While it may sound like it mixes elements of science fiction and fantasy, author Khan Wong says his multi-timeline novel Down In The Sea Of Angels (paperback, Kindle, audiobook) is more of a “speculative / literary cross-over.”
Which may explain why, in the following email interview about it, he cites such disparate influences as David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas and the X-Men comics of Jonathan Hickman.
To start, what is Down In The Sea Of Angels about, and when and where is it set?
It’s about a woman in the year 2106 who has the ability to know the history of any object she touches. She encounters a teacup that connects her with two people in the past: a teen girl in 1906 and a 30-something man in 2006. She also uncovers a conspiracy she must stop. The psychic connection the three characters share through the teacup give them each insight into how to handle their individual situations. All three timelines are set in San Francisco.
Where did you get the idea for Down In The Sea Of Angels, and how different is the finished story from what you originally conceived?
The initial idea was about telling the story of a place and how it changes / stays the same over time. San Francisco has been my home for a long time, and I knew it was going to be the main setting. I always knew 1906 would be one of the time periods; in the very first draft of the story, the “current” time was 1996, and the future time was in the 2200s. The years for each storyline were adjusted in the final version.
The other main difference is that the early version was “all vibes, no plot” as the saying goes. I had the general concept, but hadn’t honed in yet on what it was about, either plot-wise or theme-wise.
As you said, Down In The Sea Of Angels is set in 1906, 2006, and 2106. Is there a significance to those dates? Like, is there a reason Maida isn’t in 12106, Li is in 1986, while Nathan is in 2026?
1906 is the “root” of the story. That was the year of a major earthquake and fire that levelled the city, and the infamous brothels and crime syndicates of Chinatown were still in operation. The disaster brought people together, and the city literally rose from the ashes after that. So that real history needed to be part of it.
I also wanted the symmetry of a century in between each POV character, and that’s how the other timelines were settled upon. It also makes sense in terms of the model of time that is presented in the story. I wanted the future timeline close enough to our own that our current period is still relatively recent history — not so distant that it might as well be myth or legend or considered “ancient.”
It sounds like Down In The Sea Of Angels mixes elements of science fiction and fantasy. How do you describe Angels, genre-wise?
I think the best way to describe it is a speculative / literary cross-over. As far as if it leans more science fiction or fantasy, ultimately that depends on whether one considers psionic abilities science fiction or fantasy. I feel like there’s an argument to be made either way as far as that’s concerned. The post climate disaster future also places that setting in science fiction territory.
Beyond that, what I was going for was a historical fiction feel with 1906, contemporary slice-of-life with 2006, and hopeful dystopia in 2106.
As to why this approach, I love genre-blending, as I’m a fan of combining disparate / unlikely elements and seeing what results from the fusion or juxtaposition, whether it be with literature, or music, or cuisine, or dance styles. My curiosity and imagination tends towards cross-pollination and hybridization naturally it seems.
Down In The Sea Of Angels is your second published novel after The Circus Infinite. Though as we discussed in the interview we did about Circus, you’ve also published some poetry chapbooks. Are there any writers, or specific stories, who had a big influence on Angels but not on anything else you’ve written, and especially not Circus?
The biggest influence on this book specifically is probably the novel Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. Each storyline in that book is a completely different genre, and I loved the way the themes played out in the different types of stories. I had conceived of Angels being set in different time periods before Cloud Atlas was published, but after reading Mitchell’s book, I saw how I could play with the “vibe” of each timeline more than I had originally conceived. I still don’t get as extreme with it as Mitchell did.
The other major influence I’d say is the X-Men comics, particularly Jonathan Hickman’s run with House Of X and Powers Of X.
Also, elements of The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan are present in the aspects of Chinese American heritage and, to a lesser extent, children’s relationship with their mothers (mothers and daughters specifically in Tan’s book, a gay son and his mother in my book).
Tales Of The City by Armistead Maupin is another influence for the aspects of found family and a sort of real world bohemian community and San Francisco as a magical place. Magical not in the sense of spells and wizards, but in the sense of serendipity and beauty and connection. Notably Tan and Maupin are more “literary” fiction. I was specifically going for a literary / genre cross-over feel for this book.
What about your poetry? Do you think writing poetry — and, presumedly, reading it — had any influence on how you wrote Down In The Sea Of Angels
Not overtly or intentionally. Sometimes the meaning of poems comes through in an associative way rather than a linear-logical way. I suppose the concept of these very disparate types of people / lives pinging off of each other through time reflects that kind of mindset. But that’s maybe a bit of a stretch. There are passages in Angels that get more lyrical, and that attention to the music of the language and beauty of imagery did draw on my poetry background a bit, but lots of prose does that, too.
And how about non-literary influences: movies, TV shows, games…
I wouldn’t say there was much influence from those sources on this particular book.
That said, do you think Down In The Sea Of Angels wouldn’t work as a movie, TV show, or game?
I think it could potentially work as a movie or limited series; not so much a game. Of the three POV characters / timelines, possibly the future setting of 2106 could work as a game, as it involves the use of psionic abilities and also the uncovering / stopping of a conspiracy. I’m not a big gamer though, so this could be a case of not knowing what I don’t know about the medium. Maybe somebody more familiar with games could spot potential I don’t see.
I think it could work as a movie or limited series because of the drama of each storyline, the different kinds of visuals each timeline lends itself to, and the potential for great acting performances.
And if someone wanted to make a movie or TV show based on Down In The Sea Of Angels, who would you want them to cast as Maida, Li, and Nathan?
First, I have to put out in the universe that Jon M. Chu would be a fantastic choice of director. Given his work on Crazy Rich Asians as well as G.I. Joe and of course, Wicked, he’s demonstrated he can handle stories based in Asian American (specifically Chinese and Chinese American) culture as well as big-budget special effects / action. Both elements are key to this story.
As far as casting: Jamie Chung or maybe Lana Condor would be a good Maida. Jamie’s a little older than the character, but still looks about the right age. Her performance in the TV show The Gifted shows she can believably portray the use of powers and has a good feel for character work.
John Cho would have been a great Nathan ten or fifteen years ago; Harold in the Harold And Kumar movies shows he can connect with the stoner / partying side of Nathan, while his other characters show he can also be more serious. So, somebody that’s like a younger version of him.
Li Nuan is a tough one: maybe [Andi Mack‘s] Peyton Elizabeth Lee? Of all the POV characters, she is probably the biggest acting challenge, and at the same time it needs to be a teen-age actress or somebody who could convincingly portray a teen in dire circumstances and a historical context.
So, is there anything else you think potential readers need to know about Down In The Sea Of Angels?
Please take note of the content warnings. Li Nuan’s story, considering she is forced into sex work at a brothel (that’s not a spoiler, this happens in her introductory chapter) may be difficult for some readers. Nathan’s story features a lot of drug use.
Otherwise, I kind of think the less you know going in (aside from the basic premise) the better.
Finally, if someone enjoys Down In The Sea Of Angels, what novel or novella of someone else’s would you suggest they check out next?
I think Ryka Aoki’s Light From Uncommon Stars is a great one. It involves a deal with the devil and soul collection, but also there are aliens.
