We chat with author Seth Haddon about Volatile Memory, which is a sapphic sci-fi action adventure novella, think This is How You Lose the Time War meets Ex Machina.
Hi, Seth! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Sure! I’m 28, live in Sydney, and I’m a gremlin nerd who has wanted to write full time his whole life. Previously I worked in video games as a producer and a narrative designer, and I’ve also worked with cats (cats are my second passion). I’m a big fan of writing, reading, video games, and films!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I was one of those kids who has an elaborate fantasy world. I was always playing dress up and make believe, and roping unsuspecting children into my worlds. But I always grew frustrated when they’d go off script!
I wrote a story about cats trying to steal the sun at about six or seven. At twelve I wrote a picture book about Charon falling in love with a soul who was buried without the coins needed for crossing, and at fourteen I wrote a rip off of the Lion King, only the main character was a female tiger. I wrote a book heavily inspired by the manga Bleach after that, and many, many short stories. So I would say I’ve always had a love for it, and it appeared really early!
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Dragon Slayers Academy, or Tashi!
- The one that made you want to become an author: So hard to say. I think what finally pushed me on the path was Captive Prince, because C.S. Pacat provided really encouraging words!
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: So many, but The Vintner’s Luck is often on my mind.
Your latest novel, Volatile Memory, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Sapphic. Vengeful. Intimate. Futuristic. Haunting.
What can readers expect?
A haunting exploration of identity, memory, and what it means to be alive, set against the backdrop of an ultra-capitalistic future. The story weaves in sapphic longing, reflections on gender and humanity, and the deep ties between consciousness and the body. I wanted to explore transhumanism—especially in today’s cultural moment—and challenge the dissonance in those who celebrate cyberpunk futures and body modification, yet struggle to accept free gender expression. At its core, this is a story about identity.
Where did the inspiration for Volatile Memory come from?
I’ve just always had a weird fascination with masks. Undoubtedly Stargate’s helmets inspired me, since I wanted one from the moment I saw them! The concept came about after a mentor told me to take a break from sci-fi and just write a short palette cleanser. I wrote a brief outline in 2020 (I’m honestly surprised how much of that was salvageable. The plot changed significantly, but the key questions I was asking, and some of the main driving forces are still there!) and what would later become chapter one of Volatile Memory.
The year before I performed at the Huon Valley Mid Winter Festival with a piece called The Mask Maker, where I wore various hand-made masks to act out parts of the story. That story asked, So who am I, after the masks have made me their windows and their mirrors? And I think I was following up on that story, which was quite cryptic and messy with its intentions.
When I sat down in 23’ to write Volatile Memory properly, I returned to that original document, but I also turned my focus on transness, transhumanism, cyberpunk, and queer longing and desire as the root themes I wanted to explore. This is very long winded way of saying it was a developing process, and the inspiration came ultimately from my fascination with masks.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
It’s such a short ride of a book that I truly loved all of it? But the intimate discussions between Wylla and HAWK were always my favourite. Those are the times where I can have those questions of identity and personhood discussed and compared between two women of vastly different experience.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
The word count was probably the greatest challenge for this story. Novellas are tricky beasts, and I’m honestly not sure how I managed, as I’m usually such a waffler. Learning what is needed and how to deliver information for a brand new world in an economical way is a whole other skillset. But the solution was to trust my judgement and listen to readers and editors. I had to be serious about choosing what was necessary–I killed all my darlings, effectively. I also committed to rewrites when certain information became more important for readers to have early.
What’s next for you?
Well, Volatile Memory has a sequel, which is currently in edits!
Other than that, I’m writing a queer deep sea eldritch horror cannibalism book. The working title is Hadal, and I’m only in Act 1, but I’m loving exploring a fairly toxic relationship dynamic between two older men in a deep sea station, where one half is dedicated to marine research, and the other is a labor camp prison extracting ore and minerals from the sea bed. Queue disaster and obsessive romantic tension.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
I’ve just finished Bury Our Bones In The Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab, and The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling before that! I want to read The Incandescent by Emily Tesh and The Devils by Joe Abercrombie soon!
