After I published “A Hostile Takeover” I began exploring ideas for a second book. At some point, I entertained the thought of adapting one of my screenplays that had been sitting on the shelf, collecting dust for over a decade. How easy. The basic story and material were there. All I had to do was tweak this and rewrite that, so I committed to writing it, setting a target to keep it short and simple.
The screenplay was called ‘The Bad Samaritan’ and it was turned into a guerilla film back in 1999 by me and associates. Its only release was at the 2001 Melbourne Film Festival, and it’s been buried ever since. I felt it was a natural step for a novel to come out of it.
In hindsight, I was naive about how easy it would be. In my writing experience, nothing goes down as planned. With me stories evolve, ideas get bigger, and themes dig deeper. When I decided to turn what was originally a serial killer horror thriller into a serial killer science fiction horror thriller, I entered a world of hurt.
The original story idea still resonated with me, enough for me to decide to revisit it. The challenge is; how do I take this to another level?
Hence, The Blood Ring was born.
Writing a novel is no small feat, but writing a novel that merges two wildly different genres – the suspense of a serial killer story with the speculative intrigue of science fiction – is a journey that tests every ounce of creativity. I tackled this challenge by developing futuristic technology that feels both plausible and thrilling, crafting four distinct yet interconnected characters, and weaving complex plotlines that come together in an explosive finale.
Serial Killer Meets Sci-Fi
When I set out to write this novel, the idea of combining the gritty realism of a serial killer thriller with the imaginative scope of sci-fi felt both exciting and daunting. These genres have wildly different conventions – one thrives on grounded human psychology and moral ambiguity, while the other often explores speculative ideas about the future or technology. Finding the right balance was key.
I’ve always been fascinated by the questions posed by shows like Dexter and movies like Se7en or Blade Runner. They create tension through contrasting elements: human flaws versus technological advancements, intimate crimes versus large-scale societal impacts. I wanted to explore these contrasts in my own story.
My approach was to ground the sci-fi elements in a reality that felt eerily close. The story focuses on surveillance technology and rogue AI algorithms – tools that feel just one step ahead of today’s world. At the same time, the serial killer plot ensures that the story stays emotionally charged and deeply personal.
Yellowcop and The Dendrome
Every sci-fi story needs its technological backbone. In my novel, two systems define the world: Yellowcop, a government surveillance network, and The Dendrome, an illegal algorithm capable of infiltrating any system. These technologies are more than just tools; they shape the story’s moral dilemmas and create challenges for the characters.
Yellowcop: The All-Seeing Eye, Yellowcop is inspired by real-world discussions about AI surveillance and government overreach. Imagine a system that can monitor every citizen’s movements, behaviour, and decisions. While it promises safety, it raises ethical questions: How much privacy are we willing to sacrifice for security? In the novel, Yellowcop becomes both an ally and an antagonist, as characters debate its morality and manipulate its capabilities.
The Dendrome: A Chaotic Counterpoint. If Yellowcop is the enforcer of order, The Dendrome is the agent of chaos. This rogue algorithm, created for illegal purposes, can hack into any network. It started as a tool for rebellion but quickly spiralled out of control, becoming almost a character in its own right. The Dendrome symbolizes the unintended consequences of technological innovation, pushing characters to confront the danger of systems that operate beyond human control.
Making Technology Personal. What makes these technologies compelling is their impact on the characters. Yellowcop invades their lives, revealing secrets and forcing moral compromises, while The Dendrome’s unpredictable behaviour becomes both a threat and a tool. They aren’t just background details; they’re woven into the fabric of the story, shaping the characters’ decisions and arcs.
Setting Up the Four Main Characters
A good novel needs strong characters, and in this story, there are four protagonists, each with a distinct voice and arc. Here’s a glimpse into their roles:
Matthews: The Detective
Wendy Matthews is a seasoned detective who is sceptical of Yellowcop. While the system promises an all-seeing solution to crime, Matthews has seen its flaws up close – from innocent people being falsely accused to crucial evidence slipping through the cracks. Haunted by a string of unsolved murders, she relies on her instincts and investigative skills, often clashing with the overreliance on surveillance technology. Matthews represents the tension between trust in authority and the need for human judgment in the pursuit of justice.
John: The Psychopath
The character of John remains mostly intact from the screenplay. His mental illness deepens as the algorithm grows beyond his grasp, tormenting him with greed and paranoia. Now a fugitive, John is desperately trying to merge with this entity, even as it reflects his own fractured mind. John’s arc explores the theme of paranoia and the fragile line between sanity and madness.
Luke: The Acolyte
Luke represents the dark side of social media’s evolution. Once a passionate citizen journalist, he became a social media influencer chasing likes and views by amplifying sensationalism. Now, disillusioned with his role in perpetuating falsehoods and division, Luke seeks to expose the truth about Yellowcop and The Dendrome. His story delves into the tension between authenticity and performance in the digital age, questioning how much of ourselves we lose in the pursuit of online validation.
Mark: The Enigma
Mark is a shadowy figure operating outside the realm of the civil world and The Dendrome. His true motives remain unclear until the story’s climax, making him a wild card in the narrative. Mark embodies the novel’s central mystery, tying together the other characters’ arcs in unexpected ways.
Each character has their own journey, but their paths are destined to collide as the plot unfolds.
Interweaving Four Storylines
Managing four protagonists and multiple plotlines was one of the most challenging aspects of writing this novel.
Each character starts on their path. Matthews is investigating the murders, John is on the run, Luke is uncovering secrets, and Mark is lurking in the shadows. Early on, their storylines feel separate, but subtle connections hint at how they’ll converge. For example, the murders Matthews is investigating have ties to The Dendrome, and Luke’s investigation overlaps with John’s desperate attempts to join the dark network.
The middle of the novel is all about escalation. Each character’s decisions unknowingly affect the others, creating a web of cause and effect. The reader sees how the threads are tightening, even if the characters don’t yet realise it. Yellowcop and The Dendrome play central roles here, as both tools and obstacles for the protagonists.
In the final act, the characters are forced together by their overlapping goals and conflicts. Matthews discovers the truth about the murders, John confronts the consequences of The Dendrome, Luke exposes secrets that upend everything, and Mark’s true motives are revealed. The ending ties all the threads together in a way that (hopefully) feels both surprising and inevitable.
Keeping the Plot Coherent
Writing a novel with this level of complexity required careful planning and constant revision. The challenge was amplified by the need to integrate the original screenplay into a futuristic setting, ensuring the core story evolved while maintaining its essence.
I created a detailed mindmap that mapped out each character’s arc, key plot points, and how the storylines would intersect. I made sure to plant subtle hints throughout the novel that would pay off later. These clues help the reader feel like the twists and connections are earned rather than coming out of nowhere.
Exploring a Dark Humanity
Writing this novel taught me a lot about patience, planning, and the power of revision. Combining two genres, developing a unique world, and juggling multiple protagonists was challenging, but it also pushed me to grow as a writer.
If you’re tackling a similar project, my advice is this: Don’t be afraid to take risks. Not only by blending genres and crafting complex stories but, as in this case, by going all in on a bleak and malevolent world that takes no prisoners. It can be daunting, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. If you want to write something different, plan meticulously, revise ruthlessly, and trust your instincts.
Most importantly, remember why you’re telling this story. For me, this novel is about the intersection of technology and humanity, the dangers of unchecked power, and the lengths people will go to satisfy the darkness that exists within them.
