Author: Paul Boerger
Title: Convergence: A Novel of a Catastrophic Future
Publisher: Two Harbors Press
ISBN: 978-1-937293-52-9
Pages: 166, Paperback/Hardcover
Genre: Science, Dystopia, Fiction
Author Interview with Paul Boerger
Author Interview with Paul Boerger
Convergence: A Novel of a Catastrophic Future
Interviewed by: Gary Sorkin, Pacific Book Review
Pacific Book Review: Today we have the pleasure of being with Paul, author of Convergence: A Novel of a Catastrophic Future. Thank you for joining us.
PB: It’s an honor to be interviewed.
PACIFIC BOOK REVIEW: This was quite a thought-provoking novel. Despite the fact that economic inequality, climate change and war are noted as increasing problems in the novel, the most shocking supposition is that human breeding should be regulated in some way. In your opinion, do you think this has become a larger problem than those other issues?
PB: They are all pressing problems, but the case can be made, especially with regards to climate change, that overpopulation is the root cause. Certainly, overpopulation is one of the causes of war.
PACIFIC BOOK REVIEW: Among the many converging events in the novel, would you say that the outbreak of the virus was the only non-preventable event?
PB: There has never been a war that was not preventable. Ever.
PACIFIC BOOK REVIEW: I have always been interested in utopian and dystopian novels. It seems that most of the dystopian novels propose a future which is dark, due to state oppression. Yet, your novel seems to propose the opposite: that a dark future will result from the lack of regulation. Do you think we are in a shift from individualism to socialism?
PB: Socialism is a word in American politics that is completely misunderstood and has been become impossible to discuss. In the current political climate, we are not shifting towards anything. We are at a complete stalemate.
PACIFIC BOOK REVIEW: It seems like one of the subtexts is “going beyond necessity,” overindulgence, overconsumption, and overpopulation. Do you think awareness is enough for each individual to act responsibly or do you think changing our social and industrial practices requires social legislation?
PB: Understand that I don’t necessarily favor birth regulation. Education is the preferable option, but we know from history that all too often humanity does not react until it is far too late.
PACIFIC BOOK REVIEW: The earliest time in the novel is 2020 which I figured was an allusion to “hindsight is 2020.” Are you saying that any or all of these problems are too far gone? In other words, are we destined or genetically designed to ignore preventative measures, only to react to catastrophe?
PB: In the case of climate shift, it is too late. We are in it. We can mitigate the consequences, but it’s here and it is going to change the world.
PACIFIC BOOK REVIEW: What are you currently working on? Is there another book in the making?
PB: A sequel to Convergence is being written. People really want to know what happens to some of the characters. I also introduce new characters and a sequel gives me the opportunity to further explore the issues in Convergence and introduce new social problems.
PACIFIC BOOK REVIEW: We certainly wish you the best of success with Convergence, and look forward to reading more from you fascinating mind in the near future…before 2020! Thank you again for joining us.
PB: My pleasure. I’m honored you chose Convergence for a topic.
