The Book Plank

Author interview with Alexander Maskill Author bio: Alex Maskill was born in Watford, and grew up both there and in Eastbourne, East Sussex. He's has just completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Leicester and now has a degree in Politics. He hopes to follow this with an MSc in Computer Science. The Hive Construct is his first novel and won the 2013 Terry Pratchett Prize. ------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Alexander, welcome over to The Book Plank and for taking you time to answer these few questions for us. AM: Hi, thanks for having me. BP: First off, could you give us a short introduction as to who Alexander Maskill is? What are you hobbies, likes and dislikes? AM: I’m 22, I’ve just completed a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and I am currently working on a postgraduate degree in Computer Science at the University of Kent. I write, I compose music and I’m learning to develop video games. ...

The Hive Construct by Alexander Maskill Situated deep in the Sahara Desert, New Cairo is a city built on technology – from the huge, life-giving solar panels that keep it functioning in a radically changed, resource-scarce world to the artificial implants that have become the answer to all and any of mankind's medical problems. But it is also a divided city, dominated by a handful of omnipotent corporate dynasties. And when a devastating new computer virus begins to spread through the poorest districts, shutting down the life-giving implants that enable so many to survive, the city begins to slide into the anarchy of violent class struggle. Hiding amidst the chaos is Zala Ulora. A gifted hacker and fugitive from justice, she believes she might be able to earn her life back by tracing the virus to its source and destroying it before it destroys the city. Or before the city destroys itself . . . Who doesn't like a good near future, dystopian, computer tech focu...