman, bestselling author of ‘HyperParanøid: An Ascension Story,’ pushes the boundaries of sci-fi with his gripping graphic novel. Set in a dystopian future where the Solar Republic’s resources are being stolen and the sun’s energy is being drained by the alien Eon Breeders, the story centers on LC, an AI hybrid who holds the key to their destruction. Teaming up with a group of unlikely rebels, LC must race against time and overcome deep mistrust to escape captivity. Can they overthrow their oppressors and save their world?
Join us as we dive into the inspiration behind this breakout novel and explore how Carman crafted such a thrilling and imaginative universe.
What inspired you to create ‘HyperParanøid: An Ascension Story’ and to include an AI hybrid-being like LC?
About 8 years ago, I imagined a powerful AI had been unleashed. I sensed it surveilling human activity. I imagined complete totalitarian control of our civilization was imminent. I extrapolated forward to see what it would feel like to live in such a society. What could one do to retain personal agency? I created LC, a hybrid human/AI character because in such a society, we will need interlocutors to interface between the ETs, AI, and humanity.
How did you come up with the idea of the Eon Breeders and their control over the Solar Republic?
I took the idea of the Eon Breeders from myths of the Anunnaki, the godlike founders of Sumeria. The Eon Breeders came to Earth to harvest its resources. For them, Earth is a mere frontier outpost. They have a much bigger empire over which they lord and control.
What do you hope readers will take away from the relationships between the different characters, like the rebels and activists?
I wanted the inmates to be the Revolutionary Elite of the solar system. As with many ‘thought leaders’, they are happy only as long as they’re leading, with everyone else following. Naturally, having six ‘thought leaders’ jailed together is a marvelous set up for ego conflict. I wanted to demonstrate how even the most resistant individuals can evolve and learn to cooperate and collaborate, as these qualities are essential for any meaningful civilizational change to succeed.
Why did you decide to make music, specifically the ascension song, such an important part of the story?
Music engages us on so many levels. Humpback whales make music. Wolves howl into the night. In their cyclical journeys, the planets sing the music of the spheres. In the beginning was the Word, the Logos. If sound is so integral to the universe, couldn’t music be a key for our evolution, couldn’t a song conjure a doorway to the multiverse?
What was it like working with artists and contributors like Robert Crumb and Linda Moulton Howe on this graphic novel?
Fantastic! Robert Crumb is seminal. I read him when I was a teen. To have him write such a brilliant forward is a true honor.
Linda Moulton Howe is an exceptional Ufologist. I’ve known her for 20 years, and I’m grateful I can spend time with her and drink in her worldview.
I loved the collaboration with Jaf Farkas. He has an intrinsic feel for design and world-building. It takes a monumental amount of stick-to-itiveness to illustrate a graphic novel. Jaf and his band of colorists kept trucking through to the finish line.
Kamora Jones created the front and back cover. I know her ET art, which is inspired. She has a feel for what’s fresh and otherworldly.
Nick Danzi designed the book layout with impeccable taste.
Ready to dive into a mind-bending adventure? Grab your copy of “HyperParanøid: An Ascension Story“ on Amazon and join the thrilling journey through rebellion, survival, and the fight against tyranny!
Published By: Aize Perez
