The Future of Our Fates in Mission Veritas

In the traditions of George Orwell or Ray Bradbury, both who used sci-fiction to comment on the human condition, author John Murphy brings us Mission Veritas to explore the age old conflict between individuals and those who would control them for their own good. Mr. Murphy took some time from writing the next installment in the series to answer a few questions about our future as conveyed by his Mission Veritas.

Brophisticate: First off, what was the antecedent to writing a sci-fi novel that appears to have political overtones?

John Murphy: I didn’t start out to write anything political. I just wanted to write an adventure that did not follow a predefined formula where “big business” is the bogeyman. Historically, governments are by far the largest oppressors. Over one hundred million deaths have resulted under the unchecked power of communist regimes alone!
This story could have been taken place at several points in the twentieth century when a tiny minority rises to power with promises of utopia. Those who disagree or are unaffordable by government planners were eliminated.

If a reader sees ties to present day issues it is likely due to the truism that history repeats itself. No doubt, the twenty-first century will see lots of bloodshed, even perpetrated by governments on their own people.

Originally the Science Fiction genre had lots of science theory or visions for the future, as opposed to the plot just taking place in outer space or in the future. For example, Ray Bradbury predicting everything from ATMs to self-regulating grass or Robert Heinlein foreseeing cell phones and waterbeds. Have you some scientific hopes for the future inserted into Mission Veritas?

In Mission Veritas, I wanted to stick with something much more reliable–human behavior. Despite the mammoth advancements in technology in recent decades, we still have poverty, strife, international conflicts, and a firm belief by many that Utopia is at hand if “you’d only let me control the levers of power” and then force it on everyone.

The story conflict revolves around enduring human traits. At a macro level is the desire for global control and extermination of dissenters. At a micro level is the drive for vengeance, freedom from force, and of desire for acceptance.

My prediction? Fifty years from now we’re still going to be wringing our hands over the same issues of humanity.”

Why did you choose to have the hero be the son of a US ambassador to Thailand?

When brainstorming ideas about the situation and characters, I thought it would be enticing to have the hero have a big scar on his back, which would suggest to other characters a deeper, darker past. When chatting about it with my son (who’s likeness is used in my illustrations), we discussed where this mysterious, dangerous scar came from. Somehow I came up with Bangkok for its exotic qualities. It turns out that a year later I wound up visiting Bangkok and found it intriguing. My story was still in early draft, and I played it up more to include impressions from touring there.

Thailand has seen its share of political turmoil in recent years, with lots of massive riots. It all fit together rather well. The nature of the protesters in my story was derived from the present day movement of people lusting for a one-world, all-powerful government. A ‘superior race’ from another planet seemed to be the kind of thing that would send fanatics over a crazed cliff.

The idea of the hero, Vaughn Killian, being the son of the US Ambassador is a result of the “making the story gel” process. I had to have Vaughn start out as a young kid, unaware of worldwide turmoil, and a reason to be in Bangkok. I could have made him the son of a business tycoon, an NGO volunteer, or anything. However, being the son of someone who would be a target in a larger political scheme felt more compelling. It’s unfortunate that current day events have emerged that seem similar to my story, but I began writing this in 2010. Orwell wrote 1984 in the forties, but the likenesses to today are scary.

I love the graphic art your have that accompanies your book- it looks like a great first-person shooter video game. This you designed yourself?

Yes. I taught myself graphics at the same time I was developing the story. A few years back I had gotten into a hobby of making short movies. I’d gather up some volunteer actors, write a script, tape it, then show it. I held a debut for my last piece and seventy friends and family of people involved came. A couple of friends said their teens would love to be in a movie. I started thinking of a script that involved teens, but not drugs, pregnancy, school, or social issues. I hatched the plan for recruits trying to get into an elite fighting force. I studied writing screenplays and quickly had a 100 page script. I was sure I could film it with green screen and drop graphics behind the actors. It all proved too expensive and massive a project, so I abandoned it. Meanwhile, I had a library of over a hundred images. A friend came by and we enjoyed cigars on my deck. He suggested I write the screenplay into a novel, then use my graphics as free bonus content.

http://missionveritas.com/