To go along with the launch of my new series (preview chapters for Shockwave here if you haven’t checked it out yet), I’m taking the role of helpful journalist and interviewing one of the unlikely heroes, Kim Sato, bacteriologist, kendo practitioner, and space adventurer. (The latter being more by accident than the former.)
Journalist: Hello, Scholar Sato. May I have a moment of your time? Our readers would like to know more about your recent activities.
Kim: Do you wish me to break down my work on radiation-consuming bacteria in laymen’s terms? I’ve published several peer-reviewed articles about our successful movement from the second to third stage of our human trials, but I’ve witnessed that newspaper journalists tend to cherry pick sentences out of context and give the public the wrong idea about advancements in science. It’s good that you’ve come to me.
Journalist: Actually, I meant your activities in space. When you and Professor Casmir Dabrowski left the planet to avoid robot assassins. That’s so exciting! Our readers want to hear all about it.
Kim: You’re… not here about my academic work?
Journalist: No, sorry. I understand that you and the professor barely escaped with your lives and had to hitch a ride with a dubious smuggler and an evil genetically engineered freak of a warrior woman. Is that true?
Kim: Technically, Captain Lopez is a bounty hunter down on her luck, and Qin is neither evil nor a freak. Please don’t call her that around Casmir. She was designed by pirates who wanted a super killer, but she has a surprisingly amenable soul. And she likes to read fairy tales and romances. While I have no data to back me up, I would hypothesize that such are not the typical entertainment preferences of an “evil” being.
Journalist: Is it true that you and Professor Dabrowski met the heinous, evil, and dastardly pirate Captain Rache? Surely he doesn’t read romances. What was he like?
Kim: You used three adjectives to describe him. What else could I add?
Journalist: Did you see under the mask he wears? They say his men don’t even know what he looks like.
Kim: I did not. Did you by chance see that I have a new article out in Microbiology Monthly? I would be quite pleased to speak about my work and help educate the public on scientific advancements.
Journalist: Do you think Captain Rache is horribly maimed or half cyborg? Maybe that’s why he wears a mask.
Kim: I believe he has cybernetic enhancements. I gather that’s not atypical for people who fight for a living. But I would prefer not to speak about Captain Rache.
Journalist: Oh, really? Let’s go back to Professor Dabrowski then, shall we? I understand he was able to thwart some troublemakers, despite his… He has a few medical issues, doesn’t he? Not the best genes, eh? You’d think in this modern world that we’d be able to fix seizures and the like.
Kim: He gets by. He’s relatively normal. Medically speaking, anyway. I don’t think his genes can explain his inability to use a coaster when he puts his condensation-dripping beverages on the coffee table.
Journalist: You’re kind of stiff, aren’t you, Scholar Sato?
Kim: I would rather discuss science than human beings.
Journalist: But our readers find it much more exciting to get the stories of real people!
Kim: That’s disheartening.
Journalist: I understand the professor’s knowledge of robotics came in handy against some mercenaries. Could you tell me about how that went?
Kim: If you’re interested in Casmir’s exploits, you should probably talk to Casmir. He likes talking. Even if nobody is around. I once caught him discussing the merits of loosely coupled particle robots with decentralized control algorithms… with the coat rack.
Journalist: Oh? That sounds impressively intellectual.
Kim: The next time I passed through, the discussion had shifted to how well balanced superhero powers are in modern comics. Like I said, he’s chatty. He’ll give you enough for a whole book, if you want it.
Journalist: A book?
Kim: Yes, those things with pages and bindings. Admittedly those features are usually virtual these days.
Journalist: I know what books are, thank you. I was just considering if anyone would read a book about a roboticist in space. The bestselling thrillers at the launch-loop book shop always feature strapping Fleet captains, warrior knights, and cunning police detectives. I don’t know if anyone would buy a book about a roboticist.
Kim: And a bacteriologist.
Journalist: Pardon?
Kim: I was there too.
Journalist: Yes… that should give it much more commercial appeal.
Kim: *flat cool stare*
Journalist: I’ll just see myself out.
Kim: Do.
~
If you’re ready to meet Casmir in person (and the ever warm and friendly Kim), check out the first book:
Shockwave (Star Kingdom, Book 1)
Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AUS | Amazon DE
Thanks for stopping by!
That’s Kim allright! Lovely little interview. Thanks!
Thanks for taking a look, Tonny!
Lol awesome!!! Love it!!
Lindsay – u are such a hoot!! So droll :))
Surely, you mean my characters, not me. They are their own people. 😀
Love all your interviews over the years!
I’m glad, Carolyn! It’s fun to do the little extra stuff. 🙂