Please welcome A. W. Davidson, the author of 'Relics of Dawn', one of the best books I read in 2021.
A.W.: Relics of Dawn is a time-twisting science fiction mystery inspired by a conversation I had with my grandmother when I was 10 years old. She and I would read scientific articles from the stacks of National Geographic magazines on her back porch then talk about them. She also listened to Coast to Coast AM from Art Bell, which if you’ve heard of it, you know is pseudoscience on the best days. However, the combination of myth and science always made for some wild conversations, and the general plot of Relics of Dawn is based on one such conversation that stuck with me for decades. Speaking of decades, that is almost how long it took me to write the book from start to finish. It is a well-researched labor of love, but I’m not sure I’ll pick something quite so complex to write next time!
A.W.: Writing is a relaxing escape for me. I didn’t discover my love for it until I started writing Relics of Dawn, but once I did it wasn’t uncommon for me to stay up way past midnight or get up before dawn to work on it. I have a “day job” that requires collaboration with a lot of other people, so writing is one of the few types of work where I can follow my own process and work at my own pace, and write whatever I want. It’s really freeing!
A.W.: I enjoy science fiction classics like Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End, but my favorite modern book is Spin by Robert Charles Wilson. The way Wilson mixes time, mystery, and human nature inspires my own work.
A.W.: When I’m not writing or working, I enjoy spending time with my family and being outside in just about any season. It’s not uncommon for me to go on 10 mile hikes in the dead of the Chicago winter, or hours long walks in the hot North Carolina sun.
A.W.: The Midnight is far and away my favorite band. I listen to them so often that my son calls anything that sounds like chill, synth-infused 80’s “dad music” even if it is by another group.
A.W.: Where Relics of Dawn is a complex weave of many different threads that build to a huge revelation, my next work-in-progress has a simpler plot and a very fast-paced writing style. My goal is to write more broadly appealing science fiction, and to write a book that someone picks up in the evening then realizes it’s 2am before they know it. So far, this story is turning out to be exactly that. Whew!
Two dying civilizations. One shocking revelation.
The Dawn Project was supposed to heal Kaia's planet, but their act of creation is tipping toward apocalyptic destruction. Could an ancient secret rewrite the past to save her future?
BOOK OF THE YEAR—“Davidson captivates readers with a masterful mix of ancient myth and modern science. Mind-blowing is an understatement!"—iHEART SCI-FI PODCAST
"This thrilling mystery keeps you guessing as it weaves through time and builds to a shocking revelation you won't soon forget."—GOODREADS REVIEW
The Dawn Project is the Council's audacious plan to heal the planet... by leaving it behind. As resistance grows and refugee protests turn violent, the Head Councilor calls on their savior, biologist Kaia Badra, to convince her civilization on the brink to begin its exodus to the heavens.
The terraforming starts in Cycle 2296, but problems with the simulation force Kaia to face an unimaginable conspiracy.
Her search for answers leads back to Earth in 2034, where geologist Alan Pearce discovers a lost crater beneath an ancient pyramid. He claims the asteroid impact exposes a shattering secret about the cycle of life. But scientists mock his research and bury the findings.
As Kaia and Alan's stories intertwine, how long can the truth stay hidden?
Explore the ruins of ancient civilizations and discover the science that could save us all in this time-twisting tale where the fate of our planet hangs by a thread unraveling over eons.
Fans of The Da Vinci Code, Interstellar, Star Trek, and Stargate will love this thought-provoking story written for our changing world.
(Disclaimer: This is an affiliate link, which means that I make a small commission if you decide to purchase using this link.)
A.W. DAVIDSON grew up on a farm but now works in the fast-paced tech industry by day while writing as slowly as possible by night. Business Insider called him one of the Top 75 Best Designers in Tech and his trilogy, Relics of Dawn, hit Amazon’s Top 100 after winning “Book of the Year” at iHeart Sci-Fi Podcast. When not tech-ing or writing, he enjoys spending time with family in the great outdoors of Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, and New Mexico.
A.W. welcomes reader mail! author@awdavidson.com
Join his mailing list at: www.awdavidson.com
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Keywords: Authors , Science-Fiction , The Treasure Trove
Posted by Gaetan Clement (August 23, 2022)
Good interview. I'll definitely check this book out, it looks interesting!
I like the parallels between you releasing Deficiency and A.W. releasing Relics. I'll consider these 2 books "companion" books :-)
Posted by S. C. Eston (August 23, 2022)
Hi Gaetan,
I'm glad you enjoyed the interview. Deficiency and Relics are two very different books, but it was great to follow each other's progress, up to publication, and since then. Let me know what you think once you read it.
- Steve
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Posted by Allan (August 18, 2022)
Looks like a story I'd like to read.
Posted by S. C. Eston (August 19, 2022)
Hi Allan,
Give it a try and you won't be disappointed. It's well written, extremely well researched, and full of surprises. An amazing ride!
- Steve