Alex: You've also been working on an unpaid Marketplace map of Summer's base.
Max Brooks: Yes! When you open the map, it's way after Summer and Guy have left so the mountain you're looking at is not exactly what was in the book. That was another challenge. I was two-thirds of the way through the writing of The Mountain and I sat down to play the game, and the whole Nether was transformed from all the way down! Instead of getting angry I realized that it was probably the greatest life lesson! You must change with the world as it evolves.
sometimes
Alex: Just like The Island, the book is incredibly thorough.
Max Brooks: Research is a key component of my work. I don't write a lot of books due to the fact that I need to research for years. With a game like Minecraft, I live under the fear of people saying, "That would never happen!" So I played hundreds of hours in Minecraft to make sure the physics of the game are reflected in the book. There are also certain things that just happen in Minecraft that you can't imagine on your own. In The Island, my character shoots his last arrow at a creeper and hits a bat which is able to fly by. This actually happened while I was playing Minecraft!
Alex: The fun of these books comes from the way they feel real.
Max Brooks: Yes, I do. Also, I'd like to build trust and a relationship with my readers with every book I write. I want them to know that when they go through one of my books they can rely on me to lead them on journey through a place which I am familiar with - that I'm their tour guide.
Alex I was impressed by your insights into what Minecraft smells like. That was a great insight Netherrack.
Max Brooks: You know, I'm very lucky to have a fantastic editor, Sarah Peed. She inspired me to write my first book and asked me what the Island was like. What's the flavor? How does the breeze feel on your skin? What does the grass feel under your feet? I wanted the book to feel awe-inspiring, so I thought netherrack should smell sulfurous. It must smell like a stench of farts. Yes, you read that right! Night Vision should taste like carrot soda. It should be bubbly, tangy, and have a slight bite on the tongue. I wanted people to feel as if they were there.