 Many readers are familiar with suspense novels and thrillers where the protagonists have a specific goal that they want to achieve and must deal with obstacles in their way, look for clues, and fight the bad guys. Usually, the focus of these kinds of novels is on an individual, their choices, and the consequences of these choices. A couple of examples of such plots:
Although Dystopian Fiction (also called Speculative Fiction) can include thrillers, it doesn’t have to. Dystopian Fiction needs to be evaluated as social commentary. It’s often based on current events that seem harmless, imagined as part of an exaggerated trajectory which could one day become dangerous to humanity. It explores not only society and politics as a whole, but often delves deep into human nature and exposes the good and bad qualities of characters facing a new-to-us reality. Dystopian Fiction deals first with society, then about the individual’s place in it. A few examples of such plots:
When reading Sābanto, the reader should first focus on the post-war world, the degradation of the quality of living for most people except a few, and the political situation that is developing. It is important to note the sentiments, opinions, and values that people have. Only then can we understand the characters, their fears, goals, and their actions, because they are products of the society they live in.
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 One of my beta readers pointed me to this song “Have You Ever” by The Offspring (Album: Americana, 1998) and I agree that this song fits the story of Sābanto. I did some internet research on the meaning of this song, and there are a few different theories on what the song is about. Based on what I was able to find, I think this explanation is most fitting: It often feels as if the world is a ride we’re trapped on and we have very little control over our lives. What we see and experience leaves us broken, helpless, and alone. We slowly become numb and spiral into depression because we don’t believe we can make a difference, and the world becomes a dark place. The lyrics “have you ever” ask listeners who relate to these feelings to acknowledge them. We are not alone and many of us feel the same way. If we eliminate crime, however, everyone will be a winner, but if we all walk away, the future of the world remains unknown. At some point, we all need to take a stand and “leave the world as a better place.” The Offspring is an American rock band from Garden Grove, California, formed in 1984. The Offspring is often credited—alongside fellow California punk bands Green Day and Rancid—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the 1990s. Falling, I'm falling
Falling, I'm falling Have you ever walked through a room But it was more like the room passed around you? Like there was a leash around your neck that pulled you through? Have you ever been at someplace Recognizing everybody's face Until you realized that there was no one there you knew? Well, I know Some days, my soul's confined and out of mind Sleep forever (I know) Some days, I'm so outshined and out of time Have you ever Falling, I'm falling Falling, I'm falling Have you ever buried your face in your hands 'Cause no one around you understands Or has the slightest idea what it is that makes you be? Have you ever felt like there was more? Like someone else was keeping score And what could make you whole was simply out of reach? Well, I know Someday, I'll try again and not pretend This time forever (I know) Someday, I'll get it straight but not today Have you ever Falling, I'm falling Falling, I'm falling (Falling) some days, my soul's confined (I'm falling) and out of mind Sleep forever (Falling) some days, my darkest friend (I'm falling) is me again Have you ever Someday, I'll try again and not pretend This time forever Someday I'll get it straight but not today Have you ever When the truth walks away, everybody stays 'Cause the truth about the world is that crime does pay So if you walk away, who is gonna stay? 'Cause I'd like to think the world is a better place When the truth walks away, everybody stays 'Cause the truth about the world is that crime does pay So if you walk away, who is gonna stay? 'Cause I'd like to make the world be a better place When the truth walks away, everybody stays 'Cause the truth about the world is that crime does pay So if you walk away, who is gonna stay? 'Cause I'd like to think the world is a better place I'd like to leave the world as a better place I'd like to think the world “This is War” is a single composed by Matthew Raetzel in 2017 featuring vocals by Richard Farrell. I was introduced to this song when it was suggested in my playlist as a song I might enjoy. Immediately it became one of my favorites and it is hard to listen to the lyrics and not hear in them the story of Sābanto. When Oliver arrives at the city of Riverlea as a stranger … I will leave it at that and have you, the readers, fill in the rest of the story when you have a chance to get hold of the first book of Sābanto, “The Crimson River”. I was unable to find any information about the origins of this song or the composer’s intent. Matthew Raetzel is an award-winning composer, sound designer and producer from Detroit, MI. He has written original scores for 4 feature films, over 30 short films, various television programming, gaming, and advertising projects. His work in film and TV has appeared in media outlets internationally, including Cannes, IDYLLWILD, Hollywood Black Film Festival, Syfy Channel, Superbowl 2016, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Netflix, Amazon Prime, TV One, Filmapalooza, and more. Richard Farrell is a singer, pianist, guitarist and producer from Dublin, Ireland. His website says that he is “an intuitive, thoughtful and soulful musician, the sensitive kind.” Welcome
To the city Said a young man Sitting next to me Heard you're new in town Before you get around Here's a little tip from me Best stick to yourself No matter where you go Just watch your back And hold your own And if after that Trouble's knockin' at your door Remember my friend It's a town we're fighting for Welcome To your paradise Where the little man Pays a bigger price Take another hit Just get it over with We're a little sick you see Can't stay down no more We gotta make it known So get back up You're not alone And then hit 'em back Leave 'em grippin' to the floor You never had a choice They're knockin' at your door Remember my friend It's time And this is war It's time and this is war War Welcome To the untold Take a deep breathe Take the higher road It's what they always say As if they know the way They won't take it from me But don't ever doubt yourself 'Cause life ain't just a dream You make your own So kick and scream The people will act With a never ending force You never had the chance So whatcha' waitin' for? The day has come my friend 'Cause this is war It's time and this is war War Light another wick Better make it quick We ain't got a lot of time 'Cause the powers that be Don't want us free So they gotta dull our shine But when the dust settles in They're gonna pays for their sins I've made up my mind Gotta stand side by side As we drag all the lies To the tables for sacrifice It's time and this is war It's time and this is war War  Writing a book is a long learning process. There is lots to discover when a writer transforms an idea in their head into structured lines of words. Writing transforms a multidimensional imaginary story into a physical two-dimensional page so a reader can recreate that multidimensional world. It takes skill to do so.
Sābanto led me down an interesting new learning path that I had not explored before, and I had lots of fun doing it. I was always an avid reader, and I could always read a book in one day if it was engaging. The story flies by fast, as you are impatient to learn more about the plot and characters. Writing is slow. It’s like comparing a turtle with a jet. Writing means crawling through a story you think you already know. I have seen a lot of advice on the internet telling writers to write a thousand words a day. If this is the initial draft, then that is simple to achieve, because the first version of the manuscript is just a brain dump. During this stage, the writer puts as much as they have already imagined in their head down onto the paper, disregarding any possible errors. Then comes editing. The endless hours spent improving the manuscript into something the writer won’t be embarrassed to show anyone. Word counts no longer matter, as sentences are re-written, information added, scenes removed, etc. Most of the learning happens here. For this phase, I had to do a lot of research on the history, psychology, technology, location (geography, fauna, flora), politics, social issues, book plot development, conflicts and arcs, timelines, flashbacks, foreshadowing, chapter and scene structures, POV implications, grammar, and punctuation. What did you learn when writing the book? Patience. I think that’s the most important lesson of book writing. Rome wasn’t built in a day. A book won’t be written in a month. I also learned that no matter what I do, the book will never be perfect. There will always be something to fix and something to update, but there will be a time when I must call it quits and publish. Did anything surprise you? I set Sābanto many years into the future because I didn’t want to tie the events in the book too closely to the present world. The fifty-year war which separates us from the time the book starts is intentional. I also needed to give the main character a way to get a hold of some fortune, and the chaos of war seemed like an excellent opportunity. Drawing a firm, identifiable line to connect current events with the world of Sābanto prevents it from being read as a documentary or prediction. While editing, it surprised me that the world of Sābanto is not that far away. It scares me how quickly our society can turn around and be in that world (war or not). Maybe we are already there, but I want the readers to be the judges of that. |
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