Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
LARWILL - Tony Phillips' first novel, "Superior Species," came to him in a vivid dream.
"I thought that was special," Phillips said this week at Whitko Middle School, where he is a teacher. "Then I went to a writer's conference and told everyone about it. They all rolled their eyes and said most of their ideas come from dreams, too."
On that fateful night four years ago, Phillips woke up in the middle of the dream and thought he should write down details.
"I was too lazy, though," the science teacher said. "I knew I could get right back to it. Before I went to work the next morning, I had 12 pages of notes."
At first, Phillips transformed the notes into a screenplay, after a thorough reading of "Complete Idiot's Guide To Screenwriting."
"I thought it was a movie," Phillips said. He was quickly advised to produce a novel first.
Phillips turned to associates, former teachers and even the middle school Academic Team during the rough draft phases, many clamoring for each installation.
"My former English teacher, Terry Collins, said I abused commas. Another made me focus on point of view."
Some friendly critics had never read science fiction before. They didn't like the idea of extraterrestrial characters in the book, a sci-fi staple, or how Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome was treated as a planned, off-world biological attack.
"They wanted me to make the biological weapon an unknown virus, so it didn't seem like I was picking on anyone," he said.
But that wasn't the dream.
Another recommendation was to change the name of a main character, Dr. Haddock, to something that wouldn't remind people of a fish.
"I did change an alien character's name from 'Katchroom' so it didn't rhyme with mushroom."
The heart of "Superior Species" deals with the diverse theories of evolution, creationism and "intelligent design."
"I am a biologist," Phillips said of his profession. The science courses he teaches at the middle school follow state standards.
In his dream, however, questions about Intelligent Designs were raised. And the dreamer has done his best to present that vision, although he doesn't come up with definite answers.
"I wrote about what I work with every day, for the young adult and the sci-fi lover," said the IPFW graduate.
"It might be something an agnostic wants to read. If you don't question your beliefs, you're accepting someone else's opinion.
"You should have a good reason for believing there is a god and a good reason for not believing. I know which side I'd rather error on. What if I'm wrong?"
