Rohan Gavin on Domain and the best sci-fi thrillers for early teens

We’re thrilled to share this exclusive Q&A with Rohan Gavin, author of Domain, the gripping new sci-fi thriller for early teens that we’ve featured this month for our Macaw subscribers. Packed with cutting-edge technology, high-stakes danger and big questions about identity, surveillance and life online, Domain is a fast-paced read for fans of Anthony Horowitz and Eoin Colfer, and a must-read for tech-savvy young readers who love thought-provoking science fiction. In the Q&A below, Rohan reveals the real-world tech inspiration behind Domain, his thoughts on AI, and what the future may hold for Porter and his ever-growing app store of abilities.

What inspired you to write Domain? 

Domain was inspired by a science article I read in MIT Technology Review several years ago. It described how the body’s electromagnetic field could be used to send and receive data - like a WiFi device. I thought: there’s an idea in there. It then hung around in the back of my mind until it developed into a YA story that combined the wish-fulfilment of using apps to stream superpowers, and also the dangers when things go wrong.

What do you hope young readers will take away from the story and the version of the world it is set in? 

The book is set in the present day, and I think readers will recognise that the events could easily happen today, tomorrow, or in the very near future. I also hope it encourages readers to question how much technology is enough and when it might interfere with humanity.

Did researching and writing the book change how you feel about AI, either positively or negatively?

Like most writers, I was suspicious of AI, having grown up with AI villains in The Terminator and 2001: A Space Odyssey. However, after my son helped me create an AI chatbot for the book (nicknamed “domAIn"), I have grown to like it, in the right doses. Regardless of what anyone thinks, AI is here to stay. You can ask domAIn anything about the book at rohangavin.com

If you were able to use any ability from Porter’s list of apps, what would you choose?

I think free solo climbing would be pretty fun - or flying a helicopter.

Can you tell us anything about what the future holds for Porter? 

There are more instalments mapped out, and Porter has as many possible adventures as apps in his app store.

Why did you choose to write books for this age group? 

This subject matter felt like a good fit for YA, because for teens tech is second nature, and the dangers are real. Plus I have a teenage son who was looking for a book that would capture the excitement of movies.

Do you have a favourite place to write? 

I write at my desk, usually with a movie soundtrack playing, but inevitably gravitate towards the fridge.

Which other sci-fi thrillers for early teens would you recommend our subscribers read next? 

I recommend my fellow sci-fi geek, Mark Walden, author of HIVE and Earthfall, partly because I really like his writing, partly because he kindly gave me a lift home from a book event once. I’m also a big fan of noir sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick (author of the source material for Blade Runner), whose work is just as relevant today.

Copies of our Domain pack, including a copy of the book and loads of fun activities to go with it, are now available for individual purchase. Grab a copy while stocks last!