Ep. 221: The Horrors of Technology with Paul Tremblay (Writing Masterclass)

Sep 22, 2026

Paul Tremblay, the award-winning author of A Head Full of Ghosts and Horror Movie, explores the dark side of modern technology. He discusses techno-horror, misinformation, surveillance, generational fears, and the uncanny blur between fiction and reality. They also examine lost agency, dehumanized creativity, isolation in a hyper-connected world, and how frightening stories might inspire positive change.

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ANECDOTE

A Doodled Cabin Became A Horror Novel

Tremblay began The Cabin at the End of the World with a doodled cabin and challenged himself to reinvent a home-invasion story.
He connected the invaders to online chat rooms and the constant feeling that television and phones announce the world's collapse.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Reality Nearly Caught Up With Tremblay's Novel

Tremblay worried that Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep might become reality before its publication date.
A report about brains in jars and organoid research made his fictional premise feel uncomfortably current.

insights

INSIGHT

Powerlessness Makes Technology Terrifying

Techno-horror becomes frightening when ordinary people feel trapped inside systems they cannot influence or escape.
Brain implants, surveillance, social media, precarious work, and runaway AI turn everyday powerlessness into a personal horror mechanism.

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Technology’s Unknown Dangers

05:41 • 3min

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Techno-Horror Mirrors Modern Life

08:41 • 6min

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Mining Fear From Misinformation

14:23 • 6min

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When Fiction Blurs With Reality

20:01 • 6min

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Technology’s Generational Boogeymen

26:27 • 2min

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Horror, Hope, and Human Connection

28:15 • 2min

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Technology and the Loss of Humanity

30:30 • 6min

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Stripping Characters of Agency

36:27 • 3min

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Building Plausible Technological Terror

39:50 • 2min

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Connectivity Makes Horror Worse

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Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on The Horrors of Technology with bestselling, award-winning author Paul Tremblay. During the episode, Paul deconstructs technological terror, discussing the techno-horror subgenre, technology as a source of dread, tackling technological concerns through horror, the blurring lines between reality and fiction, the uncanny valley and new ways of scaring readers, technological “boogeymen” across generations, the dehumanization of humanity and creativity, stripping characters of agency/control, isolation in a hyper-connected world, techno-horror as a catalyst for positive change and more.

NOTE: This is part two of a two-part chat with Paul. Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to check out part one.

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ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Paul Tremblay is the bestselling, award-winning author of A Head Full of Ghosts, The Cabin at the End of the World, Horror Movie, Survivor Song and more. His latest novel is Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep, which you can purchase ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

Find Paul on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Amazon⁠ and ⁠his website⁠.

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