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P.A. Vasey’s series ‘Trinity Trilogy’ has captivated readers since the first book was released, due to his ability to craft fascinating, plot driven and action filled stories, making his books breakout favorites in the Science fiction world, and yes bestsellers.
Trinity’s Legacy the first book in this enthralling series takes readers on a thrilling road trip full of high tech, drama and thrills as humanity encounters an alien species for the first time. This adventure delivers electrifying and dramatic twists and turns that take readers deep into the world Vasey has created and leaves them reaching for the next book. Given all of this it is no surprise that it was an official semi-finalist for the 2018 CYGNUS Book Awards for Science Fiction.
Recently Vasey talked with us about Science Fiction, his work, and what’s coming next from this rather brilliant writer.
In your biography you mentioned that you are a fan of Alastair Reynolds, Neal Stephenson and Kim Stanley Robinson, what about their writing is what you enjoy most?
I first read Alastair Reynolds’ Revelation Space series when the third book, Absolution Gap came out. Annoyingly I read it on vacation not realizing it was the finale! Despite that, the world building and the locations were so compelling that I was instantly drawn in. Despite the volume of SF I had read, vivid images, particular scenes and situations became embedded in my brain. The dark eerie corridors of the vast starship ‘Nostalgia for Infinity’ gave me the idea for the ship in Trinity’s Fall, ‘Infinite Horizon’. Neal Stephenson’s many works explore mathematics, science and philosophy, things I try to bring into my novels. I particularly loved ‘Seveneves’, his story telling of the desperate attempts to preserve humanity after an apocalyptic event on Earth, and the remaking of human society as a space based civilization. Again, ideas I’ve always been interested in and which played a huge part in the development of the Trinity Trilogy. As for Kim Stanley Robinson, what isn’t there to enjoy about his work! He’s generally acknowledged as one of the greatest living sci-Fi writers and every time I read one of his books I am both inspired and encouraged at what is possible, and then depressed by how good he is!
You moved from Newcastle, UK and moved to Brisbane, Australia in 2004 which is a very long journey. There has to be a story behind the move and how was it to adapt to a new place and a new walk of life so far from your hometown?
It is over 10,000 miles from where I was born to where I now live… that must be pretty close to about as far as you can go from your place of birth! The story behind the move was that I was frustrated and bored in the UK, professionally. I was forty years old and working for the NHS as a consultant oncologist, and at the same time was a clinical academic, leading the second biggest trials unit in the UK. I’d two young children whom I rarely saw due to work travel, and my wife was hankering for a better life for us all [and a better climate compared with Scotland, where we were living]! After a brief flirtation with the USA – I nearly signed on the dotted line for a position at Brown University, Rhode Island – I ultimately took the plunge for the lifestyle change down under. Within a few years I’d moved into private practice in Brisbane, Queensland, and a whole new way of life. The kids lost their Scottish accent within a few months and were supporting Australian sporting teams over British ones almost immediately. It took me a while, but I’m now more Australian than English.
What made you decide to become an Oncologist and what advice do you have for others who look up to your success that can help them along their own journey.
Gosh, my career path took a real left turn, so any advice would need to be taken with a pinch or two of salt! When I left medical school, my first inclination was to try and get on to a cardiology-training program. However, I did six months as a resident in an oncology unit, and I was hooked. A Medical Oncologist treats cancer using chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy [for example] and also provides medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer. It is a very research and evidence – based field, and appeals to my love of science, and both the advancement – and quality – of human life. I was lucky in that I had a couple of fabulous mentors along the way which was super important in networking and getting your work promoted and recognized in the right places. Ultimately though, I decided to leave the UK system of joint academia and public health for the reasons alluded to above. I guess the best piece of advice I would therefore give to someone is that if you are not happy with your lot – and can do something about it – then do it. However, only take a risk if you have a solid back up plan if it fails [I could have come back to the UK within a few years if it had not worked out].
Talk to us about the Vu-Hak War series and well the Vu-Hak War itself. What did you think of the storyline, the setting, the characters? Did you one day or night just come up with the idea to write a series or what is something that you envisioned for years before?
Like most people, I thought that I had a book in me, but had never had enough time to put it to the test. I’d always been interested in sci-fi so my writing would always have been in that field. Then in 2016 I had a serious bicycle accident in France, which gave me some downtime and so I thought, ‘it’s now or never’. I spent a few weeks coming up with the story arc, which started out as a single novel but soon it became evident that it would work better over three books. However, if the first book hadn’t been well received, that would have been it! I left the ending of TRINITY’S LEGACY purposely on a cliffhanger for that very reason. I’d watched so many movies and series that I decided to write in the first person in order to allow the story to develop page by page rather than having many threads come together at the end. Writing the protagonist as a woman was not my original idea either, as I’d envisaged the main character, Adam Benedict, to be the eyes and ears of the reader. But I realized that so much would be exposed at the outset if I were in Adam’s head, that there would be no mystery, and it would be better experienced by a complete bystander, a participant in the story, but not the focus of the story itself. So I became Kate Morgan, and tried to get in touch with my female side!
If you can select one takeaway from your series that you would like your fans to enjoy most about your writing, what would it be and why?
I hope it’s considered a ‘page turner’, something that makes people want to read it to the end to find out what is going on and why. The twists and turns and revelations only make sense if you are engaged and hooked to the story and the protagonist, so I tried to make Kate Morgan both relatable and likeable. There are many influences in this trilogy, and I hope sci-fans will both recognize and acknowledge the debts paid to the sci-fi greats which I tried to emulate in both style and content, whilst also trying to come up with something original and engaging. I’ve tried to incorporate ideas that are controversial but worth discussing, with respect to religion, philosophy and the place of humanity in the universe, without being overly judgmental or dogmatic or opinionated. I want people to leave the story having enjoyed the journey, and having had some aspects of their pre-existing worldview challenged.
What is one thing that you enjoy doing most with your family and children?
We live in Brisbane but also have a beach house on the Sunshine Coast, and most weekends we all head up there to chill and enjoy each other’s company. I have two daughters, and when they were old enough I indoctrinated them into Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Marvel. One of my favorite things to do with them is to watch one of these movies on a big home cinema screen, and quote cool lines at each other. My wife pretended to enjoy these movies when we were dating in the early years, but she ultimately let me know that it wasn’t her thing! She enjoys walking and hiking, and I’ve started doing a bit more of that, as my cycling days are probably winding down – although I think I’ve at least another 10 years of serious cycling if I remain upright!
For more information about P.A. Vasey and the ‘Trinity Trilogy’ you can visit his website.
