Author Michael Grant Goes Interactive With New Book!

Here's some exciting news from author, Michael Grant and his book BZRK, coming out this winter.

The missing son of a U.N. diplomat... the reemergence of a strange organization... a pair of society twins caught in the middle... this is just the beginning of "Go BZRK," a new transmedia experience from author Michael Grant. Filled with video, puzzles, community collaboration, and more, "Go BZRK" puts YOU the player right in the middle of the action as you join Nexus Humanus and unravel a mystery that may hold the key to the fate of all mankind.

Here's a recent Q&A with Grant.

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What is “Go BZRK”? Is this a book or some kind of interactive story? Both. The book comes out this winter, but the interactive part starts now. One leads up to the other, but they're part of a complete package.


Why “transmedia”? 
There are different approaches to transmedia. Most people take a single story and reproduce it on various platforms. My philosophy has been to make each element - ARG, app, web, book - a thing unto itself, each revealing some aspect of the world of BZRK. I've been fascinated with this is as a new way to tell stories. The book remains central, but now I can reach beyond the book and create a much more complete world. I can tell stories that enhance the book, and stories that parallel the book, and stories that are offshoots of backstory. I guess the answer to "why" is "because it's fun."


How long is this running? Is this part of a larger picture?
We'll be running this in several chunks between now and the book release this winter. August is a ramp-up phase. but the experience really gets underway at the end of the month… just in time to distract the kids from their schoolwork.


What can you tell us about the story? What is “BZRK”? 
It's a battle for the soul and freedom of the human race carried out simultaneously in the world we know, and in a world that you're not going to expect. It's a world where if you make a false move, you're going to lose your mind.


What’s this other world thing all about? 
Do you really want spoilers? I'll tell you this. We'll be going "down in the meat." It's going to be vast, bloody, and beautiful. 

Wait… isn’t this supposed to be for kids?  
 Adults like to flatter themselves that kids won't get, won't understand, won't be able to handle, more intense, more complex stories. That's nonsense. It's the adults who are easy to creep out or scare. Say the word "biopsy" in a room full of adults. Or "audit." See? Easy to scare. Kids are a tougher audience because kids think they're immortal.

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Okay, we don't have a ton of details but it sounds fun! You can check out http://societytwins.com/ and  http://nexushumanus.com/ for more information and to sign up. We love what he says about adults misjudging what kids can understand. Just look at the popularity of Harry Potter and it's humongous complexity!

Speaking of Harry, JK Rowling is doing her interactive thing with Pottermore coming in late October. Can't wait for that too! And be sure to save up for your Kindle so you can get the first e-book!