Exploring a Dystopian Future
Helen Phillips’s new novel, Hum, unfolds in a world inhabited by intelligent robots known as “hums.” This speculative fiction delves into a near future shaped by our society’s obsession with technology and artificial intelligence.
A Mother’s Struggle
At its core, the story revolves around May, a wife and mother who loses her job to AI and resorts to desperate measures to support her family. Beneath the dystopian narrative lies a poignant tale of a mother yearning for connection amidst a family that feels both close and distant.
Interview Insights
Deena ElGenaidi: Why did you choose to depict this dystopian future through a family story?
Helen Phillips: I wanted to explore how technology and climate change impact intimate family bonds, which often remain unexplored in discussions about the future.
Research and Development
DE: Did your research inform the story and plot?
HP: Absolutely. The book began with a collection of ideas, headlines, and observations from our world, which I wove together with my research.
How do these technologies and changes in our world impact us at that most profound level of intimate connection?
Surveillance and Complicity
DE: What message does the book convey about our complicity in surveillance culture?
HP: The book examines the gray area of technology and our hypocrisy in a system where we often enable our own surveillance.
The Nature of the Hums
DE: What inspired the concept of the hums?
HP: I aimed to create characters that are both eerie and friendly, reflecting the insidious nature of seemingly benign technology.
May’s Representation
DE: Does May represent the average American family?
HP: Rather than focusing on averages, I wanted to depict one woman’s navigation through the complexities of modern life.
A Cautionary Tale?
DE: Can the book be seen as a warning for our society?
HP: Yes, it serves as a cautionary tale about disconnection in a world that complicates our efforts to connect.
Symbolism in the Raisins
DE: Why does May keep the box of raisins filled with insects?
HP: It symbolizes the resilience of life amidst our over-packaged world, reflecting May’s desire for biological vitality.
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