Mar 8, 2021New sci-fi novel has potatoes as driving force of society
By definition, science fiction plots often are unrealistic, but usually have some kind of underlying element of truth or observation within the mind of the creator.
The premise of a new book from first-time author Gerard Heidgerken has potatoes, unbeknownst to humans, as the driving force in shaping our society. Heidgerken — who cites “2001: A Space Odyssey” author Arthur C. Clarke and music satirist “Weird Al” Yankovic among his inspirations — said the idea for “Godsquatter” is meant to be humorous, but also tackles “society’s obsession with consumerism and social media.”
“I started writing this book because it seemed like a funny idea,” said Heidgerken. “But the more I researched it, the more I realized potatoes are nothing to joke about. Did you know the Incans worshipped a potato goddess called Axomamma? Also, if you look carefully at ancient cave paintings, many of them appear to be potatoes. Potatoes have been watching us since the beginning. Is it really a stretch to think they might be part of some grand, evolution-spanning master potato plan?”
While the subject matter of “Godsquatter” spans millennia, most of the book takes place in the modern day Midwest. The story begins with three fast-food workers and a grandmother accidentally discovering a plot to dominate the human race through pop-culture, memes and globe-spanning mind-control technology. Seemingly determined to force mankind to bow down before them, potatoes have secretly rebuilt society in their own image, with spuds now firmly in control of all industry, government and entertainment.
“My book culminates in a great potato war, which I thought sounded wonderfully absurd,” said Heidgerken. “But then I learned there’ve already been several real potato wars throughout history. There was the Potato War of Bavarian Succession of 1778, and the Milford Potato War in 1857. Also the Great Maine Potato War in 1976, which shouldn’t be confused with the USS O’Bannon’s Maine Potato Incident of 1943. And don’t get me started on potatoes’ roles in space exploration, inflight wi-fi or the Canadian Gold Rush. Seriously, Google it sometime.”
More information can be found at www.amazon.com/
