I’d say without doubt the biggest influence on the books was George Carlin. I discovered his genius about 2008 and the inspiration for the books was born. I found his opinions visionary and invigorating, one key lesson I took on board about the importance of almost becoming a spectator on life and finding the humour in it.
Writing about subjects like Politics and Religion is heavy stuff. It quickly became obvious that the key to solving a lot of the issues in society is to get to the root cause of the problem and change the system from there. Unfortunately I can’t see this happening, certainly not in my lifetime due to narrow-minded moronic politicians, and that realisation can make you frustrated and angry. I think Carlin worked this out and it highlights the genius of the man, that in a way he was his own therapist. He knew he had to detach himself from the harsh realities of certain situations and become a humoured spectator on life.
It got me thinking about this and I think that if you don’t take this route and get too involved it could lead you down a couple of paths, both horribly terminal. You could potentially let the frustration of not being able to instigate change overcome you; you’re conscious of the very real problems around us yet are powerless to change them. The other path is one that Kurt Cobain famously took; that you feel so much love and pity for everything and everyone that suffers, that you can’t take that pain any more, that it just makes you too sad.
Carlin said the trick really is not to give a fuck. You can’t really allow yourself to consider the fact that children are starving in their millions because of the decisions that our world’s leaders have made else it’d be too much for me, it’s too heartbreaking. Homeless people, cruelty to animals, women wearing bhurkas, even the look on a guide dogs face, all these things instinctively hurt my soul a little and so in considering them and how to combat such problems I needed a defence mechanism.
Now, when writing, I get all the knowledge needed for each book, write the book, then flush the knowledge out of my head and stop accessing that side of my personality in order to concentrate on having fun. Because that’s what life’s about at its core. Yes do what you can through actions to try and change things, but underneath it don’t give a fuck, you only live once just enjoy it.
Frank Noon divides opinion. Whilst some say he’s a philosophical genius, some say he’s a fanciful dreamer who deliberately courts controversy with his anti-establishment views about the failings of modern society.
Seemingly nearing the end of his life in politics, he reluctantly fronts an experimental inter-galactic government project late in the 21st century aimed at making life on an overpopulated Earth more sustainable. As he battles to gain control of a relative asylum, consisting of a cross section of the populous as much at odds with themselves as the situation, he unwittingly embarks on a life-changing journey of self discovery.
As they learn more about the project and its intentions how far-reaching might the consequences be for the future of humanity?
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