S.T.L. Armstrong’s book The Green Girl and the Serum transports us to a dystopian future where normal humans are transformed into Mega Humans, individuals with superhuman powers to be used in warfare. Stacey Roberts is one such person turned into Green Girl by the serum with the intention of being exploited by the British army. She manages to escape and reunite with Ben Fox, an old friend who has also been dosed with the serum.
After a war with the military, the Mega Humans divide into two factions: those who want to live in peace in Haven and the Outcasts, a group bent on world domination. Stacey, Ben, and their cohorts at Haven take on the Outcasts and the origins of the serum itself.
The Green Girl and the Serum takes a dystopian world with plenty of suspense and an interesting cast of characters with dynamic personalities. It’s an interesting and engaging journey through the complexities of relationships and the morality of technology.
Now here’s what the author had to say:
Jenn: How did your journey as a writer begin?
S.T.L.: I first began my writer’s journey back in 2016 during this time I would write fan fiction which I grew bored of. It wasn’t until 2019 that I began writing the first two Green Girl manuscripts after a relationship breakdown.
J: What drew you to the Sci-fi genre?
S: For me, the science fiction genre is large and great to write about but what drew me to it was the fact that I enjoyed watching and reading both films and books like Star Wars, Flash Gordon, 2001 a Space Odyssey, and Unbreakable.
J: What was the inspiration behind The Green Girl and the Serum?
S: There were three major inspirations for me when it came to writing this book as well as the
series, the first was an ex-girlfriend of mine who I named after the main character and also who enjoyed me, the second was the Metal Gear Solid series of game with its vast cast of characters and plot elements and the third was the film Unbreakable where I asked myself what would it be like to live as a superhero?
J: Many of the Mega Humans shed their “old” names once they transform. Would you go into their reasoning a little bit?
S: To answer this question many of my characters shred their old lives, due and their names due to the fact that they have a desire to live their lives now as Mega Humans.
J: Which character is your favorite/do you relate to the most?
S: I would have to say Stacey with this due to her relationship with her father and also due to the fact that I would say that she is one of the most human characters in my work.
J: If you found yourself in Ben and Stacey’s universe tomorrow, how would you fare?
S: I would have to say that in both Stacey’s and Ben’s universe you need to be strong-willed
in order to survive and adapt.
J: What Sci-fi authors do you particularly admire?
S: I like Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, Neil Gaiman, and Patrick Ness. All four of these authors are some of my favourites.
J: What are you reading now?
S: The Ocean at the end of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
J: Do you have any advice for new authors?
S: My advice for anyone starting out writing would be to never give up, keep pushing yourself to your limit as you never know what you will create.
Okay, that’s all for now! Don’t forget to check out The Green Girl and the Serum and have a wonderful day, everyone.
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