Dystopian stories often reflect contemporary fears and anxieties. What inspired you to explore a dystopian future, and how does it resonate with today’s world?
I like reading news from many countries about the future of humanity. Most of the predictions I read for the future make me feel uncomfortable. I wanted to write a dystopian novel that starts at a very gloomy point in humanity’s future, but later humanity reaches its full creative and spiritual potential and builds a pragmatic future. Meaning, not dystopia and not utopia, but something in between. Something good and realistic.
Many dystopian novels explore themes of control, rebellion, and societal collapse. How do you balance these classic elements with fresh ideas to keep the genre engaging?
My story is happening just when the world starts collapsing and when humans still have some control over their lives and decisions. The message is that everything coming in the future is still in our hands. Humanity must decide the right path to take to ensure not only its future survival, but its future prosperity.
Your series, Sky Curse highlights the tension between technology and humanity. How do you approach the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI and technology in a dystopian context?
It seems to me the tension between technology and humanity in the near future is not what most people think. It turns out the real tension is still humanity working against itself, as it’s always been throughout history. I think that’s part of what makes it dystopian as well, while there are fears about what the creation of AI and advanced technology might bring, what AI might take upon itself to do, the real danger is in how some people will choose to use it. Both on a small scale, such as how much the average person gives up in exchange for the convenience, and on a worldwide scale, when governments turn to AI to make major decisions for them. The technology itself isn’t the enemy in Sky Curse, it’s the application of technology that threatens humanity. And just like every character weakness can be turned around and made into a strength, it’s also within humanity where we have to turn to find hope.
Dystopian stories often depict grim futures. Do you think dystopian fiction is more about warning readers or encouraging them to seek hope in the face of crisis?
I think it’s about both.
Many people, especially teens and young adults, suffer from climate anxiety but unfortunately feel helpless to do anything about it. They give up. They call the subject “depressing” and steer away from it. They get depressed about their future and the future of the next generations. I believe that the future will get tougher before it gets better, but eventually, the future can be very promising.
The Sky Curse series aims to bring hope for Earth’s future, while warning about causes that might bring its demise, like environmental chaos. It was important to me to bring up the mighty Mayan civilization that disappeared abruptly and the recent research that suggests that human-made environmental disasters caused their demise. There is another warning in my dystopian work about AI dependency, as humans should not become fully dependant on AI.
The series has won multiple awards. What aspect of Sky Curse do you think resonates most with readers and critics, and why do you think it stands out among other dystopian works?
The book presents a complex yet likely future where Earth is beyond capacity and humanity is escaping to space, to Titan. Moreover, AI androids are loyal family members, competitive colleagues, and demanding bosses. I think Sky Curse stands out among other dystopian works because of its pragmatic approach. It points out the positive as well as the negative aspects of all of these.
However, when it’s all said and done, it is an empowering tale about humanity’s potential to embrace spirituality and hope, to not only survive but thrive. In the words of author Anthony Avina in his review of my book:
“The intimate way the author is able to capture the concept of finding one’s voice and stepping into your own power made this such a rich and unique story.”
What are some of the most difficult challenges you face when building a dystopian world, especially one that feels both futuristic yet grounded in today’s realities?
The book was published in 2022. Unfortunately, some of the things mentioned in the book have already been happening in real life. I write scary stuff about the future only to find similar headlines in today’s newspapers. From massive forest fires to huge hailstones to dangerously close to Earth meteors and AI taking form and shape. It’s difficult to see my wildest predictions come to life so quickly.
And it’s not just me. Readers turn to fiction to get away from the daily depressing news. Some readers told me that they are afraid to read my book because of how closely it is aligned with our current collective reality.
At the same time, a lot of things inspire me in this world — the beauty of nature as well as human hope, creativity, and resilience. Committed to lifelong learning, I’m inspired by new ways of constructive thinking. I’m even inspired by the protagonist, Cecilia Miller, who strives to save the world and do good, even when things don’t go her way.
Sky Curse was written to inspire. In the words of a book review by The Book Commentary:
"Janet Kravetz fuses the tragedy of a decaying world with stellar storytelling to force readers to contemplate a future that could be theirs if they fail to take care of our world. She writes themes that are resonant and crafts a tale that will have contemporary readers thinking about how their actions affect the environment. The characters are relatable and real, and the author’s ability to vividly explore the psyche of the characters shines through the narrative. In turn troubling and exciting, The Chosen Five is more than a dystopian narrative. It is the tale of humanity, bold in its exploration of existential conflicts and deft in its execution of relatable themes and believable characters..."
What is coming next to you?
Novel writing involves research, writing, and editing, which takes me many years. By the time I publish, events from my book happen in real life. I feel that a TV series can be written and made faster than what it takes me to write a novel, and therefore naturally have the potential of staying ahead of events. My Sky Curse script has been winning international awards and I hope to sell the script to a production company to turn it into a TV series. Film has the potential to reach the masses and shape our realities.
I believe that Sky Curse can inspire a new generation of global leaders, doers, dreamers, and thinkers that would watch the story unfold on their TV screens.
Find out more at https://www.authorjanetkravetz.com/.
The RV Book Fair 2024 Special.
Article published in The Relatable Voice Magazine - November 2024. Downolad the full magazine at:
Comments