Scotto Moore's "Wild Massive"

Scotto Moore is the author of Battle of the Linguist Mages, and science fantasy novel, and Your Favorite Band Cannot Save You, a sci-fi/horror novella, both published by Tor.com. For fourteen years, he was an active playwright in Seattle, with major productions nearly every year during that time, and 45 short plays produced during that time as well. He wrote book, lyrics, and music for the a cappella sci-fi musical Silhouette, which won the 2018 Gregory Falls Award for Outstanding New Play, presented by Theatre Puget Sound. He also wrote, directed and produced three seasons of the sci-fi/comedy web series The Coffee Table; and wrote and starred in the horror/comedy play H.P. Lovecraft Stand-up Comedian!

Here Moore dreamcasts an adaptation of his second novel, Wild Massive:

Wild Massive is a grand science fantasy adventure, set inside an infinitely tall Building in the center of the multiverse. The cast of characters is rather large and includes humans, non-human species, and supernatural beings galore, but a few of them stand out. Here’s how I might cast them in an imaginary movie of the book.

Carissa – Closest thing to a leading role we might see, Carissa is a tough survivor who prefers the solitude of the Building elevator in which she lives over the company of others; but her sanity and safety are threatened when she’s yanked into the middle of a conflict between the fascist Association and their mortal enemies, the shapeshifting sorcerers known as the Shai-Manak. But Carissa’s got a few secrets and underestimating her would be a big mistake. Actor: Alicia Vikander

Rindasy – A top spy and sorcerer, deployed by the Shai-Manak to lead a surprise attack below the Association’s border. The Shai-Manak live thousands of years, have a martial spiritual system, and are fiercely protective of their secret home floor in the Building; Rindasy is one of their finest and a living legend among them. Rindasy befriends Carissa and the two of them wind up on the run from virtually every faction imaginable, but Rindasy’s confidence and magical acumen keep them a step ahead. Actor: Emily Blunt

Tabitha – A young writer and part-time fortune-teller (she can see a day into the future, but with unpredictable accuracy), Tabitha is an enthusiastic narrative designer for the Wild Massive corporation. She’s incredibly sharp, highly motivated, very enthusiastic, and perhaps a little naïve. But she never gives up hope that she’ll be able to help the fugitives, Carissa and Rindasy, escape an unfair fate. Actor: Jenna Ortega

Allegory – One of the mysterious and elegant Muses responsible for the original construction of the Building, Allegory is now the Chief Creative Officer for the Wild Massive corporation, leading all of its storytelling efforts across every medium, including the attractions at the Wild Massive theme parks. She’s also a cagy and savvy diplomatic operative for Wild Massive as it negotiates terms with the Association to deploy theme parks on its floors. She has untold power, but rarely ever displays it, and her secret agenda quietly drives the narrative in unexpected ways. Actor: Tilda Swinton

Roland – Theme park impresario and master showman, Roland is the general manager of the original Wild Massive theme park – an anachronistic tourist attraction that proves to be the location of a key showdown in the book. He’s a magician, an engineer, and a bit of a trickster, and he comes through for the fugitives despite his many misgivings, because standing up to the Association on his own home turf is the right thing to do. Actor: Malcolm McDowell

Visit Scotto Moore's website.

My Book, The Movie: Battle of the Linguist Mages.

Q&A with Scotto Moore.

--Marshal Zeringue