Q&A: Bertie Beeching on his dystopian novel Dreamer’s Grid, an imaginative and surprisingly plausible narrative set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by an epidemic which erases joy that follows the inhabitants of a commune battling for survival. Their only hope lies in escaping the bleakness and emotional turmoil to a place known as the Grid, where rehabilitation through simulated dreams is possible. Congratulations on your debut novel, Dreamer’s Grid! You’ve set the story in a dystopian world – why did you choose this genre? I think the same reason that the genre resonates with both the tail end of the Millennial generation and also those generations that follow: the real world is always in a bit of permanent, potential doom. We’ve heard of the ‘scary stories’ of the World Wars or Nuclear Winter, and equally we’ve had semi-apocalypses like the spread of COVID, plus the news is constantly saying the environment is inches away from utter destruction. Many dystopian texts present characters that feel they are mostly powerless to do anything about such oncoming doom, and I sense these generations might relate to this as we watch world leaders pull out of climate agreements and suchlike. Dreamer’s Grid presents a future where humankind is reeling from a ‘virus’ that makes people suicidal – depression has become an epidemic. The protagonist Marly is so tired of life, to the point of almost letting a starving dog maul him in the opening pages of the story. What inspired you to explore such a powerful theme? I’ve already mentioned COVID (and there are influences), but it all started with Swine Flu. Again, it’s the sheer uncertainty of it all – both viruses made an awful lot of people panic even if no one they knew had actually had contracted it. In contrast, recent statistics suggest one in six people could have a mental health problem, and yet especially as a student I found it curious no one seemed bothered by this. The central crux of the novel has always been this: if depression could be as contagious as a virus, would more people start caring about it? As for the dog attack – surprisingly there is a sudden positive hidden within the violence, but you’d have to read and find out what that is… Marly only really has three close connections – a father figure in Rev, an old priest who lives on the outskirts of the village; Juwel, a close friend who saves Marly from the dog attack at the beginning of the story and Clotwell, Marly’s teacher. Can you tell us something about the developing relationship between these characters and what you think each of them brings to the story? Rev finds Marly as an infant, and so there is a sort of pseudo-biological trust there, but it also brings Marly to one of his first dilemmas – Rev is essentially one of the founders of the village where the story is set, yet time has made him an outsider, so whenever Marly visits this place of familiarity and safety, he risks isolating himself. Naturally, his life-long friend, Juwel, would not likely leave him entirely shunned, but it is partially due to something Juwel did in the past that helps convince Marly to leave the village later in the story. Then, Clotwell. The name is symbolic in that disgusting English-teacher way. While Rev talks philosophy and Juwel talks about life before societal collapse, Clotwell gives more pragmatic advice that tends to address issues quickly – such as how it is not a good idea for Marly to hide alone in a dark corner just as a cohort of female pupils are led past him. I expect people will notice that Marly does not have much variety in the way of female role models, but this too becomes quite an important quality in the wider story. Dreamer’s Grid is, if not exclusively, aimed at Young Adults. There are elements of sci-fi and modern technology alongside important themes of food poverty – they all live in a post-apocalyptic commune, where life revolves around the endless farm work needed to feed the village without unnecessary starvation – mental illness, friendship, loyalty and betrayal – can you offer any tips to teachers on how to use your book to discuss these issues? God forbid it end up in a classroom! I suppose much discussion could be had by simply reading it and asking ‘which issues or anxieties can you [the pupils] see appearing that you’ve also thought about?’ or perhaps more simply just asking ‘why did that happen?’ When the dog is preparing to attack Marly, the thought crosses his mind that ‘a dog has to eat too,’ and so we can ask what would need to happen to a human being for them to think in this morbid way. This is, after all, the world they might be inheriting one day. How long did it take to write Dreamer’s Grid, and what does your writing process look like? Do you type or write in longhand? How many drafts did you go through before submitting the final version? Ah, yes. The mildly embarrassing question! If we can somehow spin this into a tale of resilience (rather than procrastination), I think it truly began around 2015 thanks to some kind words from an English teacher, when I first wrote down ‘would people care about mental illness if you could catch it?’ That, and a number of statistics I had read regarding suicide in young people, quickly became the opening lines of the stranger who announces ‘The Grid’ to Marly’s village. I then thought I should probably practise and learn a little more about writing – thank you, [University of] Nottingham – and so in reality the ‘real’ writing started closer to 2019. As for the process, I tend to carry a notebook around with me everywhere, and buy a fresh one each year. First drafts usually go on paper, and then as I type them up I
SPACE RACE CHAMPIONSHIP – a unique, out-of-this-world, no-holds-barred sci-fi adventure for Young Adults. Good old-fashioned Formula One of the 90’s BUT IN SPACE! – BOOK CLUB. Chapter 1 – New Competitors “And it’s that season again where we get hyped for the biggest event of the year. The official host of the season is back, so for the next four months of this year you will have me – Pyra Summers – talking you over the Championship and the rumours, stats, and official news that makes itself known. And since I’m back on the airwaves, you can be sure that first piece of news you all look forward to will be coming sometime this week.” Pyra Summers of Radio Racer [15/2-0085] Two spacecraft waited together at the starting line within the cruiser’s hangar bay. The improvised line was nothing more than two mini cruisers parked either side of the two ‘craft. The first ‘craft was a Galaxy model – designation Y/26t. Oblong in shape, it had a rear rectangular section that fit around the control cabin’s viewshield – which was also oblong in shape. The other ‘craft was a Rotablade – designation G/0ld5n. A rectangular shape with rounded corners, it had a tubular rotating blade set either side that were as long as the ‘craft itself. These were auto-defence weaponry emplacements, but were disabled for the moment. This ‘craft also had an oblong shaped viewshield. The two mini cruisers flashed their lights, and the pilots of the ‘craft lifted them up and shot out of the hangar. There was a lot of clutter that the two racers dodged around – the pilot of the Rotablade doing better than that of the Galaxy. Numerous lights marked the way for the racers, and as the ‘craft sped past the lights changed colour. The Rotablade was in danger of smashing straight into the hulk of a damaged mini cruiser, but a quick drop was all that was needed to avoid it. There was the issue of more debris beyond it, but the Rotablade smashed through all of it without a care in the world. When the Galaxy hit this point, it rose above instead of going below, and seemed content to stay above most of the debris. It was forced back into the debris field when one of the sections of a cruiser floated into its path. It tried to dodge around the debris instead of going through it, which caused it to lose some speed. The distance between the two ‘craft had increased. The Rotablade was now within the outer limits of an asteroid field, effortlessly flying through them. After passing a few more, it was out of the field and hugging the plating of a cruiser as it travelled down the length of it. The next light indicated the start of a structure that the racers needed to travel through. It was large, looking as though it was a cruiser in the process of being built. Or at least had been, as it looked abandoned considering the angle of it. The Rotablade flew straight in, being completely aware of the girders that made up the structure. Despite that awareness, it didn’t stop the ‘craft from clipping one of them. The pilot was quick to react and saved it from colliding into a second. The Galaxy had now opened up in speed, having hit the asteroid field. It made it through without hitting any, but there had been a few close calls. Then it was flying the length of the cruiser. The Galaxy had made sure to keep a larger gap between the two than the Rotablade had. When it reached the structure, it slowed down to enter, and kept that speed while traversing through. The Rotablade was almost back to the starting cruiser, following the last few lights that created a winding path back to the hangar it had first started at. It was still paying no mind to the debris scattered around, and was able to bank and turn hard to avoid larger obstacles quickly. It slowed down to enter the hangar at the same time the Galaxy exited the structure of the abandoned cruiser. It took about a minute more for the Galaxy to follow the path and enter the cruiser to land as well. When both had landed, a results screen appeared with the time both had taken to complete the course. “And it’s a victory for the current champion!” a voice rang out. The screens of light dispersed, revealing two boys sitting on chairs with a controller in hand. “Will the current champion be beaten sometime soon?” the other of the two stated. “Tune in next time when we race in about… Five minutes?” “The current champion will not be beaten,” Tom Hughs said. “Not if the competition refuse to push their ‘craft to the max.” “I just don’t feel I can react fast enough,” Lee Johnson responded. “If you are used to the controls and the way something feels, you should be able to react no matter what speed you’re going.” “And I always try.” Lee looked around the room, picturing the race that had just happened. Then he looked back further to the last time he had pushed to near the max. It hadn’t ended well for him. The game was a tie-in to the most popular event of the world they lived. One which happened once every five years. As it turned out, this was the year in which the next was to happen. Lee hadn’t mentioned anything about it yet, but the news had confirmed the selection of the entrants for this year had happened. Within a week, those names would be revealed, and the hype for the event would begin fully. “So, are we getting to a new race?” Tom asked. “Yeah, sure,” Lee replied. “But wouldn’t it be great to be entered into the event for real?” “As much fun as it would be, what chance do we stand without
Robert J. Thomas’s meticulously researched novel The Halibag Boys: A Time To Fly is a gripping account of an RAF crew in northern England aboard the heavy bomber Handley Page Halifax, known as the Halibag, during World War II. The author answers our questions about the novel and how he wrote it. How do you feel about being a published fiction author? Do you consider yourself an historical novelist? Obviously, it’s a pleasure to be published, it’s why we write books to reach a wide audience. A lot of work goes into a novel and to see it in print and on the shelf for sale is an achievement, people spending their money to buy it and hopefully enjoying it an honour. Although historical fiction is my preferred format for novels, I also write general fiction, as well as nonfiction titles. I create what inspires me, I have several projects on the go at any time, which one is worked on today depends on my mood. I find it helps not to be tied to one genre, after finishing a novel I find non-fiction cleansing. The story is told through the eyes of newly qualified flight engineer John Jenkins. How did he and the times you write about in this novel first lodge in your imagination? John, the central character of The Halibag Boys, was a real person, though his name has been changed. He was a direct relative of mine, though I never met him. After the passing of my mother in 2008 I began researching my family tree, not an uncommon activity after losing a parent I’ve since found out. During this research I stumbled across John, though initially just evidence that he once existed. I was aware of him vaguely as I had been told as a child he had served with Bomber Command during World War Two, but all those who could tell me more in later years were gone. Purely by chance, as is often the case, a photograph of John came into my possession. He was standing with a group of men beside an aircraft, this set me down a road that led to opening up his life to me. From this photograph I identified the aircraft, it was a Handley Page Halifax. At this time, like many people, the British bomber of the war was the Lancaster as far as I knew. Having established the Halifax’s identity I was able to determine that John was not in Bomber Command, but was in fact part of the Middle East Command and attached to the Royal Australian Air Force, though a member of the RAF. Armed with this knowledge I set about finding his story, at this time with no intention of using it for a novel. Facebook of all places led me to that eureka moment all researchers dream of, I found the son of John’s pilot. A friendship began that has led to over ten years research into not only John, but the aircraft he and the crew used. As part of this research RAF Riccall came to my attention. At first it was nothing more than an entry on John’s service record. Realising where it was and that I had once lived not thirty minutes from it without knowing of its existence, I began to research RAF Riccall as well. More years of work followed, including many visits to what remains of the station today. It had been my intention to write a history of RAF Riccall as a non-fiction book, I had already completed one on John’s Halifax, the one in the photograph. I wrote instead John’s biography, a humongous book covering everything I knew of his life, which by then was quite substantial. John’s story I thought was complete. As with many things that change your life, one day a lightbulb went off in my head fictionalise John’s story. I thought it was an excellent way to tell it, and make something a wider audience would want to read, non-fiction being rather limited to those only interested in its subject, I believe. Where to start I pondered, his beginning wasn’t anything special, but his war record was. As a big kid at heart, I love all things World War Two and over the years become quite an authority on the Halifax and the squadrons John served with. I like Riccall village and made friends there, I knew the former station well and had become quite an authority on it, it all fell into place. Everything I needed I already had, volumes of books, hundreds of documents, maps, all the research I needed to write an historical novel based at RAF Riccall was in my office and my head. Laying in bed one night, unable to sleep, the opening paragraph entered my head and The Halibag Boys: Time to Fly was born. What place does research have in your writing? When does the fiction take over from the facts? Research is of paramount importance. If I can’t find what I need for a book and prove it, I will leave it out rather than make something up. I like my locations to be real, either still or have existed. I tend to change the names of town, streets, buildings etc but always base them on maps or images I have. In Halibag Boys when the lads are walking through RAF Riccall each step is planned against the real RAF station and plotted on the station map I have. Buildings are where they should be and for the purpose they were used in reality. I want the reader to walk through the station with them, as I did when I wrote it. Fiction, for me, takes over for the interaction between people, and sometimes to abridge events that actually took place to suit the story. As an example, in the book my heroes nearly get hit by a piece of debris flying of a broken propeller on a taxiing Halifax. This
