The Journey Is The Reward

Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic. - Frank Herbert

Why science fiction?

Mark:  There are no limits set to one’s imagination, no rules, no boundaries.

Annet: What makes science fiction so fascinating is that it deals with futuristic, big bold ideas, but also grounds them in a reality of what normal people think about—there’s plenty of room for adventure and fun. But for us, the journey is the reward.

 

Describe Mark Fulcher, the writer.

Mark: Very fond of nature, especially mountains, rivers and what’s left of our jungles. I find healing and peace in the quietness one can only experience in nature.

 

What, if anything, do you think is the connection between working in the software industry and writing science fiction?

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away. - Philip K. Dick    

Annet: Science fiction is a genre that explores the relationship between technology, society and the individual in the context of our ever-changing understanding of the universe and our position in it.

There’s a direct correlation in the sense that both model new ideas and fuel exploratory thinking.

 

How long did it take to write The Time Treasure: Insidious Inheritance?

Mark:  It took us about two years. We establish a very expansive universe in the first novel, creating room for a sequel. We could still be working on it, but it was time to move on to other things.

 

Has Season Of Predators and The Time Treasure changed you, and if so, how?

Annet:  Yes, I’ve learned to free myself from self imposed constraints and found new ways to express ideas. I’m trying to reach for a place I have not been. There are still many more tales to be told.

 

What are the top science fiction books you’ve read?

Mark: I like E E ‘Doc’ Smith’s Lensman series, Robert E Howard’s Almuric, Andre Norton’s books and quite a few others.

Annet: Dan Simmons’ Hyperion, Frederik Pohl’s Gateway, Frank Herbert’s Dune and Philip K. Dick’s books. I also like Vanna Bonta’s Flight, although it’s classified as quantum fiction.

 

Does Season Of Predators have an underlying message that readers should know about?

Mark: The main message is one of endurance—never give up and always continue to evolve as a person.

 

What does the future hold for Science Fiction?

Annet:  Mainstream literature is increasingly futuristic and speculative. We will experience a whirlwind of rapid, breathtaking technological advances, and with that, the genre will finally move away from being tilted toward dystopian futures. We will see ubiquitous computers, aiding us in everything we do, and maybe even being our intellectual equals and partners, helping us reshape the world. Science fiction will always be there as a means to illuminate our reality, a way to internalize the fact that every moment is always someone else’s past, while at the same time another’s future.