Interview with S. A. Barnes
Hinweis: Die deutsche Übersetzung dieses Interviews ist in PHANTAST #30 "Horror" erschienen.
PHANTAST: Hello, Stacey! The topic of this issue of PHANTAST is “horror”, to which your two SF novels “Dead Silence” and “Ghost Station” fit very well. How did you come to combine science fiction and horror in space?
S. A. Barnes: I write the stories I enjoy. Some of my favorite movies are science fiction horror–Aliens, for example, and Event Horizon. I also wanted to write science fiction that focused on the characters’ plight rather than the technology.
Horror is a great way to do that because you have to connect with the characters’ terror in order to convey it to readers.
PHANTAST: Why do you think science fiction, especially in space, is a good setting for horror stories?
S. A. Barnes: I think because space is still such a large unknown. Space exploration is in its infancy for us, and we’re learning as we go. The horror of the unknown is very powerful. But also, I think science fiction and horror are a good combination because with any kind of advancement, there’s fear. Consider AI and the fears both of it becoming sentient (and deciding to eliminate humans, for example) or on a more practical level, simply eliminating jobs that humans need to have to earn money for their families. With every advance into the unknown, it’s unclear how our society will change as a result. And that brings fear and sometimes horror. It’s a good match!
PHANTAST: The translation oft “Dead Silence” was published in germany at the beginning of the year. Would you briefly outline for us what Claire Kovalik and her crew discover on the luxury spaceship Aurora?
S. A. Barnes: Claire and her crew are about to lose their jobs when they find the Aurora, a luxury spaceliner that vanished mysteriously twenty years before. The chance to make a salvage claim worth millions drives them to board the ship. But once inside, it’s very clear that whatever happened to the crew and passengers, it was not a simple ship malfunction or even an illness. Everyone on board has died violently at the hands of another or in suicide. So, Claire and her crew must decide whether it’s worth the risk of the same thing happening to them for the earnings they might receive—even as they’re not sure what caused the passengers and crew to attack one another.
PHANTAST: In an interview with Grimdark Magazine you say you are obsessed with the Titanic. How did the Titanic inspire you to write “Dead Silence”?
S. A. Barnes: I’ve always been fascinated with the Titanic—the tragedy of the event itself, the hubris of the humans involved in its demise, and the stunning artifacts that have been recovered. The very first short story I ever wrote was about someone on the Titanic.
I would never want to venture to the bottom of the ocean to see the wreckage and the relics. Even just the thought of it makes my chest feel tight! So, Dead Silence was my version of getting to explore the Titanic.
PHANTAST: Your protagonist Claire is marked by trauma and is now about to lose her job. On the outside she seems hard and repellent - what does it look like inside?
S. A. Barnes: Inside, I would say that Claire considers herself very vulnerable. She puts up walls to protect herself from further loss. Everyone she’s ever cared about has died, and some of those deaths were her fault. She struggles with the idea of more death, more guilt. She can’t handle that pain again, so she pushes everyone, including her own team, away. She wants to love and be loved but can’t fathom taking that risk. That’s why her feelings for Kane are so difficult for her.
PHANTAST: Your new SF novel “Ghost Station” takes us to the planet Lyria 393-C. Where is this planet? And what awaits us there?
S. A. Barnes: Lyria 393-C is a dead planet in another solar system. It’s tidally locked (meaning one side is always light and the other is always dark, except for a strip down the middle). The planet is hostile to life now, but it wasn’t always. There are remnants of an alien civilization that’s thousands of years old and extinct now.
The team is supposed to document and explore the area for their corporation, but it’s not going to go as planned. It never does! :)
PHANTAST: Your protagonist Ophelia Bray is a psychologist and expert in ERS – what exactly is that? And how does it affect the mission?
S. A. Barnes: ERS stands for Eckhart-Reiser Syndrome. It’s a fictional condition based on the very real winter over syndrome that scientists at the Arctic and Antarctic poles can experience. The idea is that when humans are away from Earth for too long, living and working in space or on another planet, their circadian rhythms are disrupted. It causes depression, anxiety, violence, suicidal ideation, etc. And it can be contagious among a team all operating in close proximity, in the same way that suicide is contagious.
Ophelia’s job is to work with this team who has recently lost one of its members to ERS (presumably). She’s trying to help them while also proving herself. The problem is, with the possibility of ERS, it’s hard to trust your own judgment when strange things start happening. Is Ophelia losing her mind to ERS or is it something else?
PHANTAST: Ophelia travels on a spaceship called “Resilience” – how resilient is she herself? And how resilient should your readers be?
S. A. Barnes: I named the ship Resilience because I read a book–Grit by Angela Duckworth–that I think back on often. Essentially, the idea is that you can be smart and talented–both of those things help–but what really makes the difference is resilience. Grit. Your unwillingness to give up when things get tough. It’s something that’s important to me as a writer, but I also liked the idea Ophelia would need to discover that resilience for herself.
PHANTAST: With Claire and Ophelia you have two strong female main characters. Did you choose women on purpose?
S. A. Barnes: Yes, I did. I wanted to tell these stories with women in the lead, making decisions and living with the consequences. It’s getting better now, but for a long while, women were relegated to certain roles–the love interest, the snarky sidekick or even “the character who must die to drive a male character to action.” I wanted women to be in the spotlight as the central character in science fiction and horror.
PHANTAST: What characterizes good horror for you? What makes your blood run cold?
S. A. Barnes: The most terrifying thing to me is being unable to trust your own perception of reality. All we have are our senses. When your eyes are telling you something is there that no one else can see, how frightening that must be! Are you losing your sanity or is there something else going on? How can you tell? How do you prove it to yourself or others? What are the consequences if no one believes you?
I’ll also admit that because of my upbringing as a pastor’s child, I find anything with a religious theme absolutely chilling. I’ve never watched The Exorcist–not sure I’ll ever be able to.
PHANTAST: During the day you work in a high school library – how many horror books are there? And do you also talk to students about your horror books or more about your YA books (alias Stacey Kade)?
S. A. Barnes: We have a growing horror section in our library–many of the books are frequently checked out! I talk with students more about my horror books because I think there’s more interest in that genre these days. They know I’ve written other things, though.
PHANTAST: Do you have any scary recommended readings for us?
S. A. Barnes: Of course! Here are a few of my favorite books:
The Return by Rachel Harrison
Dead Space by Kali Wallace
Paradise-1 by David Wellington
Salvaged by Madeleine Roux
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
PHANTAST: Finally, can you tell us what you are currently working on? Will there be any new space horror from you in the near future?
S. A. Barnes: Oh, yes! I’m excited to share that I have a new book coming out in April 2025, COLD ETERNITY. It’s another space horror novel. In this story, Halley Zwick is on the run after a political scandal that made her a target. She’s hiding out on the Elysian Fields, a “dead ship,” as a caretaker. The Elysian Fields houses hundreds of cryogenically frozen people from centuries before, mostly wealthy or famous–those who could afford to pay for the service. Her job is simply to keep an eye on the deteriorating ship and make sure that any damage is reported. But it doesn’t take Halley long to realize there’s more going on behind the scenes on the Elysian Fields than there should be, and she might be in more danger now than she was before.
PHANTAST: Thank you very much for the interview!
S. A. Barnes: Thank you so much for having me!
Autorinnenfoto: Copyright by S. A. Barnes
Dieses Interview wurde von Judith Madera für Literatopia geführt. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.