The AI/XR Podcast. The AI/XR Podcast August 22nd, 2025 ft. Devon Eriksen, Author of Theft of Fire: Orbital Space #1
Aug 22, 2025
Devon Eriksen, author of the sci-fi novel 'Theft of Fire', dives into the intricate relationship between technology and storytelling. He discusses the importance of cultural preservation in the age of AI, drawing parallels to indigenous challenges. The conversation shifts to the philosophical idea of intelligence as universal property and whether we might live in a simulation. Eriksen also shares insights from his creative journey transitioning from software engineering to sci-fi, exploring how the genre can inspire hope amidst darker narratives.
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Engineer-Turned-Novelist Origin Story
- Devon Eriksen retired from software engineering and then wrote fiction he wanted to read as a kid.
- He used his engineering background and family history around Voyager to build realistic space narratives.
Inspiration Over Caution
- Science fiction should show inspiring futures, not only cautionary dystopias.
- Devon argues inspiration matters more because without it progress stalls.
Voyager Photos In The Family Home
- Devon grew up with pictures of outer planets because his father worked on Voyager.
- That childhood shaped his lifelong drive to imagine human spacefaring futures.
