Originality is a funny thing, particularly in the new world of generative AI; systems designed around regurgitation and recombination of ingested data. It’s funny because I think that’s largely what I do when I create my fiction.
I don’t think I’m particularly original, I just like to play with ideas and smush them together in funky new ways.
But, there must be originality somewhere, right? Otherwise, there’d be nothing new.
So it’s with that thought that I wanted to share the stories that inspired me to write A Spectre in the Stream.
The Matrix
For anyone that’s read A Spectre in the Stream, I doubt this one is a surprise. Hell, the opening chapter is an unapologetic homage the interrogation scene between Agent Smith and Neo.
I clearly remember the first time I watched The Matrix. I was around 13 years old, and at a friend’s place who had a projector in their living room (fancy stuff back then). I recall we were forced to pause the movie partway through because my friend had to do something for his parents.
I was practically vibrating with the need to continue watching. Needless to say, I loved it, and it left a huge impression on me. Although not intentional, I’ve no doubt the virtual reality of the slip in the Slip Saga has its roots in The Matrix.
The Blade Itself
This one probably comes as surprise. The Blade Itself is the first book in Joe Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy; a grimdark fantasy series.
The inspiration here regards Abercrombie’s writing style.
I fucking love it.
Without intentionally doing it, I was reading The First Law while writing an early draft of A Spectre in the Stream, and it helped sculpt the overall gritty tone of the book. When I recognised what was happening, I would occasionally read passages before a writing session to get that grim beat into my head.
My favourite line in the whole book is just two words:
“Corpses, then.”
Gorgeous.
Confused why I like that so much? Read the book to find out why.
Altered Carbon
Altered Carbon is a cyberpunk novel by Richard K. Morgan, and this provided stylistic inspiration more than any specific idea. And the interesting thing about Altered Carbon is that both the style of the writing of the novel, and the visual style of the Netflix adaptation inspired me.
I’ve given a nod to this excellent work in my new book, A Phantom in the Forge, by naming one of the characters Kateshi, a play on Takeshi Kovacs, the protagonist of Altered Carbon.
I also sent the above poster to my cover designer to give them a sense of the visual style I wanted for the cover of A Spectre in the Stream.
I still haven’t read any of Morgan’s other works, but they’re certainly on my extensive TBR.
NB. Only the first season of the show is worthwhile. The second season suuucked.
Daybreakers
Daybreakers is a 2009 Australian-made vampire movie starring Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe. In this dystopic world, blood is in short supply, and I’ve little doubt this idea germinated in my brain into the post-apocalyptic world of the Slip Saga where humanity is dead and blood no longer exists.
The film also features crazed vampires who’ve gone without human blood for too long, sending them mad. I definitely had this concept in mind when writing skinners into A Spectre in the Stream: vire who feed on other vire.
The movie is little cheesy, but still a fun watch.
Dark Moon
Dark Moon is a standalone fantasy novel by David Gemmell, one of my favourite authors. It features a protagonist, Tarantio, with a psychotic and violent alter ego, Dace. This pairing directly inspired my creation of Eo, the alter ego of the protagonist in A Spectre in the Stream.
Eo didn’t actually exist until the second draft of the novel, and personally, I think she’s the highlight. I love writing her darkly humorous dialogue, and plotting her into various situations with the virtual and mind-bending world of the slip has been a gas.
Thanks, David.
See what I mean about originality? You can draw a clear line between these works and the Slip Saga, and for me, it enhances rather than detracts from the experience. Everyone’s mileage will vary on that point, of course, but that’s fine.