And see the ‘grim’ cover, below.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKY: What inspired this dark series?
A world without war, poverty, crime, or disease.
Credit: Courtesy Simon & Schuster
I envisioned a world where a jedi-like order highly moral and ethical was responsible for thinning the population.
They do what they do not because they want to, but because they need to.
What else can you tell us about the plot?
How was disease eliminated?
The story follows two teens good kids, who would never want the job of a scythe.
For that very reason, they are chosen to be apprentices to a scythe.
They must learn the art of killing, and the courage to do it with great compassion.
However there are forces within the scythedom that are beginning to corrupt it from within.
As for how disease was eliminated, it was done through the very methods we use today.
Bit by bit we are conquering diseases.
Eventually, we will find a way to defeat them all.
So what does a disease-free world look like?
That was my starting place.
Why dont the scythes just glean old people?
Because, in a perfect world, no one ever has to grow old.
People can, technically, live forever, and set their physical age wherever they wish.
And in a perfect world, shouldnt it be illegal to discriminate against a person because of their age?
What are you most excited for readers to see?
Im most excited for readers to see the vision of the world.
World-building for this series has been extensive.
This futuristic utopia should feel very real.
One of my favorite aspects of the world is The Thunderhead.
Basically its the cloud, but evolved into a sentient artificial intelligence.
Weve seen so many stories about the dangers of AI, fromTerminator, toThe Matrix.
I wanted to spin that in the opposite direction.
It ends the need for government because it rules with perfect justice.
It solves the problems that we werent able to solve on our own.
(I am not all-powerful, the Thunderhead says.
I am almost all-powerful.
Theres a big difference.)
How did you choose?
I pair one persons first name with someone elses last name, choosing names that feel like the character.
So Rowan Damisch and Citra Terranova are named after four fans.
How many books do you have planned for the series?
There are three books planned.
I know where the story is going.
The exciting part is discovering how it will get there!
Whats life been like after your National Book Award win?
Does being National Book Award winner Neal Shusterman cause more or less pressure?
Less pressure, actually.
Well, winning the National Book Award kind of changed that for me.
Now its like the boulder has stayed on top of the mountain.
It makes all the future boulders feel a little bit easier to roll.
Although I know I must never take it for granite (ouch!
