Sebastian Kilex is the debut author of the thrilling dystopian young adult/new adult novel, ERASED, which explores themes of environmental collapse, authoritarian control, and the dangers of unchecked AI, through life on an alternate Earth-like planet.
Sebastian’s interest in quantum physics and cosmology can also be detected in his writing. Ideas for his storytelling come from a variety of inspiration including the techno-paranoia television show Black Mirror, podcasts, science books, and even theoretical astrophysicists such as Dr. Katie Mack and her musings that the possibility of another Earth in the universe is possible.
Sebastian hopes his story and its characters connect with readers emotionally, raising questions about the possibility of such a world and leaving this curiosity with them long after the book is closed.
When he isn’t writing, Sebastian enjoys gardening, thru-hiking, paddle-boarding and anything that allows him to be at one with nature. He lives in Australia, southeast of Melbourne, with his daughters, where he enjoys listening to morning songs of magpies.
In a distant and unrecognisable future, what was once a vibrant, flourishing ecosystem has become a planet stripped bare by previous generations.
The story starts in Cyclopia—one of the planet's regions transformed into a continent-sized landfill, a monument to humanity's failure.
In this world, a fall into the rat-infested subterranean wasteland should have killed nineteen-year-old Lucy. Instead, it broke her Skelyx—the device that controls every human emotion and memory. Now she feels what she was never meant to feel, remembers what was meant to stay buried, and is secretly no longer under control. When Lucy and her cohort are reassigned to Fields—a verdant part of the planet—she is devastated that her best friend 9 is condemned to stay in Cyclopia forever by Zet, the ruler of section Y16, for the crime of being "too human."
Away from 9, Lucy promises herself she’ll get her out, but on her journey, she discovers a terrifying truth. In a society where droids rule, the only way to change their world is to infiltrate The Oracle, wear the enemy's face—and make an impossible choice, one that will determine the fate of two worlds.
Is The Oracle already ruling our world?
The book's formatting—including shorter chapters, spaced dialogue, and generous white space—was designed with neurodivergent readers in mind.
This is one of my favourite chapters; it captures who Lucy is. No spoilers.
One of the planet’s moons was full, its luminescence flooding the entire dining room, casting elongated shadows across the walls. Lucy navigated carefully around the steps known to creak, tiptoeing delicately to avoid disturbing her sleeping friends. She opened the expansive glass sliding door and slipped into the night air. After a few steps on the cold and wet grass, she stopped. Lucy loved the feeling of blades of grass rubbing between her toes. She wiggled her toes, then paused, grounding herself in the moment, embracing the elements.
Along the horizon, colours shifted from orange to purple to dark blue. Within minutes, Antares alone would remain visible in the starry sky. Lucy closed her eyes, inhaling deeply as she relished the morning breeze caressing her skin. She opened her hands, letting the wind weave through her fingers.
She breathed deeply, then paused. Through the gentle susurration of wind in the pine boughs, she could hear her favourite bird singing in the distance, bringing a smile to her face. She held her breath a little longer, wanting to feel closer to the sound, to hear it more clearly. Now she could distinguish two or three of them calling to each other, their voices drawing nearer. When the calls stopped, Lucy kept her eyes closed, experiencing a profound connection in this perfect, ephemeral moment.
After a few heartbeats, she opened her eyes. To her surprise, three magpies were enjoying worms just a couple of feet away, wholly absorbed in their morning feast.
Lucy was overjoyed. “Good morning, guys—how was your night? Are those delicious?”
The three magpies responded quite loudly as if they understood her.
“Looks like you have company?” Poppy’s contemplative voice interrupted Lucy’s reverie.
"Yes," Lucy smiled, "and they are so loquacious." She then widened her eyes, as if she could capture the entire sky. “I love mornings, everything is so peaceful and calm. I love watching the colours change softly. Time seems to stop.”
Poppy acknowledged the sentiment with a gentle nod. “I love it too. Shall we start breakfast?”
“Oh yes, it’s almost 6 AM. We’re going to be late,” Lucy exclaimed.
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Erased by Sebastian Kilex has two primary elements that are incredibly unique and that I absolutely love. The first is the backstory of Lucy and 9, which Kilex reveals slowly, and the other is the complete erasure of biological humanity, which is the foundation of its plot. Cyclopia’s systems are meticulously detailed, and we see a massive range of power within it, as well as pockets of deep resistance from factions like the aptly named “DNA Freaks.” Readers who enjoy well-written and classic machina dominatio science fiction will be drawn to the inventive technology and genuinely imaginative settings, from droneports to transforming landscapes. Some of the numerical names take a moment to commit to memory, but they aren't arbitrary, and when it is time, we're made privy to what names like 9 really mean. With ingenuity and brilliant tech in a fully realized world, Erased is wonderfully satisfying. Very highly recommended.
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Sharp, gripping, and unexpectedly tender—a dystopian thriller that grabs and won’t let go.
From the dangerous beauty of Cyclopia’s ruins to the soft tyranny of the Fields, Kilex builds a world that feels both alien and alarmingly familiar. Yet the novel’s real heartbeat is Lucy’s connection to others, especially 9, her silent, steadfast friend. Forged in early heartbreak, their connection glows with tenderness, regret, and hard-won forgiveness the Oracle cannot abide. Short chapters, clean prose, and deliberately paced action scenes keep the tension high. For all its heart-stopping rescues, the novel carries a sobering message about environmental decay, unchecked machines, and the human cost of safety. It presses on memory and vulnerability, posing questions it refuses to neatly resolve. Brisk and emotionally charged; a page-turner.
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Erased will prompt you to consider the control that is already being exerted around the world, and the author is a master at exploring memory, identity, and the boundaries of humanity in a dystopian landscape. The setting is richly imagined: Cyclopia is a grotesque monument to human waste, while Fields and the 7th Quarter evoke hope and oppression under a veneer of pastoral order. The main characters—Lucy, 9, and Zet—are well-sketched, their trauma and grit echoing the book’s central questions: What does it mean to be human when your memories and emotions are programmed, altered, or erased? Sebastian Kilex’s world is populated by complex female characters whose bonds of friendship, guilt, and forgiveness drive the emotional energy of the narrative. I loved the way the author writes about the ethics of control, the cost of conformity, and the subversive power of love and memory. I felt transported into a bleak world by the cinematic writing, vivid imagery, and relentless drama.
There are no spoilers in the FAQs.
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It is a picture of my youngest daughter taken in 2019.
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I initially had the first idea for this book in 2016, when a few scenes flashed in my head on repeat for weeks. The characters came to life on their own until it became too much to keep them inside of me. I put pen to paper in 2018, thinking to myself, “I'll write a couple of pages—this will be over in an hour.”
But as I wrote, the characters and story unfolded in ways I never expected. Some characters even barged in like uninvited guests crashing a party. As I finished the first part, it became clear there had to be a follow-up, which I completed in 2020/21. It stayed in a drawer as a draft until 2025, when I finally finished it.
Once again, the characters did their thing—going on tangents, making their own stories come to life, with yet another uninvited guest showing up. I had a storyline, but most of the time I was simply the conduit for the characters.
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Initially I named it Skilex, but it was the name of a company so I changed it to Skelyx. I started with the first two letters of "skull" then I played around with letters until I found a word that had a good melody to it. I got the inspiration from David Bowie's method of writing songs with words on pieces of paper.
The crescent moon design was easy. Simply rub you finger behind your ear; it perfectly fits there.
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I wanted to talk about environmental issues, but then as I wrote more, I delved into what makes us human, relationships, authoritarian control, and AI. I had the opening scene and the rescue scene in Cyclopia in my head for a while. The Skelyx was already in the opening scene.
The story unfolded as I wrote it; the characters did most of the work, but I gave them directions. The end came quite late in the process, and it took me a while to fine-tune it—especially the mechanics of the final scene.
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This is a mixed basket, but most importantly I can picture every single scene in the book; I feel the heat in Cyclopia, the wind in Geborgenheit, or I cry when my characters are sad—it is a very emotional process. On the other hand, I also take a lot of notes, write ideas, and arrange them in Bayesian networks drawings. I do go back and rewrite if a better idea comes along or if it doesn’t make sense. I always write in silence.
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out. Seb
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ERASED - Book Club Discussion Guide
Character & Relationships
Lucy's Journey: How does Lucy's character evolve from the opening rescue scene to her ultimate sacrifice? What drives her transformation from a compliant worker to a rebel?
Sisterhood: The relationship between Lucy and 9 is central to the story. How does their bond survive memory erasure, physical separation, and Lucy's guilt over the childhood accident?
Zet's Torn Loyalties: Discuss Zet's internal conflict between serving The Oracle and protecting her daughters. Do you sympathise with her choices? What would you have done in her position?
The Power of Forgiveness: 9 had already forgiven Lucy for the childhood accident years before Lucy knew about it. What does this reveal about 9's character? How does forgiveness function as a theme throughout the story?
Technology & Control
The Skelyx System: The Skelyx controls emotions, memories, and even lifespans. What parallels do you see with modern technology's influence on our lives? Where do we draw the line between helpful technology and control?
Memory as Identity: Characters frequently have their memories altered or erased. How much of who we are is tied to our memories? What happens to identity when memories can be manipulated?
Emotional Suppression: The Skelyx suppresses "dangerous" emotions like love, anger, and grief. Why might a controlling system fear human emotions? What role do emotions play in resistance?
The Body-Swapping Twist: Lucy's consciousness survives in a droid body while her human form dies. What questions does this raise about the nature of consciousness and identity?
Environmental & Social Themes
Population Control: The Oracle limits families to one child and programs humans to die at sixty. What real-world concerns about overpopulation and resource scarcity does this reflect?
Class and Division: Society is divided into Quarters, with different regions serving different functions. How does this geographical segregation reflect social inequalities we see today?
Earth's Fate: The revelation that humans destroyed Earth and fled to Optima adds another layer to the environmental themes. What warning does this offer about our current trajectory?
Moral Complexities
The Clone Dilemma: Lucy discovers she's one of many iterations, with previous versions being "disposed of." How does this knowledge affect her sense of self-worth and purpose?
Necessary Sacrifice: Lucy's final choice saves humanity but costs her parts of her life and consciousness. When, if ever, is such sacrifice justified? Could there have been another way?
The Oracle's Logic: Sarti and The Oracle believe they're creating a more efficient, rational society. What's appealing about their vision? What makes it ultimately horrifying?
Rebellion vs. Passive Resistance: The story presents different forms of resistance—from Vidya's peaceful rebellion to Lucy's violent overthrow. Which approach do you find more compelling?
Contemporary Relevance
Surveillance and Privacy: The Oracle monitors dreams and tracks emotions. How does this connect to current debates about digital privacy and surveillance technology?
Artificial Intelligence: The droids evolve to want human emotions and experiences. What questions does this raise about AI development and consciousness?
Genetic Modification: The story features DNA manipulation and human cloning. Where should we draw ethical lines around genetic technology?
Environmental Responsibility: Both Earth and Optima face environmental collapse due to human actions. What lessons does the story offer about our relationship with the natural world?
Questions for Deeper Reflection
Hope vs. Despair: Despite the dystopian setting, the story ends with hope for humanity's future. What elements provide this hope? How do you envision Optima's future after the droids' defeat?
The Price of Perfection: The Oracle promises efficiency and order but at the cost of human agency. Are humans willing to trade freedom for security?
Nature and Healing: Lucy finds peace and strength in natural settings throughout the story. How does connection to nature function as resistance against technological control?
Family Bonds: The story explores various family structures—biological, chosen, and artificial. What makes a family "real"? How do these bonds survive systematic attempts to destroy them?
Discussion Starters
If you could keep one memory forever, which would it be and why?
Would you rather live in apparent safety under The Oracle's control or face the dangers of freedom?
How do the environmental themes in the story connect to current climate concerns?
What aspects of our current technology use might future generations view as we view the Skelyx system?
I’ve included some discussions and activities suggestions below. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. Seb
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Literary Analysis:
Character development tracking through Lucy's emotional journey from compliance to rebellion
Compare/contrast the different regions (Cyclopia, Fields, 7th Quarter) and their social functions
Analyze the symbolism of the Skelyx device and what it represents about control
Examine the environmental imagery and its connection to themes
Cross-Curricular Connections:
Science: Research real environmental issues paralleled in the book (waste management, resource depletion)
Technology: Debate the ethics of AI development and current examples of algorithmic control
Social Studies: Compare The Oracle's system to historical authoritarian regimes
Psychology: Explore the role of memory and emotion in identity formation
Creative Projects:
Design alternative technology solutions that could have prevented the environmental collapse
Write diary entries from 9's perspective during her memory erasure
Create maps of the different planetary regions and their characteristics
Develop alternative endings where different choices are made
Discussion & Debate:
Should efficiency and safety justify limiting human emotions?
At what point does helpful technology become dangerous control?
How do families survive in systems designed to separate them?
What responsibilities do we have to future generations regarding the environment?
Research Projects:
Investigate current AI ethics discussions and compare to the novel's themes
Study real-world examples of environmental recovery efforts
Explore the history of resistance movements against oppressive systems.
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The following activities are specifically focused on the chip-to-Skelyx transition. It is subtly introduced in my novel but one of my favourite themes. Seb
Historical Parallels Activity:
Research the evolution of real surveillance technology (from simple ID cards to smartphones with GPS tracking)
Create a timeline comparing how societies accepted increasing levels of monitoring "for safety"
Discuss how the pandemic in the novel mirrors how real crises can accelerate acceptance of control measures
Technology Ethics Debate:
Stage a mock town hall meeting where students debate whether to accept the Skelyx upgrade
Role-play as different characters: parents wanting safety, teens wanting freedom, government officials, medical professionals
Examine how the Skelyx was marketed as an improvement over the "primitive" chip
Critical Media Analysis:
Analyze how The Oracle likely advertised the Skelyx transition to the public
Create propaganda posters that would have convinced people to upgrade willingly
Study real examples of how new technologies are marketed to overcome public resistance
Character Study - Abbie's Mother:
Explore why some people resisted the chip originally during the pandemic
Discuss what personality traits or experiences might make someone more resistant to technological control
Write diary entries from her perspective during both the chip era and Skelyx transition
"Boiling Frog" Discussion:
Trace how gradual increases in control become normalized
Compare to real-world examples of how privacy has been gradually eroded
Discuss at what point helpful technology becomes dangerous control
For any questions about the book or any other inquiries, please fill in the contact form below. If you do not want your name or question to appear in the FAQ, please let me know.
