Interview With Author Andrew G. Berger
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Andrew G. Berger.
I have always loved reading and storytelling, whether captivating an audience or weaving tales for my sons. Eventually, this passion led me to embark on a journey I had long envisioned: writing a novel. The topic had been simmering in my mind for years—the consequences of AI’s triumph and its profound impact on humanity.
How would the rise of AI and a fully digital world reshape us as individuals? Would it alter our humanity? And what if a sudden catastrophe wiped out all digital tools in one devastating moment? What would remain of us as human beings if we were thrust back into a “digital Stone Age”, left to rely solely on ourselves?
These questions drove the creation of my science fiction novel, THE SUPERFLARE. It’s a story born from my fascination with the intersection of technology, human nature, and the fragility of the digital age.
A bit about me: I have a background in German Literature, Political Science, and History. Today, I live and work in Berlin, where I share my life with my wife and our two children.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
THE SUPERFLARE is my latest book, published also in German as DER SONNENSTURM. The initial idea was to consider what would actually happen if all digital devices stopped working overnight. We are becoming more and more dependent on AI and countless digital helpers – smartphones, navigation devices, laptops, iPads, tablets, smart TVs, smartwatches, Alexa, Siri, Cortana, smart homes, Google, the Internet, etc. But what if all those helpers suddenly stopped working? A worldwide EMP, triggered by a gigantic solar storm, could do the trick. Based on this idea, I started to design possible scenarios that branched out and condensed more and more during the writing process.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
That’s a question best answered by my family—they’d likely have the most entertaining insights!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The fear of machines, robots, and artificial intelligence has been as old as humanity’s longing to simplify their lives, enhance their capabilities, or even – as “homo deus” – create a new life form: Artificial Intelligence. Professor Yuval Noah Harari describes this process and its potential consequences in his book “Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow.” His concern is that artificial intelligence might not make humans all-powerful but rather render them obsolete. When I began writing THE SUPERFLARE several years ago, these thoughts were on my mind as I developed the character of TRON, an artificial super-intelligence that plays a central role in my novel.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on several projects, but it would be too early to talk about any of them right now.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m afraid there is no best method or website, it is a permanent process of trial and error. Only the future will tell what method really worked out.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Let me quote Stephen King: “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.“ And: “When you write a story, you’re telling yourself the story,” he said. “When you rewrite, your main job is taking out all the things that are not the story.”
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
This one by Stephen King: “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.“ And: “When you write a story, you’re telling yourself the story,” he said. “When you rewrite, your main job is taking out all the things that are not the story.”
What are you reading now?
I am reading some books about the historical background I might need for my next project.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Continue writing.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival, by Dave Canterbury
Wilderness Survival: A Folding Pocket Guide on How to Stay Alive in the Wilderness, by
James Kavanagh Waterford Press (Author), Leung Raymond Leung Raymond (Illustrator)
Author Websites and Profiles
Andrew G. Berger Amazon Profile
Andrew G. Berger’s Social Media Links
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