| Author takes us behind the pages of 'Goliath' By Michael E. Newman Reprinted from The Mongomery Journal |
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I am a huge fan of Steve Alten, the author of "Meg:
A Novel of Deep Terror," the story of a giant prehistoric shark found
alive; its sequel, "The Trench;" and "Domain," an end-of-the-world tale
that builds upon an ancient Mayan prediction. I just recently finished
reading "Goliath," Alten's suspenseful novel of a madman at the controls
of the world's most advanced and lethal submarine.
J.K., Germantown, Md. Dear J.K.: Is under two hours fast enough? That's how quickly New York Times best selling author Steve Alten responded to an e-mail note from "Answer Line" with your questions. Not surprising, though, because Alten thrives on keeping in touch with his readers and promptly answers all of his e-mail personally. To help "Answer Line" readers who have not read Alten's "Goliath" understand the author's answers to your questions, we first asked Alten to describe the storyline in the novel (which is now out in a mass market paperback version from Tor Books and available through your local bookstore or from online distributors such as Amazon.com). "'20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' meets '2001: A Space Odyssey,' as a victim of oppression hijacks the most lethal killing machine ever created," Alten explains, "in order to use its weapons of mass destruction to forge his own road map of peace." "Imagine being King for a Day, with the biggest stick on the block, able to force the world into doing what you want it to do. " Alten continues. "The U.S. Navy designed Goliath, a futuristic nuclear stealth submarine the length of a football field in the shape of a giant stingray. Now the vessel is under control of Simon Covah, a biochemical computer expert who witnessed his family brutally murdered and was left for dead. Covah aims to treat the disease of violence by using Goliath and its nuclear weapons to dictate world policy. Among his demands: Execute Saddam, Kim Jong Il, Castro, Khaddafi, eliminate all nuclear weapons, and have the Chinese leave Tibet." The one wild card in Covah's plans for Goliath, Alten says, is SORCERESS, the sub's bio chemical computer, programmed with the capacity to evolve. "Like a child, it is learning," he says. Attempting to stop Covah is Gunnar Wolfe, an ex-Army Ranger haunted by having to kill gun-totting children-rebels in Sierra Leone, and Gunnar's onetime fiancee, Navy commander Rochelle "Rocky" Jackson, former head of the Goliath project, who has never tasted the real horrors of war. Now, with the background in place, let's see Alten's answers to your interesting questions, J.K.: Where did you get the idea for the "Goliath" story? The idea originated in 1999. My manager, Ken Atchity, wanted me to work on a story of a colossal submarine another writer was struggling with, but I read the manuscript and passed. Then I came upon research dealing with artificial intelligence, and saw a whole new angle, using it to write a completely different novel. Are any of the characters in "Goliath" (especially Simon, Rocky and Gunnar) based on real persons, and if so, who are they? Gen. "Bear" Jackson is a real person. All the minor characters in the story are actual readers who submitted their names and descriptions to me via e-mail. It's sort of my way of keeping my fans involved, and they really enjoy it. As for the main character, Simon Covah, he's a unique kind of bad guy in that we find ourselves rooting for him. Covah's a victim – he lost his family to an oppressive regime and an inhuman act of violence – and he wants to eliminate what he calls the "disease of violence" meaning that one act of violence can fuel a dozen more. In many ways, he reminds me of President Bush, a man of virtue, pushed to extremes, who gets caught up in the moment. When I was writing his character (pre-Sept. 11, 2001), I imagined myself as Covah and what would I do if I could. And I got caught up in the same problems that affect the character, the lesson being that ultimately, violence does not remedy violence, that the light of peace cannot be achieved through darkness. The other main character is Gunnar Wolfe, a man who joined the Armed Forces because he believed in fighting for democracy. Years of conflict have disillusioned Gunnar, who hates the hypocrisy of war. That we are currently seeing both storylines of Goliath in our headlines is a bit unnerving. Is the Goliath technology based on actual R&D under way by the U.S. Armed Forces? Has a Goliath-type vessel actually been built? The future of naval warfare is stealth. New stealth designs for submarines are on the drawing board, and the principles of the Goliath super-structure and its mini-subs are sound. Is there a Goliath being constructed? It's possible. How practical is the biochemical computer concept used for SORCERESS? Is there research under way to develop such a growing, evolving computer system? Again, the science is already underway. The future of computers is DNA computers, and they will be millions of times faster than what we now use today. The true nature of artificial intelligence and its ramifications will also be upon us in years to come. How long did you have to do research for "Goliath" before you were able to begin writing a credible technological thriller? Where did you get your knowledge of military tactics that you used in the book? Research is an on-going process in a novel like Goliath. I must have completed eight major edits, and then a fast go-through following 9-11 just as the book was being prepare for print. I was also fortunate to have hired readers of mine as editors whose own background in the sciences kept the manuscript accurate. One of these was a former commander of a U.S. attack sub and his contributions were invaluable. Did you work with scientists and engineers to verify that the technology portrayed in "Goliath" was possible? If so, did they suggest anything different (from what you originally planned) that made it into the book? One of my goals as an author is always to remain accessible to my fans. I always begin each day by answering my own e-mail, and through this, have met some amazing and talented individuals. With "Goliath," I hired my own readers as experts in the field of submarines, naval tactics, parachuting, DNA computers, and a former U.S. Army Ranger helped me with the hero, Gunnar Wolfe. My readers remain my greatest asset as an author. Several suggestions made it into the book regarding the DNA computer, SORCERESS. What has been the reaction of scientists and engineers – especially those with the military -- to "Goliath"? One of Goliath's contributors was an expert in the field of biochemical computers. She not only checked, but contributed to the technical aspects of the manuscript. My artist, Bll McDonald (another reader), used my descriptions and created the sub and mini-sub drawings featured in the book. Bill consulted with some naval engineers, who were very impressed. As to the military, I am honored to say my books are very popular in our Armed Forces, and several editors checked the military aspects. In gratitude, I dedicated Goliath to the American men, past and present, who served aboard submarines What is the possibility of a "Goliath" movie in the near future? It's certainly a goal of ours. I think it would make an amazing movie, but right now, Hollywood seems to be steering clear of "tent pole" productions that are not sequels. Personally, I think this movie would kick butt at the box office, and my readers do too. Meantime, a few fans who are independent film makers have created a Goliath movie teaser that we feature free on my Web site, www.SteveAlten.com |