Dr. Howard Covant
In this exclusive NY Dawn interview, we sat down with the multifaceted Dr. Howard Covant, a scientist, veterinarian, and professor who has now turned his gaze toward the imaginative realm of fiction. The conversation delves into Dr. Covant’s debut novel, Destiny: A Future Fate of Mankind, an ambitious exploration of humanity’s potential paths and the enduring “what ifs” that define our future.
Through a thought-provoking exchange, Dr. Covant discusses how his extensive background in veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences has influenced his Science Fiction Multiversal storytelling, blending scientific insight with speculative vision. What inspired his transition from academia to creative writing?
How does a lifetime of scientific inquiry translate into fiction about the fate of humankind? Join us as Dr. Covant reflects on these questions and shares the story behind Destiny.
I. Author Background
Interviewer: “You’ve had such a strong career in science and medicine. What led you to make the leap into fiction writing at this point in your life?”
Author: “Academia is all about reading and writing. Reading for pleasure has always been a passion in my life, science fiction has always been a passion in my life, and they just seem to merge together and come out as Destiny.”
“Was there a particular spark or moment that gave birth to the idea for Destiny?”
“The original thought about the ending was the big spark. And then making the story come to life. It is even a more exciting part, about sitting down and actually writing it, living it really.”
“How do you feel your scientific background influences the way you approach storytelling?”
“I had to make the science believable. The novel actually follows what could be true in science. It’s not something that’s totally fictitious. Many professionals with a science background have read this and spoken about it; actually, it has been wild for them in terms of its science fiction, nature, and how it could be possible. Putting it together with a good story always makes it something great. So, I’ve tried to include things like love, science, fear, pride, all these things that people will bond with and find it’s a good story to read and finish.”
II. Writing & Science Fiction
“Why science fiction? What does this genre allow you to explore that others might not?”
“Absolutely, for me science fiction has always been something of promise and optimism about human ability, to move forward and the great things that we will encounter. I’m going to kind of say, like what we might see in Gene Roddenberry, in Star Trek, where they are all showing the good side of man, that’s something that I’ve always enjoyed. These new science fiction movies, with monsters that attack for no particular reason, just creates meaningless action. They are good for, I guess, video and movies, but not really good for an imaginative story. So science fiction allows us to look forward, be optimistic and have pride in the way human evolution occurs.”
When you were writing, did you imagine Destiny more as ‘hard science’ fiction — grounded in technology and realism — or closer to a mythic, philosophical tale?”
“I think I wanted to produce both. I wanted a good science fiction story that could make people think it’s believable, and that’s where we are going. I wanted to also create some philosophical thought-provoking ideas, and I think as you read through the book, there are many little snippets of words that come out that say, you know, he’s right. Kind of like this is the way it is.”
“In your view, what role does science fiction play in society today?”
“Well, of course, there’s the entertainment value of it, but again, I think it’s the ability for Science fiction to create optimism about where humanity is heading and what we could possibly be able to produce in our future. What great and inspiring things are we going to find?
“Were there specific issues in today’s world you wanted to explore or critique through your story?”
“I wished to bring up certain concepts, for instance, technology. The ‘comm.- link’ in the story, I think, is one of those things that is an inevitability in human development. How long it’s going to be, I am not certain. But you can already see it happening. Most people are already walking around with their cellphone, asking questions. If we could make that an interactive system where it could provide you with the information you needed, or even direct your learning as we move forward. I think those are things that are really positive that could help people change and evolve. So, I think it allows us to display those types of things, and even though they are not real yet, like faster-than-light travel, perhaps the future could be possible given human ingenuity and need.”
III. Themes in Destiny
“The Republican Empire in your book is a deeply religious theocracy. Were you using that as a way to explore the dangers of dogma and authority?”
“I was trying to show how societies can move in either direction for good or for bad, depending on who’s at the helm, and that’s actually part of the concept of the whole story, that humanity goes in cycles. Human history has had a multitude of truly great people and as many evil rulers. At points in time evil has taken over, and that’s likely to happen again as humanity goes forward. There’s certainly going to be times when evil will enwrap man, but I think given man’s ultimate experiences and desire for freedom, he will always come out with freedom, whether that will be seen as we currently see in society, like a democracy or not, who knows? But I always think that humanity’s desire to be free and follow his own will, will be the primary concept in motivating human evolution.”
“You contrast that with the Corporation, which feels freer but also more vulnerable. How do you see the balance between freedom and survival in their world?”
” I think, given the universe or galaxy that they were in, they really didn’t have a lot of choice. They had freedoms that they were able to experience outside of the religious orthodoxy, but they realized that it was a limited time. Freedom always creates greater vulnerability as society becomes more diversified. And maybe that kind of reflects what I think is going on in society today. I can’t really say.”
“The book begins in survival and ends in enlightenment — was that an intentional arc to mirror humanity’s cycles?”
I was trying to show how the movement from one society to another can occur and how we develop. The novel is structured into five sections—Existence, Fear, Journey, Hope, and Enlightenment—each reflecting stages of both individual lives and humanity’s broader evolution. It presents two contrasting, yet relatable, societies designed to challenge readers’ perspectives. Depending on one’s experiences and biases, reactions to these worlds may vary. Throughout the story, various moral themes emerge, but the central message remains clear: humanity is destined to repeat its mistakes. Yet in doing so, we grow—sometimes faltering, sometimes advancing—but always learning, always evolving
If you had to boil it down, what do you think is the central moral question at the heart of Destiny?”
Is there a God? Is man moral? Is there a plan? Will we learn?
IV. Characters & World-Building
“Martin Tabir doesn’t come across as a typical ‘chosen one’ hero. Why did you want him to feel more reluctant and human?”
“Well, I thought from a point of view of explaining the scenario and what the fears were, it was better to get somebody who was more reluctant in there. But I think he’s also a character that you can easily show growth and positivity. You can see that from the beginning of the book to the end of the book, the different person that he ends up being. It demonstrates that people have strength and spirit, and can be something more if they choose to be.”
“His AI companion, PIP, almost feels like a character in its own right. Was that intentional from the start?”
“That actually was very, very early in the process. To make a character that can help not only explain things as well as be a side comic and also be part of the decision-making processes as the story goes on. PIP represents our complex relationship with technology: its power to assist and protect, but also its potential to manipulate or control, yet he has a human side. Wouldn’t we all like to have a friend like PIP?”
“Were any of your characters drawn from real people you’ve known?”
All the Characters are fictitious.
V. Technology & Society
“The Comm.-links in your story are fascinating — they’re both incredibly empowering and a little terrifying. Do you see them as a metaphor for how we relate to technology today?”
“I want to say it’s more of a prediction about where humanity is going. A reliance on technology will eventually lead to something like what I believe the ‘comm-link’ is in my novel. It is really a positive thing. The problem here, of course, is that it has to be used benevolently. It could be used just as significantly as an evil tool of control. So, I think that, you know, with anything else, there’s always a double-edged sword here. Right now, I’ll say social media can influence public opinion so well, whether it be real or not. And that’s a huge danger. If we’re going to implant microchips into our brains that are going to help us make decisions, we have to make sure it’s doing it for us and not us for it.”
“Your depiction of surveillance feels very timely. Were you deliberately echoing issues we face right now?”
“The whole book is a deliberate echo of current society, just set in a futuristic environment.”
“And as for AI — do you think we’re genuinely on a path to companions like PIP, or is that still a long way off?”
“That’s a good question. I don’t see something integrating into the human body occurring sometime soon. But I do see an AI personality that can be assigned to individuals from youth. So when you’re going to school, you might get a phone with your own particular AI, and it’s going to monitor how you learn, adjust how you learn. If you’re deficient in some way, it may focus on that to bring that up to snuff and keep a really good idea about where you are. The problem will be is how much of a statistical evaluation of you is going to get back to superiors and is that going to be used positively or negatively?”
VI. Philosophy & Humanity’s Future
“Do you think mankind is destined to repeat its cycles of rise and fall, or can we break the pattern?”
“No, I think that’s human nature to date anyway, that’s what history has shown us. How many civilizations have risen and fallen? I think it’s necessary for us to expose the evils or the wrongnesses of society so that we can recreate and move forward. I really do believe that we are creating in some way an evolutionary process where humanity’s abilities for benevolence and goodness are changing to a more positive nature. And yes, like I said, we are going to see evil raise its head, and it may take over. But eventually, I think men will strive for the personal freedoms and rights that we all want, wish, and hope for.
“Your book raises the question of ‘fate or destiny.’ Where do you personally land on that?”
“Fate and destiny are very similar words, but they actually mean two different things. Fate is something that is unavoidable, and you are going to encounter it beyond your control. Destiny, on the other hand, is something that, despite all blockades, you are destined to, or you shall eventually reach there. And it is by the control of your hand. So I think man has a destiny, his control of his hand. To move forward and be something in this universe is likely to be positive, as long as we don’t destroy ourselves first.”
“In your view, will humanity ever become a truly multi-planetary species?”
“I believe it is inevitable that humans will reach beyond our planet Earth and move out into the solar system; the ability to move beyond our solar system, or find intelligent life, now that unfortunately is likely science fiction.”
“If the Republic and Corporation symbolize two extremes — order versus freedom — do you see a middle path?”
“So, I’m going to say, of course, as I brought it up at the end of the book, I think religion and the belief in something omnipotent is something that is ingrained in the human psyche. 90% of us, I believe, are a statistic on this planet that believe in a superior being. And therefore, is that there for a reason? Was that placed in our heads, or are we just a superstitious breed? I can’t say, but most of us walk the middle ground anyway.”
VII. The Creative Process
“Tell me a little about your writing process. What did a typical day of working on Destiny look like for you?”
“It wasn’t a full-time job. It was more of a pleasure to sit down when I had a couple of hours and work on it. There’d be lots of times where I’d get to a part where I hadn’t figured out a solution to what was going on. It might take me two or three weeks of just debating the idea in my head before I would come up with a possible good solution to whatever was bothering me. So, it was a very long process. My first version came out probably about eight years ago, and I sent it around to all my academic friends and some literature friends, and they all gave me feedback. And then I spent another two years rewriting the entire book and getting it put out, and got feedback and rewrote it. The one that you’re reading now is probably about the fifth complete version.”
“Did you ever hit a wall with writer’s block, and if so, how did you push through it?”
“There was a time when I thought I had put the book down for about four months, and I didn’t go back to it. Yeah, I don’t know if I would call it a block. It was just that I needed to gather some new insights, maybe some new ideas, and incorporate them. So, I couldn’t say it was a block. But there were times when I stopped working on it for a while. My family thought I was crazy, of course, but that’s the way life goes.”
“How many drafts did it take before you felt the manuscript was ready?”
“Well, you know what, from a writer’s point of view, or at least from my point of view, I’m going to say rereading it several times, I could probably sit down and re-edit it and put in nice little tidbits here and there. I could probably keep going re-modifying this for years. And that’s what I had been doing. At some point, you have to say, you know what? I’m done. And that’s where I got to. I felt it was good enough to pass on, but you know, I could work on it more. Maybe the next book.”
“And how does finishing a novel compare with finishing a scientific paper?”
“Oh, it’s much more emotional, much more pride-filled. When I finish a scientific paper, it’s just the end of a study. We’re done, conclusions drawn, move on. Now this novel is something. “Hey, look, guys, did you read this? What do you think about this?”
VIII. Inspirations & Influences
“Which writers shaped you most as a storyteller?”
“Well, as I said, reading has been a very big thing in my life. I probably read most of the great scientific or science fiction authors. The many smaller ones, actually, sometimes they’re even more interesting. Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, I’ll even say Gene Roddenberry, all of them are futurists, I think that I look forward to some of them as making something more positive. And that’s great.”
“Did any films, art, or other media influence the way you imagined your world?”
“I think I used snippets from various movies, actually, as little comments in the book. I think of one, particularly, when the commander is with the very first vestean, Aguado, he says to Dr. Tabir, “I know this furball knows something is going on”. And that was in reference to one of the Star Wars films. When Han Solo is referring to, of course, Chewbacca. I’ve inserted many of these little quirks. If you’re a science fiction buff or something like that, you’ll probably pick out these quick little turns that are actually my accolades to those movies.”
“Do you see Destiny fitting into a particular literary tradition — or carving out its own path?”
“Well, I’d be very proud to see it do that. I would just be happy for somebody to pick it up on vacation, read it, and just kind of think about it and walk away with, Huh, that was really very interesting. I really enjoyed the book. And he presented some really great concepts. If you want to do that, then I am more than happy. Anything more that happens, I would be happy to do.”
IX. Readers & Impact
“Who do you think is the ideal reader for Destiny?”
“I think you need a mature reader. I don’t think children would be an appropriate thing. I think anybody above 16 would appreciate the book.”
“What kind of feedback have you received so far from early readers?”
“I’ve only received really positive returns from people who have read it so far. Five stars! My best friend, my longest friend, just finished reading it and only gave me three and a half stars, although he hadn’t read any book in over 20 years. And now, after reading Destiny, he has started to read books again. I’ve at least stimulated him to read more literature, which is also fine by me.”
“What do you hope readers will feel or take away once they close the book?”
“I would hope that you feel satisfied. I hope that it inured many questions in your mind about, you know, could this be true? Could this happen? Is there a God? Is there freedom? Is there religion? And ask those questions. What is moral? What isn’t? What is benevolent? What isn’t? Those are the questions.”
“Do you see Destiny as the beginning of a series?”
“Well, I’m already working on a follow-up book. My publisher has told me to start thinking about it, so I think it’s a good idea. Again, how long will the process be? I hope it’s not as long as the first book”.
X. Ethics & Responsibility of the Writer
“As a scientist-turned-novelist, do you feel a responsibility to ground your fiction in plausible science?”
“Oh, absolutely. So, the one thing that I hate when I’m watching a movie or reading a book is that it’s impossible. That couldn’t happen. Then all of a sudden, the value of the entire scene gets lost. So, this way, I tried to keep it as plausible as possible.”
“How do you balance scientific accuracy with narrative freedom?”
“Well, I think given the fact that physics at this point in human knowledge has told us that faster-than-light travel is impossible, I think my design of the physics and the engine of the new Eden spacecraft is taking a little bit of a leap and advantage of the situation. So, I think, you know, is that possible? Probably not, but I think you have to accept that eventually, you’re going to figure out how to do this.”
“Do you worry about readers misinterpreting science fiction as prediction rather than speculation?”
“Certainly, I have written the book as a possible future fate of mankind, and it’s only a possible future fate, but I think it’s definitely possible that that’s man’s destiny.”
XI. Reader Engagement & Community
“Have you had direct conversations with readers yet — and if so, what surprised you most about their reactions?”
“During my travels for the last six months, I’ve been handing out copies to people I meet incidentally, and I’ve had so many of them call me back and just say they really enjoyed the book. You know, the number one comment that I think came from everybody is that I pretty much owe them a night of sleep because they, at one point, could not put the book down.”
“Do you see yourself engaging with readers online — perhaps through forums, Q&As, or book clubs?”
“I certainly hopefully believe so. I am still of the old society, meaning I’m still into paper books and not using the Internet as much as the younger people on this planet. But I’m getting there.”
“Do you enjoy the idea of your work sparking debate among readers?”
“I would love to see that, and I would happily participate in any open debates on this.”
XII. The Publishing Journey
“What was the most surprising part of the publishing process for you as a first-time novelist?”
“The industry background that I did not have in terms of knowledge about how the system works, how you get things published, etc. I didn’t start thinking that I was going to publish my book. All I thought of was that I had a really cool story, I’d like to just write something really nice, and that’s how I started writing. I’m going to say where this book goes would be great, obviously, for it to take off, but my entire intent here is to have as many people read it as possible because I just think it says a lot. I think it has, it offers a lot of optimism, but raises a lot of questions about humans and where we sit.”
“How did it feel holding the finished copy of Destiny in your hands for the first time?”
“Oh, well, I was very proud, but of course, very nervous. I didn’t know how the book was going to be accepted. I knew how much I enjoyed it. I knew that several people had already read it and enjoyed it, but I didn’t know whether people would really enjoy it. But in the last two months, the number of phone calls that I’ve got from the people to whom it was handed has been unbelievable.”
“Was there ever a moment when you doubted whether this book would see the light of day?”
“Of course. But when I was first integrated with my publisher, Mr. Layton from Writer Cosmos Publishing, I’m going to say he was so enthusiastic about it that I had no option but to proceed with getting it launched.”
XIII. Adaptation & Other Media
“Many science fiction novels find new life in film or streaming. Do you imagine Destiny on screen one day?”
“I’m going to say that’s the other major comment that I’ve had from people, aside from the fact that they’re losing sleep, is that it would make a great movie visually. I think it would. And so, I would love to see it being produced in that respect.”
“Which actor could you see playing Martin Tabir?”
“Gee, I didn’t give it that much thought. I’m sorry. I mean, there are so many who are good actors now. But I think. To be honest, I mean, a movie, if that was even a possibility, would be years off. And I would be looking at who the current stars are at that time.”
“Beyond film, do you think Destiny could work as a graphic novel or even a video game?”
“I am certain with the imagination. There’d be many different applications for this type of thing, especially if there are subsequent books. I think the team that I set up on the New Eden of the Commander, the Sergeant, Dr. Tabir, and QCC is absolutely a great team to move forward.”
XIV. The Role of Religion & Belief
“Your novel engages heavily with questions of dogma and theocracy. How do your personal views on religion shape that?”
“I want to say that I was very careful not to show any particular evilness on the side of the Republican Empire. So, it wasn’t shown as being an evil empire, just highly controlling. I. I think that people living in those societies, even societies now that we’re talking about on the earth today that are controlled by religious theocracies, are not miserable in life. They just have high, intense scrutiny of their activities and are given to behaving in certain ways. And I think that if you’re born into that, you’re not going to necessarily oppose it unless you know of something different.”
“Do you think religion in the future will remain as powerful a force as it is today?”
“I honestly believe that religion will be with us forever because I believe it’s an ingrained behavior of human beings to believe in something more omnipotent and better than ourselves.”
“Is spirituality in Destiny different from organized religion, or do the two overlap?”
“They are the same. Belief is one thing. The problem is that man gets involved and twists it so that power and corruption get in there in almost every religion that we see. So, I’m going to say I believe most religions are actually good, positive, great things in our society. The problem is who gets to the head of it and who’s directing it. And is it done as a benevolent way to help us move forward, or is it done in a controlling way?
XV. The Human Condition
“In your eyes, what defines humanity more: our intelligence, or our capacity for emotion?”
“Absolutely. I think both of those are our imagination, our inquiries, and our love and compassion all play a role in how man develops forward. We all want children. We all want our children to prosper on this planet. We all want good things in life. How we get there, who prevents us from doing so, are the obstacles that we face as we move forward, just as in the fate of mankind moving forward. Who is the next person to come up? Is he a brilliant person who is going to show man a new way, or is he going to be more controlling? It’s going to happen.”
“Do you think progress in technology makes us more human — or less?”
“Unfortunately, I truly believe it makes us less human. It stops people, I believe. Not for everyone, of course, but I’m going to say for the masses. I think generally they’re going to stop using their mind. What did I hear that many of the public-school children, elementary school children, are coming up now not even knowing how to write cursive? Is that a problem? I don’t know. Maybe they’ll never have to use cursive for the rest of their lives. And I’m the one who’s archaic. Is that a good or bad thing?”
XVI. Legacy & Personal Reflection
“When you look back on your own life’s journey — science, medicine, and now fiction — do you see Destiny as a culmination of those experiences?”
“All my experiences of what I’ve done for 40 years in the science industry have formed my opinions. Being a veterinarian allows me to be forwarded a very specific area in society where I’m right in the nuclear family. I see the parents, I see the puppy, I see the children. I see the interaction of that family over the decades when they get new pets. I’m even seeing grandchildren from some of my first clients coming in with their new pets. So, it affords me to see the realms of emotions and goodness that exist in people, especially when it comes to talking about animals and how they care for them. Are there people out there who are the opposite of what I’ve just said? Of course. But when we look at the majority of humans, I’m going to say their compassion, their love, just cannot be underestimated.”
“What do you hope your legacy will be as both a scientist and an author?”
“The futurist.”
“If you could have a conversation with your younger self, what would you say about the path you’ve taken?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve had a very blessed life, and I have no regrets. Isn’t that unusual to hear in society nowadays? I’m going to say I’m in one of the best professions that could exist on the planet. I work with puppies and animals all day long. I get to use my mind positively. I get to use my skills positively. I think it’s all a plus-plus. I did not make a mistake in my profession, and what I’ve been doing. And I’ve enjoyed writing the book as much as I’ve enjoyed being a veterinarian.”
XVII. Big-Picture Reflections
“If you could send one message forward in time for humanity to hear, what would it be?”
Follow your dreams and treat one another with kindness.
“What worries you most about the future of humanity?”
“The ability to be influenced by media. Our greatest danger is that I don’t think people are putting proper filters on their media, and they’re accepting a lot of things they’re seeing without questioning. And I think it’s important, especially at this time, that we have to question everything we see, whether it be something benign or something more serious. We have to actually evaluate that and use our own intelligence to be able to decide whether what they’re showing me is real or not. Because when they say half of the stuff on most of these media sites is all AI-produced products, that concerns me very much.”
“And on the flip side — what gives you hope?”
“Humanity! I think through our recorded history, we can show that overall, humanity’s intention is positive and good, and has the unlimited ability to move forward and create great things. And I think that is what’s going to win out overall in the end.”
