What's the Flavor?

Alex: You've also been working on a free Marketplace map of Summer's base.

Max Brooks: Yeah! When you open the map, it's after Summer and Guy have left, so the mountain you're looking at is not exactly what was in the book. Actually, that was another big problem. I was two-thirds of the halfway through the writing of The Mountain and I sat down to play the game and the whole Nether had changed, top to bottom! But instead of getting angry I realized that it was probably the greatest life lesson! You must change with the world as it evolves.

Alex Alex: Much like The Island, the book is extremely detailed.

Max Brooks: Research is extremely important to me in all I do. Because I spend so much time doing research, I don't have the time to write as many books. With a game like Minecraft I live in the fear of someone saying, "That would never happen!" So I played thousands of hours of Minecraft to make sure the physics of the game work in the book. There are also certain things that just happen in Minecraft that you can't imagine on your own. My character from The Island shoots his last shot at a creeper, and then hits a bat which occurs through. It happened to me when I was playing Minecraft!

Alex: The authenticity of these books is the reason they are so enjoyable.

Max Brooks: Yeah, and, in all my writing, I want to build trust with the reader. I want them to know that when they read my books they can trust me to lead them on an adventure through a world which I am familiar with - that I am their tour guide.

Alex: I enjoyed your insights into what Minecraft smells like. Netherrack This was a great eye-opener.

Max Brooks: Sarah Peed my editor is a true blessing. She pushed me to write my first book, and she asked me what the Island felt like. What are the tastes of things?  Citizensnpcs How does the breeze feel on your skin? What does the grass feel like under your feet? I wanted the book to feel awe-inspiring and engrossing, so I thought of netherrack, it should smell sulfurous. It must smell like a stench of farts. Yes, that's right! When you drink Night Vision, it should taste like carrot soda, which is tangy and bubbly and a little bite on your tongue. I wanted people to feel as if they were there.