Sci-Fi / Action - Adventure
Date Published: 07-09-2025
Publisher: Severed Press
Book Trailer:
Interview with William Burke
What is your favorite part of the book?
I’m split on that. Given the book’s sheer level of chaos and action, it might surprise readers to find that I’m pretty attached to its quiet moments. My favorite being the night before the great battle, when our band of heroes gathers around a campfire, laughing, dancing, and celebrating life, while the shadow of death hovers over them. It’s also the moment when our protagonist, Reno, finally exorcises his personal demons and confesses his feelings for Olga.
But, I’m also proud of the finale, which ricochets between the Zagan attack on the fortress and the Vikings’ defense, while Reno and Olga are conducting a suicidal sneak attack on the alien base. And during all that madness, Junior and Pi are orbiting the planet, battling Zagan space ships, while the insect-like Daric slaves start a Spartacus like revolt. Orchestrating that level of chaos, and bringing it to a satisfying conclusion was a real challenge. I yanked out a few hairs while writing it, but the end result is very satisfying. I think readers will love it.
Does your book have a lesson? Moral?
I think it’s the dangers of hubris. Hugo Visser, the world’s richest man, has reached such a level of wealth and power that he considers the rest of humanity beneath him, and has no issue selling out his own species so he can make the leap from oligarch to god.
Likewise, our main villains, the Zagan, are the remnants of an advanced civilization that brought about their own extinction. They could have lived on spiritually by passing their knowledge to other species—a noble and selfless act. Instead they digitally uploaded their consciousness and implanted it into unfeeling robotic bodies. Their goal is to conquer another race, namely us, and take over our organic bodies. They’ve lost all empathy for other species, but will pay a terrible price.
I also wanted to show that decent people, working together could triumph over those with delusions of godhood. It’s a variation on Greek mythology’s tale of Hubris vs Nemesis. Nemesis, the goddess of retribution (not vengeance) is my personal favorite among the Greek pantheon. Fun Fact: She was called the “Daughter of Night,” which is, hands down, the coolest moniker ever!
But, let me add that “Doomsday Planet” also features robot soldiers riding dinosaurs with laser canons bolted to them fighting Vikings… so it’s a pretty pulpy morality play.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
One might assume that a certain real-life narcissistic mega-billionaire technocrat inspired the character Hugo Visser, but that could be problematic, so let’s just say he’s entirely fictional. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
The main protagonist’s name, Marcus Reno, was inspired by Major Marcus Reno, the officer who didn’t get all his men slaughtered at the Battle of the Little Bighorn and was branded a coward for being competent. The name is also a homage to the fictional pulp character Remo Williams, aka “The Destroyer.” I was a big fan of those novels, which are much smarter and more satirical than you might think.
Olga Popova is based on accounts of the real young women who flew with the Soviet Union’s WW2 Night Witch squadron, many of whom were still in their teens. They battled the Nazi Luftwaffe in antiquated biplanes lacking navigation, radios or even guns. If you ever want to read a fantastic, stranger-than-fiction tale of courage, look up the Night Witches.
Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?
Before “Doomsday Planet,” my favorite character was Queen Caveira, the Amazon River pirate from “Primeval Waters.” She was ruthless and completely insane, but also had a tragic backstory that made her irresistible. But now I think Olga Popova, the resurrected Soviet Night Witch pilot, has hit the top spot. She represents someone who, at a young age, experienced the horror of war, even losing her entire family, yet maintains a sense of wonder while still believing in humanity’s innate goodness. She inspires courage and brings out the hero in those around her. Olga earns the respect of Viking warriors and even has her own white whale—a giant pterodactyl with a personal (or pterosaur-al?) grudge against her. In short, Olga rocks, and is a perfect role for any young A-list actor whose interest in a book virtually guarantees a major motion picture deal… I’m talking to you Maria Bakalova! You’re brilliant, and I’ve got a mortgage to pay off.
What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?
It would definitely be Hugo Visser, the world’s wealthiest man, who is entirely fictional and does not resemble an existing multi-billionaire space entrepreneur and social media mogul in any litigable way. I have real issues with our new gilded age, mega-wealthy tech bros. They’ve amassed enough wealth to fuel a hundred lavish lives, but that’s not enough, so they seek power and influence while inflicting misery on the average person. Visser personifies a toxic blend of hubris and narcissism with no issue destroying what so many decent, hardworking people have struggled to build. I think we’d hate each other at first sight. But instead of exchanging punches he’d just slander me on his social media platform, ruining my life… because slandering people on social media passes for machismo in our modern world.
You know, sometimes I think the goddess Nemesis has fallen asleep at the wheel.
What would the main character in your book have to say about you?
That’s a double-edged sword. At the beginning of the book we’d probably get along fine, commiserating about all the foolishness of modern society. But by book’s end he’s grown so much as a person that he’d probably find me an annoying curmudgeon who talks the talk, but doesn’t walk the walk. I’d have to do some serious soul growth to earn his respect.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
My previous book, “Dominant Species” was, technically a sequel to “Scorpius Rex,” but it took the characters in such a different direction that it was really a freestanding entity. “Doomsday Planet” is the first time I’ve built a world inhabited by characters that I want to continue developing. The ability to thrust characters from the past, including real life historical figures into the modern world is a writer’s dream. Currently, I have two other books on the go, “Carnivorous” a creature horror story set in the old west, or rather the spaghetti western version of the old west, and “The Gorgon’s Nest” about a resurrected Soviet EMP weapon that rips a hole in the fabric of time. But I’ve still been scribbling ideas for the second chapter in the “Doomsday Planet” saga. The next major character introduced would be Ueno Tsuruhime, a real-life female samurai who died defending Tsuneyama Castle in 1575. Vikings, aliens, samurai, dinosaurs… how much fun is that?
I want to thank the folks at The Avid Reader and all the people who took time out of their day to read this interview. If you enjoy action packed science fiction, with a dash of social satire, check out “Doomsday Planet.” I guarantee you’ll enjoy the ride.
About the Author
Doomsday Planet is William Burke’s fifth novel, following a long career in film and television. He was the creator and director of the Destination America paranormal series Hauntings and Horrors and the OLN series Creepy Canada, as well as producing the HBO productions Forbidden Science, Lingerie and Sin City Diaries. His work has garnered high praise from network executives and insomniacs watching Cinemax at 3 a.m.
During the 1990’s Burke was a staff producer for the Playboy Entertainment Group, producing eighteen feature films and multiple television series. He’s acted as Line Producer and Assistant Director on dozens of feature films—some great, some bad and some truly terrible.
Aside from novels Burke has written for Fangoria Magazine, Videoscope Magazine and is a regular contributor to Horrornews.net.
He also served in the United States Air Force, reaching the rank of sergeant.
He can be found at williamburkeauthor.com
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