At end of June author Hugh Miller, 51, published his science fiction book Interview with Things.
It focuses on artificial intelligence and the future dilemma it might pose.
The Elandshaven author is a graphic designer and web developer at his agency, HM Studio, since 2011. He was born in Welkom in the Free State in 1970 and moved to Johannesburg in 1992.
His book seeks to prove that humans seek purpose, free will, meaning in life, faith and freedom and that a self-aware sentient machine could desire the same things in the future.
The book according to Miller has a topic that is not new, but an approach and plot that is.
Love for writing
His desire to write began in school, where he wrote three science fiction books on a typewriter, but that is where they stayed.
“Also publishing science fiction in SA in those days was nearly impossible, but today the whole world is available. As I started my career in graphic design and advertising, writing took a backseat and only on my 50th birthday did it suddenly dawn on me that I forgot about writing,” said Miller.
His love for writing and the important voice inside of him started to scream out. He felt a strong conviction to pick up writing, 30 years later, and pursue his passion to be an author.
‘Interview with Things’
With the strong desire to write, he felt the book needed a strong message and to combine it with his love for science fiction.
“The unique angle in this book lies in that most Sci-Fi and robot-themed novels come from atheist evolutionist perspectives. The alternative may seem narrow-minded, but on the contrary, it has more evidence for it than against it. It takes more faith to believe in nothing as the saying goes,” he said.
He said this will argue the case for a creator, right down to why AI even exists.
“From the impossible chance of a human cell appearing out of nothing to more scientists discovering the obvious design in DNA and even age errors in fossil dating. God made Adam, Adam made AI. We are made in the image of a creator. Androids are made in ours or will be,” said Miller.
The book argues these points through a Sci-Fi adventure with a strong plot and action.
It raises human questions such as why is there something rather than nothing and what does it mean to be human, creator or evolution?
“We live in a world where AI and robotic design is moving very fast and soon a lot of Sci-Fi will become a fact. The goal for a Christian is to embrace a very plausible future and to see the obviousness of a creator in everything, right down to the complexity of the music,” he said.
To read more about the book or buy online, visit www.interviewwiththings.com or Amazon.com
