I had been contemplating the general plot for Project Inferno at least as far back as 2010. One day, it occurred to me that it would be utterly jarring to our sense of security if some bad actor figured out a way to turn an ordinarily harmless everyday device into a weapon of some type. I didn’t know what that would be, but my thoughts gradually turned toward household objects such as toys. They could be imported without suspicion and distributed widely in America. But how could you turn them into weapons? Essentially, the bad guys figure out a way to remotely trigger the toys to auto-ignite and destroy everything nearby. Without giving too much away, the randomness and uniqueness of the attack on America make it difficult for the FBI to uncover and deflect the plot.
When I began writing Project Inferno in 2018, it was before the era of rising tensions between America and China that we see presently. I didn’t select China as the bad actor to reinforce those tensions, but perhaps I subconsciously anticipated them. In any case, it was not my intention in Project Inferno to present a jingoistic view of China. The plot of the book requires an antagonist with significant technical prowess, particularly in electronics and Artificial Intelligence, sophisticated manufacturing facilities, and mature export channels. Of course, we have these things in America, but after all, we wouldn’t attack ourselves. China was a logical choice.
I conducted a lot of research to ensure that all the details are consistent, especially technical information. Project Inferno is a work of fiction, and the events described never actually occurred. I simply intended to create a compelling and exciting narrative about a plot that could happen if some nefarious individuals decided to execute it.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
