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Song of the Deep Author Brian Hastings on the Qualities That Make a True Hero
Part of the fun of playing a video game is immersing yourself in its world—from getting to know the characters, to exploring the setting, to learning more about the backstory. That’s why Insomniac Games’ new video game Song of the Deep is so exciting—not only can fans dive into creator Brian Hasting’s underwater world by playing the game version, available July 12, but they can also lose themselves in this epic adventure by reading the thrilling Song of the Deep novel, in stores the same day. The story of a twelve-year-old girl, Merryn, who goes on a quest to rescue her fisherman father from untold dangers far beneath the ocean, both versions are sure to delight gamers and readers of all ages. Author and game developer Hastings shared his thoughts on what led him to create the character of Merryn, whose inner strength and determination will inspire kids who may not fit the mold of a traditional “hero”.
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As kids, we dream of being heroes. Our books, movies, and video games are overflowing with larger than life icons. Whether they are superheroes, adventurers or gladiators, we love stories about power and greatness. We love the strong, handsome warriors and the beautiful, eloquent princesses. We wish we could be these people. Or at least be similar to them.
It’s not a new phenomenon—heroes have been around at least as long as written history. So what is it about them that fascinates us? Do they represent what we value as a society? Are they a model for who we strive to be? Maybe the heroes in our media are a good reflection of who we are as a people.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a hero too. Maybe not a superhero, but the kind of person who saves the day and helps people. I was a pretty small kid, shy and more than a little bit of a geek. And this was in the days before geekiness was trendy. So being a hero was a fantasy. One that I knew I’d never truly live up to in my real life.
And I think that’s why I loved the human side of superheroes the most. The stories that showed the real life problems and relatable choices the heroes had to make. I could connect to those. At least in that respect, I could be just like the heroes. I wasn’t tall or muscular, and I didn’t have any special powers, or even talent at sports for that matter, but I could at least be brave and kind like the heroes were when they showed their human side.
Now I’m grown up, and for the last twenty-one years I’ve been helping to make video games at Insomniac Games. We’ve created a lot of heroes over the years. And most of them are underdogs. They are the types of heroes you don’t expect—a furry, orphaned alien named Ratchet, a diminutive dragon named Spyro, and now a twelve year old girl named Merryn.
I originally wrote Merryn as a hero for my daughter. I wanted to create a character who was heroic solely because of her inner qualities. She’s not powerful or strong; she’s not a beautiful princess or a skilled warrior. She’s kind, intelligent, creative and brave. And her goal isn’t to save the world or to find lost treasure. She simply wants to help someone she loves—her father. And she never gives up even when there seems to be no way forward.
The heroes in our stories are a reflection of what we admire and respect as a society. And our heroes are almost always strong, beautiful and incredibly athletic. These are all qualities worthy of admiration, but are the things we value most? Are they the things we want our children to value most?
Merryn is a hero that represents what I value most. And I hope kids will see in her the kind of person they want to be.
The Song of the Deep novel will be in stores on July 12. You can pre-order it now!