Northern Ont. author pens 6th sci-fi novel
Sudbury area author Scott Overton has conjured up a compelling adventure story – his sixth novel – exploring what would happen if social divides were taken to the extreme.
Overton’s new science fiction book ‘Indigent Earth,’ the rich, wealthy and powerful have abandoned our ravaged planet 500 years earlier to allow it to heal from the damage it has suffered from industrialization. While the world’s most power went to live in space colonies, many were left on Earth to live in stagnating communities.
The book begins as those who abandoned the planet decide to return and focus on a discontent survivor named Killian Morningcloud, who works a “dead-end life” and has dreamed of the day colonists return hoping they will take him to the stars, and Natira Celestia, an aristocrat and video celebrity on the space colonies who is “dying to get to Earth” to meet the noble savages that live there.
Overton told CTV News that when the pair finally meet they really clash.
“When they discover a secret that powerful people are desperate to hide, they face a brutal test of endurance and shattered dreams,” said Overton in the summary of his novel.
“Their fire-and-water pairing will shape the course of the whole human race.”
The author said while not specified in the story itself the events of the book play out in northern Ontario.
“It is in northern Ontario,” he said.
“In a very small community in the northern Ontario Boreal Forest.”
Overton added that some of the story also takes place on one of the space colonies – about the distance of the moon.
Overton said as readers may have gathered from the title the book explores colonialism and economic inequality.
“It is not meant to hit anybody over the head (though,)” he said.
“It’s an adventure story – it’s exciting, there’s a lot of action going on… But it does have that strong theme. I was trying to picture the colonialism of the future. I don’t think it is going to be European versus Indigenous peoples – it's going to be perhaps the wealthy and the uber-wealthy and the rest of us.”
Overton explained that with what has gone on in the world recently he feels that anyone could end up on the wrong side of the “privilege divide” in the future.
Overton is a well-known radio morning host for more than 25 years in Sudbury, Overton has now built a second career as a science fiction writer. His radio-themed debut novel Dead Air was shortlisted for a Northern Lit Award in 2012. Since then his other four previous novels ‘The Primus Labyrinth,’ ‘Naïda,’ 'The Dispossession of Dylan Knox' and ‘Augment Nation’ have also been well-received – readers often compare his works with those of Michael Crichton.
Overton’s latest novel is available as both an ebook and in traditional paperback. The author said it will mostly be sold from online retails such as Amazon – though he and a friend will be selling copies of the book at the Sudbury Market on Oct. 14.
He also has several short stories available on his website.
For more information on his writing and where he will be, follow him on 'X' formerly Twitter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
BREAKING 15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
Mexican authorities say thieves killed 2 Australians and an American to steal their truck
Thieves killed two Australians and an American on a surfing trip to Mexico in order to steal their truck, particularly because they wanted the tires, authorities said Sunday.