Brian Andrews Blows Our Minds with ‘Reset’

Prepare to have your mind blown with Brian Andrews’ new stand-alone thriller, Reset. (Photo courtesy Thomas & Mercer)

Two years ago I had the chance to review Tier One, a novel by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson. It was the kind of fast-paced action adventure I love, one which launched a series and which I praised as being “as real and relevant as tomorrow’s headlines.” Now, prepare to be amazed because Andrews is back with a brand new novel which is guaranteed to thrill. This one is called Reset, and it tackles some pretty interesting ground. Thankfully, Brian agreed to shed some light on this relentless novel in today’s Q&A. Enjoy!

Thomas and Mercer

Jathan & Heather: Would you classify Reset as a techno-thriller, conspiracy story, or science fiction novel?

Brian Andrews: Reset was recently described on TOR.com as being a genre-bending novel. I think this is the perfect description. I’m most drawn to stories with what I would call “near-term” science fiction elements—technologies that exist now, but are only in an embryonic stage of development. Artificial Intelligence is a perfect example of this; there are millions of possible scenarios that could unfold as AI matures, but we can only speculate about which will come to fruition. It is this speculation that drives my novels. Mind control technology is the core theme of Reset.

At my core, I’ve always been a sci-fi fanboy—growing up I loved movies like War Games and The Terminator, TV shows like The X-Files and Star Trek, and the collective work of Orson Scott Card. Readers of this book will definitely see those influences. In a nutshell, Reset is the novel I’ve been dreaming about writing my entire life and is packed with every cool idea I’ve ever wanted to toss in a book: mind control, parasitic organisms, the discovery of alien technology, underground bunkers, doomsday preppers, an eccentric conspiracy theorist, and of course, DARPA!

J&H: As a blogging couple, one thing we found interesting about RESET is that you had three couples, each with very different relationships, all impacted by the conspiracy in different ways. They all play different roles in the novel and impact the outcome of events. What was the thought process behind using couples to tell the story? And who was your favorite character?

BA: You zeroed in on what for me, is the foundation of the novel. As a storyteller, I find gender dynamics to be the most fertile ground (no pun intended) to explore and exploit characters’ fears, longings, insecurities, wants and desires. Our relationships with other people are what define us in real life, but the same is true in fiction. When we meet Josie and Michael, they’re already married with a strong relationship. Legend and Beth are in the early stages of courtship, and Cyril and Malcolm are a “friend couple” that is never going to happen. Each of these duos interacts with the Orb to varying degrees, and those interactions test and define their relationships, ultimately leading to hard decisions about trust, courage, self-sacrifice and betrayal.

In crafting this story, I felt a strong connection to all these characters, but probably to Army wife Josie Pitcher the most. Josie embodies the type of heroine the world needs today, someone who is compelled to action by curiosity, loyalty, and courage, rather than self-interest and ego. Josie is no Atomic Blonde or Jessica Jones throwing punches and kicks; her weapons are the ones real heroes use to fight their battles—her wits, her power of persuasion, and her courage to act in the face of impossible odds.  With Reset, I wanted to take the whole “Superman saving the damsel in distress” storyline and flip it on its head. In Reset, you start by meeting this tough as nails 10th Mountain Army ranger who seems like he’s unstoppable, until suddenly he’s not and the only one who can save him is his young, tenacious Army wife. Ultimately, the fate of the human race rests on Josie’s shoulders…but that’s all I can say!

J&H: Reset has what can only be described as a jaw-dropping reveal at the end of the novel, akin to something from an M.Night Shyamalan film. It’s one of those endings that makes a reader want to go back and reread the novel to look for clues and easter eggs they missed. Can you speak to this?

BA: Reset has the biggest twist of any novel I’ve ever written and yes, the reveal comes in the very last “two” chapters. I would call this a double-barrel twist, the first twist begetting a second twist that, I’m not sure has been done before. That particular comment you referenced with the comparison to an M. Night Shyamalan twist is high praise. There’s also a certain poetry to the ending of Reset. I use the symbolism of a Celtic Knot in the novel several times, an intertwining with seemingly no clear beginning and no clear ending—everything comes full circle. I can’t wait to hear reader’s reactions!

J&H: The audiobook version of Reset was performed by the voice actor Ray Porter who also reads your Tier One series. Are you happy with the performance?

BA: Definitely!  In my opinion, narration is storytelling in its purest form. If you think about it, the oral tradition of storytelling is at the core of human culture. We’ve been swapping stories for millennia—be it sitting around the campfire, the dinner table, or at a child’s bedside. That’s why it was so important for me to get Ray to read this novel—he is a world building narrator because he captures the nuance and emotional connection between the characters. Nobody does dialogue better than Ray. I’ve listened to the recording several times now and it is a masterwork, with over a dozen different characters performed. Please check it out on Audible, I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Brian Andrews

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brian Andrews is the the co-author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling Tier One thriller series (Tier One, War Shadows, Crusader One and the forthcoming American Operator) with Jeffrey Wilson. He has also written The Calypso Directive and The Infiltration Game. His latest stand-alone thriller, Reset, is new for 2018.

A U.S. Navy veteran and nuclear engineer, Brian served as an officer on a 688-class fast attack submarine in the Pacific. He is a Park Leadership Fellow, has a master’s degree in business from Cornell University, and holds a psychology degree from Vanderbilt.

A coffee enthusiast and advocate of planetary stewardship, Brian was born and raised in the Midwest and currently resides in Tornado Alley with his wife and three daughters.

Visit Brian at his home on the Web at Andrews-Wilson.com. Readers can also like him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter and Amazon.

RESET
By Brian Andrews
382 pgs. Thomas & Mercer. $15.95

Reset Giveaway

Want to win a copy of Brian Andrews’ Reset? Simply complete the form below and click submit to enter! The winner will be drawn at random on Monday, May 7! Contest is limited to U.S. residents only.