Character Name
Sidney Starley
Which book/world do you live in?
The Lazarus Taxa, by Lindsey Kinsella.
Tell us about yourself:
I am a world-renowned field mechanic. You might not have heard of me, not yet at least, but I’m the best in the business at what I do. Any terrain in the world—I’ll keep your expedition on the move. I grew up on a small, isolated Scottish island, so naturally I couldn’t wait to get out and see the world. Everyone said I couldn’t do it, my own father even said so, but I’ve proven them wrong. I’ll keep proving them wrong.
Recently I’ve been hired by a secretive billionaire who claims to have invented time travel and requires my services. First man to set foot in another time? To walk around in the time of the dinosaurs? Now, that has a nice ring to it.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
Strengths? Well, we’ve already covered that I’m a fearless explorer and a master mechanic, but what are the qualities that drive those? Determination—you don’t get as far as I have by giving up when the going gets tough—and sheer, unfiltered bravery. Some have called it stupidity, but what do they know?
Weaknesses? Now, this is just between us, right? I have a reputation to uphold, after all. I can’t read especially well. I know now that I’m dyslexic, but as a child, my peers had another name for me—stupid. I guess you could say that gave me some self-doubt and maybe I over-compensate, but when a teacher tells a young boy that he’ll never succeed in life, that sticks with him. I’ll show them they were wrong about me. I’ll show them all.
Name three important people/creatures/institutions in your world (such as lovers, pets, government institutions, leaders, gods etc).
As far as my personal life goes, I’ve always been somewhat of a loner. The closest I have to a friend is my buddy Ed. If I’m being honest though, I think he holds me back. He means well, but I can’t always play it safe—I’m more ambitious than that.
Neil Armstrong is my inspiration. The first man to walk on the moon—that will always be incredible. I mean, can you imagine? He was a hero, a rock star. I used to stare up at them moon and then back down at the muddy old farm of my youth. God, how I wished to be up there instead. I want to do what he did. I want to be the first.
Despite my grand ambitions, I do have some humbler pursuits. When I do have some down time I like to unwind with my trusty VW Beetle. It’s a simple machine, but it helps me to relax. I could take the whole thing apart and rebuild it in a couple of hours which is oddly therapeutic—as is the burble of its flat-four boxer engine.
What does ‘heroism’ mean to you?
To be a hero is to be successful. Most people’s heroes are so because they’re the best at what they do. They’ve reached the top, they are rich, famous, and respected. They’ve made it.
What do you think of your ‘creator’?
He’s pretty unambitious, really. Writing a book? It’s been done—nothing special. I bet it doesn’t even get made into a movie. Come back to me when he’s spent three months in Antarctica.
Give us your favourite piece of advice:
Never back down, never quit, never wait for tomorrow. Success doesn’t wait for anyone, you have to take your chances, no matter the cost.
Links to book
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NP1M1S9/
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60043780-the-lazarus-taxa
Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-lazarus-taxa-lindsey-kinsella/1141049864?ean=9798765533536
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindseyKinsellaAuthor
Library of Erana 