This week’s interview is a bit later than planned, but we’re back today with another author from the Burning Embers dystopian anthology Iron Walls. Today, I have Steven Scribner here to talk about the philosophy and ideas behind his short story, “Scapekite”. So let’s dive right in!
First, Steven, can you tell us a bit about why you chose to participate in this dystopian anthology?
It wasn’t anything profound. I had written some short stories and I thought one of them would be good in a dystopian anthology.
A fairly common answer for this anthology, I think. We’ve had a lot of authors who already had pieces in the works, and it seems that the anthology offered a perfect opportunity to showcase it. We’re glad you joined! Now, before we get into the themes and philosophical messaging of your story, would you share with my readers what your story is about to offer some context for the rest of the discussion?
There’s a corporate dystopia. Omnibusco has bought everything. They own all housing, all schooling, all production. They have even attempted to replace nature, and to reform religion so it reflects their agenda. The narrator, known only as Tim, believes them to be benevolent until he meets a mysterious man who has a kite, memories of the old times, and an imagination. If I were to tell anything more, it would be a spoiler; however, I can say that the story is more “magic realist” than fantasy or sci-fi in any strict sense.
Interesting. You don’t see many dystopian novels focusing on what happens when giant corporations essentially take on the role of government. I think when you start seeing government and corporations merging into one, there’s a disaster looming. It sounds like your story focuses on the aftermath in society if that happens. Definitely a great concept to focus on. So given that, what is the overarching theme or message of your story?
It’s symbolic. Probably nobody is less threatening than an elderly man flying a kite, but he manages to take on the corporate Powers That Be, and he lets the world start again.
So basically, the most unlikely among us are capable of being heroes if we stand up for what’s right. That’s an interesting message for the story itself. I’m curious to know; why did you choose that theme or message?
There wasn’t really a “why”; I just wanted to write about the small person making a difference. (Actually, I wasn’t consciously thinking about that; several years ago, when I wrote the first version of this story, it was merely because I’d gone for a walk in a park and happened to see an elderly man flying a kite. The rest of the story is pure imagination but came from that ordinary scene. Maybe it’s an example of what I’m talking about: something humble leading in an unexpected direction.)
I think that’s an excellent example of your subconscious integrating prior experiences with your conscious intent for the story to give you something that would be interesting to write and to read. It’s always neat when that happens without a lot of conscious effort! I can’t say it happens a lot, but it’s nice when it does. Moving to the philosophy of the work, can you share with us the philosophical message behind your story?
The small person can make a difference. The Hobbit can destroy the ring of doom. The weird girl with a strange name can reform the overly conformist culture of the school. The Maker of the Universe, in the guise of a humble man, took on the sins of the world.
Very well connected to the theme, certainly. Now, I’ve said numerous times in different articles that no one writes something without some connection to their own philosophies and principles. Every author is saying something about their view of the world and people when they write. So, tell us, how does that message extend from your own philosophy, and why do you feel it’s so important to share with the reader? In other words, what is it you want people to learn from this or hope they will reconsider about their own worldview/philosophy?
Again, I wasn’t really thinking about “my own” philosophy or what others would take away from it; I merely wanted to tell the story. Maybe that’s another “philosophical” point: The universe is a story; add your own story to it (no matter how humble).
Okay, a fairly straightforward philosophical point to people, I think. Now, to add some fun to the discussion, let’s talk about the story content and the connection it has to what we’ve been discussing. Can you share some of the points or scenes that were your favorites because of how they highlighted that philosophical message or aim in your story?
The kite is red, taking the idea of the “scapegoat” seriously. Also, Omnibusco wants to make everything monochrome (not red); this is symbolic of how colors (creativity) fade under totalitarianism. And I like the spiderbots.
I like that. I didn’t make the connection between the red kite and the scapegoat idea, but I think it is a great image, particularly given that you’re discussing the dystopia that results from a corporate world that runs everything, which usually entails finding scapegoats to blame when things go wrong. That’s the case with a lot of totalitarian regimes, but it’s especially true in regimes based heavily on bureaucracy, red tape, and corporatist blame shifting. To close out the interview, if you could ensure readers learned just one thing from your story, what would it be?
You are not too old, too young, too this or too that, to make a difference.
Certainly an empowering message. I think we all need to be reminded of that, especially in a world where we increasingly hear from media that one group or another is the victim, one group or another the aggressor, neither can do anything to make a difference on which they are, and we should all just give up. We’re definitely living in difficult times ourselves, and I think we can all be encouraged by these sorts of messages that when we each do what we can to push for a difference, we can make a change. There is power in the individual to make a difference regardless of who that individual may be.
Well, thank you for joining us on the blog today, Steven! It was wonderful to have you. Readers, if you want to check out Steven’s work, you can find him over on Amazon under the name Steven E. Scribner. He’s the author of the Tond series and blogs over at Soundscroll.blogspot.com and BookWords Blogg. To read Steven’s story when it comes out, you can pre-order a copy of Iron Walls here! It releases on the 26th of this month. That’s it for this time, everyone! I’ll be back next week with at least one final author. I’m waiting to see if a second is also available to join for release week, and if they are, expect an interview on both Tuesday and Thursday that week as we close out the weekly interviews on the week of the book’s release!
