J.S. Morrison has lived in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, and visited Asia, Africa, South America, and Antarctica. He contributed to an anthology and optioned two original screenplays before deciding to write a near-future novel about genetic engineering. The author meant it to be a dire warning to humanity, but his sense of satiric irony got in the way. He enjoys traveling and dabbles in astrophysics as a member of a local scientific society.
1. You had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Author, technologist, traveler.
2. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what made you want to start writing? Was there a moment that made you think, “I want to write a book”?
There wasn’t one moment. I spent decades sketching personality profiles of “peculiar” people. After I retired from a large tech company, I decided to package these sketches in an offbeat book with an odd plot—a fable about the intersection of technology and fish and genetics and strong sociological forces.
3. What inspired you to write “The Perfection of Fish?” How did you come up with the idea of a genetic battlefield between men and women?
The book fights on several battlefields (themes): men versus women; evolution versus self-determination; guns versus human nature; and the interior quest for self-realization and identity.
The tug of war between men and women has been a continuing feature of western civilization. So, there’s that.
If you are a sociopathic male alpha dog with feelings of social inadequacy, then genetics is a logical weapon to preserve dominance. Violence is another weapon.
And, of course, the tension in the book comes from the opposition to those ideas, and the drive for self-determination.
4. You’ve done an amazing job connecting so many characters and storylines in “The Perfection of Fish.” How did you keep everything so well-organized and interesting?
The heart of the story is simple: Two misogynists want to change the world by turning women into pets using genetics and advanced artificial intelligence. Things go wrong in unexpected ways. Around these simple story ideas, a lot happens, and we see the train wreck from different angles.
I developed a “Story Bible” to keep things straight. It includes character profiles, timelines, a glossary, technology descriptions, detailed setting descriptions/mock-ups, and a lot of minutiae.
5. The talking fish are such a unique and fun part of the story. What made you decide to include them, and how do you think they add to the book?
They say that some stuff you just can’t make up. In 2003 there was a story in “The New York Times” (and later picked up by “The Guardian,” BBC, and other news services) about a New York City fishmonger who discovered a Yiddish-speaking fish that warned about the end of the world. I kept the article and thought, THE FISH IS TALKING TO ME. I MUST PUT THIS IN A STORY.
The fish in my book plays to the idea of unintended consequences from human-designed evolution.
6. The idea of using a testosterone-lowering supplement to control violence is really bold and thought-provoking. What inspired this idea, and what do you hope readers will take away from it?
On the one hand, guns and especially military-grade firearms in the U.S. seem to be the idols in a gun-worshipping religion, unaffected by any evidence of the strong correlation between gun ownership and violent crime. And yet, every time we get into another mass-murder incident, many gun owners lament by sending their thoughts and prayers to the victims. So, the radical idea is that if you REALLY want to keep guns AND reduce violence you have to change human nature. That’s where the idea of testosterone-lowering supplements come in. Of course, this is a tongue-in-cheek fairy tale, because in America, guns aren’t so much about protection as they are about manhood and empowerment.
7. The book is detailed and thoughtful, showing how much care you put into the story. Looking back, would you consider trimming any parts, or do you feel every element was important to the story?
Hmmm. It seems you’d like a faster pace. I trimmed the novel quite a bit, eliminating a lot of backstories. If I ever publish a revision, I’ll take another look at pacing. Thanks.
8. You’ve created a unique blend of humor, dark themes, and absurdity that makes your book stand out. How do you feel about writing a story that challenges readers, knowing it will deeply resonate with those who appreciate its originality?
I wanted to write a story that was subversive on many levels; one that pulled people in on different sides of a divided America, pricked their minds and funny bones, and made them think. I don’t know if I succeeded or not. Maybe in the next century, if humanity survives, people will look at divisive social issues with more objectivity. The jury is out.
9. What was the most surprising thing you learned while writing this book?
If you look at the rapid evolution of CRISPR technology, it seems obvious the next step will be to create genetic assemblers and compilers, allowing humans to design DNA and RNA through high-level languages. The next step beyond that will be point-and-click technology that enables even the most ignorant person or psychopathic personality to alter the human genome in ways that are difficult for the species to recover. Depending on your point of view, this idea could be scary, or exhilarating, or the result of cosmic justice. If there’s money to be made, you can count on the emergence of a Genes-R-Us near you.
10. Do you have other writers in the family and friends?
I’ve been coaching a couple of my grandkids, hoping they’ll turn into better novelists than I ever was. It takes talent and persistence. I think they’ve got both.
11. How did your experiences living in different parts of the world influence your writing
It gives you a more objective view of America, its place in the world, and where it’s headed. It also helps you appreciate how a lot of folks are struggling to survive because of circumstances beyond their control.
12. Are there any specific authors or books that have influenced your writing style?
A bunch. In no particular order: H. G. Wells, Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, Anthony Doerr, Neal Stephenson, Thomas Berger, Raymond Chandler, Noah Hawley, Richard Osman, Yuval Noah Harari, Daniel Suárez, and Alex Garland.
13. Do you have any upcoming projects or works in progress that you can give us a sneak peek into?
I’m working on two novels. Neither is anything like “The Perfection of Fish.”
The unpublished manuscript for “The Pieces of My Self” won the award for Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Novel at the 2023 Killer Nashville International Writers Conference. It’s about a woman’s hunt for treasure that becomes a search for self. The dystopian story takes place on the Gulf Coast of the former U.S.A. and contains robots, advanced AI, voodoo, a ruthless dictator, imported crocodiles, and a Category Five hurricane. There’s a lot there for genre fans.
“Lattice” is a futuristic noir work-in-progress which loosely mirrors “The Inferno.” Its protagonist is a Philip Marlow-type guy. I got the idea while travelling through northern Italy while reading Dante’s “The Divine Comedy.”
14. Lastly, what advice do you have for aspiring authors, especially those interested in writing science fiction?
The Nutshell View: Do your homework, don’t write crap, be original, use a lot of beta readers, listen to their advice, and never give up.
15. If someone wanted to reach out to you for a poetry project or collaboration, what’s the best way for them to get in touch?
We recommend J S Morrison’s book, The Perfection of Fish. It is available on Amazon
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