Wattpad brings you a guest post from H.S. St. Ours, writer of the scifi-adventure “Sami,” book 2 in his Water Worlds series:
Why do we love end of the world so much? I mean, for science fiction fans, why are dystopian and apocalyptic novels, movies and even conspiracy theories so popular?
For example, right now we face the end of the Long Count of the ancient Mayan calendar, and popular culture has widely (and wildly) run with the idea that civilization as we know it will end on December 21, 2012.
This is likely a myth, of course, since astronomical timetable errors make the date itself questionable, but we won’t know for sure for a couple of weeks. Besides, isn’t it fun to worry? And as a crackpot theory, it’s keeping us entertained with lots of absurd but fun shows.
The film, 2012 took full advantage of the timing of the date very nicely. I thought the story was lame, but as an earth-scorching epic, the vast destruction was hugely satisfying. I just love seeing whole worlds destroyed!
The TV show, Revolution, which I thought I’d hate but I love, is more dystopian than apocalyptic, of course, but despite the incredibly implausible premise, the idea that we can still build a civilized world without electricity is a noble fiction. The truth, I fear, would be much darker.
Zombie films, like 28 Days, and others, still enjoy a strong popularity. Those stories have a deep link to the apocalypse, too. And everybody loves a good zombie story! Vampires and werewolves, on the other hand, are more the timeless story of eternal struggle, and that’s why they step over the line from science fiction to fantasy. They’ve finally jumped the shark, I think.
My current favorite dystopian sci fi stories are Hugh Howey’s Wool series. If you haven’t read them, run, do not walk, to your Kindle bookstore. I am drawn to his sense that, no matter how dire the circumstances, the goodness of humanity will rise to the challenge.
I guess that’s why the first two books (of six) in my Water Worlds series have a darker evil and, hopefully, uplifting characters to combat them. Young Moon lives in the epoch of the Day of Rocks, and with her family, she becomes a fugitive in a world turned upside-down. Sami, a hundred years later, is a child of the dystopian underground, and she struggles to survive with those who live in the vast tunnels, safe from the dangers topside.
I say, give me a good asteroid strike and a civilization struggling to survive anytime. Now that’s science fiction adventure!
H.S. St.Ours
Read “Sami” on Wattpad!
Fifteen-year-old Sami Walker wasn’t born in the tunnels. She’s traveled all over, even as far as the Northern caves beyond Eastport. Only nobodies went farther than that. Story was, there were towns beyond the Dustbowl, but most folk thought that was just stories.
It’s been almost a century since the sky fell and the world broke apart in a day, and still the people spent their whole lives underground, either in the Five Tunnels, or in the caves, shielded by living stone.
Sami’s mom and dad are long since dead, and her friends, Sef and Glyn, vanished without a trace, over a year ago, or were chased from the tunnel by the Judge. Now her dearest pal, Simma, was leaving, too, to live under the water in tunnel Tee Two, with her mom and her mom’s new boyfriend.
She used to feel safe in the tunnels. Used to feel at home. But now, she wasn’t so sure. Her only friend left was her dog Scout, a tunnel stray who adopted her over a year ago. But now, nobodies and someones alike were disappearing, and voices came to her in the dark, warning her of a great danger to come.
In an adventure of courage and hope, Sami seeks answers and uncovers a mystery that spans worlds.
“Sami” is Book 2 in the Water Worlds young adult science fiction adventure series.