What started as a childhood single sketch of a tall ship and flying saucer inspired Doug to develop Robota many years later.

What was your inspiration to create Robota?

Doug Chiang: Robota started from a single sketch I had drawn years ago as a kid. It was a scribble of a sketch showing tall sailing ships with flying saucers. Then many years later when I was looking for an idea to focus my personal work, that sketch resurfaced and became my inspiration. As the story grew, I also wanted to explore the idea of combining film design with book design and approached the creation of the book from a film designer's perspective.

To be honest, I really didn't expect the book to be published or the project to take a life of its own and grow to what it is today. I merely wanted to have fun and experiment with different ideas.

Doug joined forces with sci-fi writer Orson Scott Card for the novelization of Robota, to be published by Chronicle Books in October of this year.

Can you tell us a bit about the story?

DC: Robota is an intimate tale of love, betrayal and revenge told on an epic scale in a world with killer robots and hyper-intelligent animals. It's also a world of decay. Technology and civilization are in decline, and the story is told primarily through the point of view of our hero as he tries to piece together the truth behind the robots and find out why the robots want him dead.

How is it different working on your own designs for your own projects?

DC: It is actually more challenging. When I work on films, I'm mainly helping to visualize the director's ideas. The director calls the shots and tells you when the designs are finished. When I work for myself, obviously I only have myself to answer to and sometimes it's difficult to know when the designs are finished. It’s hard to be objective, to know when it's time to stop or keep going. As a result, I sometimes overcompensate and overwork an idea in fear of stopping too soon.

How did you and Orson Scott Card get together? How did you choose to work with Sparx*?

DC: Orson and I connected almost immediately on the project. When I first showed him the story to get his critique, he could see what I was trying to do. And as it turns out for Robota, his sensibility and mine matched very well.

I should add that working with Orson was a dream come true. I'm a huge fan of his work. He's a genius and I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with him. For me, I really enjoy collaborations and believe that the best work often results from good partnerships.