What inspired you to write Prometheus High?
Without a doubt, it was my fascination with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, arguably the first modern science fiction story. I wanted to take the classic idea of a mad scientist toiling away in their remote laboratory, and put them in a more public setting that actively encourages such experimentation.
Which part of the book was the most fun to write?
For me, horror is inextricably linked to comedy, so I loved writing the icky replantation scene. I find it hilarious that most of the class wouldn’t bat an eyelid at stitching together body parts. Since they are all there to make monsters, it stands to reason that they wouldn’t be squeamish! My aim with Prometheus High has always been to strike a tone that I call ‘middle grade macabre’, so expect to see more hilariously horrifying moments in the future! There’s more than a passing nod to Frankenstein and the Prometheus myth.
What is it about these stories that made you want to tell a reanimation story for young readers?
For me, practically every science fiction story is a retelling of the Prometheus myth – humans trespassing the realm of the gods (stealing fire/creating artificial life/cheating death) and then being punished for it. Prometheus High was designed to be a melting pot of the many types of reanimation myths that humans have told throughout the centuries. I wanted to interrogate the moral conundrums that would inevitably pop up, whilst writing an action-packed and comedic tale, so middle grade seemed like the perfect fit.
Do you have a favourite character in the book?
Goodness, it’s hard to decide. Mx Hollybow is a stand-out. They dominate every scene they’re in, and I love the fact that Prometheus High’s resident witch is ludicrously powerful yet also the friendliest and most laid-back of all the teachers. A perfect foil for the rigid and solemn Major Stein. Moving forward, however, Marceline is quickly becoming my favourite. You don’t see much of her witty and sardonic side in How to Make a Monster, but in Book 2 she really surprised me, often upsetting my plans for key scenes!
Are there any other pop culture influences or nods to horror classics we should look for?
I’m going to have to restrict my answer to a few choice elements, since I could go on all day. Doctor Singh is clearly inspired by The Absent-Minded Professor, whilst the sympathetic portrayal of the monstrous Creations has Terry Pratchett’s fingerprints all over it, particularly the Discworld’s approach to Igors and the novel Feet of Clay. The ship itself is inspired by several lesser-known B-grade horror films, from Deep Rising (1998) to Triangle (2009), whilst the ‘kids solving spooky mysteries aspect’ has obvious echoes of Scooby-Doo, but also a favourite series of book from my childhood, Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators. If you’re into videogames, I like to think of my book as Cold Fear meets Psychonauts. On a final note, the name of Athena’s resurrected cat, Erwin, wasn’t chosen by accident. I’ll leave that for readers to figure out! In the book we learn about different kinds of ‘skulker’ – nightmare creatures that are drawn to the dead!
What’s the most terrifying creature you came across in your research?
If you do an image search of Japan’s jikininki I think you’ll agree that they’re particularly horrific. I love my horror, but the paintings inspired by those creatures are too much even for me! You obviously love pop culture! Tell us about some of your favourites? I could talk endlessly about my favourite movies (indeed, I often do so as a regular on the Chatflix Podcast) and the mixture of comedy and horror is usually a common element, from Hitchcock movies to Scream. My favourite film of all time is Labyrinth, which pooled the creative talents of George Lucas, Jim Henson, Terry Jones, Brian Froud and David Bowie. If anyone dares to dismiss my love of that film as nothing more than nostalgia, they’d better be prepared for me to talk their ear off about its hidden depths. When it comes to TV, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a formative part of my teenage years, and in retrospect it’s a great encapsulation of the 90s urban fantasy explosion. And if I can add something more obscure, an anime TV series called Steins;Gate (not a typo!) is the best tragi-comic time-travel story nobody has seen.
What was your favourite horror story when you were a kid?
There was a short film from the 70s or 80s I saw once as a child but have never been able to track down since. It involved a young boy in a yellow raincoat playing around some standing stones on the English moors, who is haunted by a doppelganger that ends up taking his place when the boy’s parents come to pick him up. The fact that I can’t remember the title – or even find any evidence of it on the internet – makes it all the more terrifying in retrospect. Wait, was it even a film? Or a memory? Was I that boy?
Book #1 is set on a rusty cruise ship, but I hear the students are switching locations in Book 2 – can you give us a hint?
Book #2, The Books of the Dead, will be all about mummies! But in true Prometheus High fashion, they’ll be learning about resurrecting them on board a zeppelin! Makes sense, right? Expect booby-trapped tombs, skydiving and not one but TWO new Creators.
Buy a copy of Prometheus High #1: How to Make a Monster here.
The interview shows how Frankenstein strongly inspired Prometheus High, especially in blending science, ethics, and imagination. I like the mix of horror and humor for younger readers. However, how do you balance dark themes like reanimation with keeping the story appropriate and engaging for a middle-grade audience?