ποΈ Anna Chung β An interview with the author of Plate V
How long do you think itβd take you to realize the cave was alive?
I donβt think Iβd ever realize it was aliveβ¦
Given youβre a chemist yourself, does the ability to describe things in the most unimaginative ways possible lend itself to being a good chemist?
Well, weβre taught that every reaction happens for a rational reason, based on well-described, repeatable properties, i.e., no βmagical thinkingβ allowed. When Iβm working on an experiment and taking observations down, I donβt want to claim to know exactly whatβs going on if Iβm not completely sure. Letβs say that Iβm trying to make an orange crystal. Obviously if my final product is orange thatβs a good sign the synthesis worked, but until some additional tests are run Iβm not at liberty to assumeβ¦ Maybe I just made a conveniently colored sludge from a side reaction involving impurities. In that case, itβs better to write something cautious like: βAn orange solid was formed.β
How many people do you think the cave ate before our protagonist was hired for the job?
I like to think the cave has been there for hundreds of thousands of years, beginning with eating any neanderthals that wandered inside looking for shelter. So⦠A LOT.
If the cave were an animal, what animal would it resemble the most?
I imagine the cave has a very limited perception of its environment, kind of like a carnivorous plant or a jellyfish. When we get stung by a jellyfish, we know it didnβt do so out of malice or genuine bloodlust, but because our proximity triggered an evolved offensive/defensive system.
Have you ever taken a Rorschach test? If yes, whatβs the weirdest thing you identified?
Iβm a little bit like the main character of this story in that I have a hard time doing these tests. Sometimes I see bugs or animal hides, but usually itβs a parade of blob #1, blob #2, blob #3β¦
What book are you reading right now?
To be honest, the only books Iβm reading these days are textbooks.
Do you have anything else youβd like to share?
Check out my good friend Lorin Jeongβs cosmic horror story, βPennyβ, published in Infinite Horrors issue #2!