Daniel Kraus is experiencing a career surge unlike any other, marked by a Pulitzer Prize win, an upcoming film, and the release of two highly distinctive books. His novel "Angel Down" earned him the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, followed swiftly by "The Sixth Nik," a science fiction horror novel, and "Partially Devoured," a minute-by-minute critique of "The Night of the Living Dead." Adding to this prolific period, his film "Whalefall" is set for release.
Kraus's career is defined by its remarkable range, spanning genres from horror and historical fiction to YA adventures, and extending into comics and screenplays. He attributes this eclectic approach to a personal philosophy of pursuing the opposite of his last project. "My happy place is the opposite of whatever I just wrote," Kraus explained. "Not just genre. It has to do with tone and style and perspective and point of view, right down to granular stuff. If I just did something with long, dense chapters, I want the next thing to have short chapters, short sentences, and a more chopped-up structure."
This constant reinvention is a hallmark of his work. While commercial sense might dictate sticking to a known niche, Kraus finds motivation in tackling new challenges. The Pulitzer Prize, he admits, was an unexpected honor, akin to being "hit by a meteor." While beneficial, it has added to an already demanding schedule, yet he asserts it won't dictate his future creative choices. "The Sixth Nik doesn't scream, 'I just won the Pulitzer,'" he noted, appreciating how the novel might polarize readers but showcase his unpredictable trajectory.
Regarding "Angel Down's" Pulitzer recognition, Kraus believes it's due to the novel's unwavering commitment to its premise and unique point of view. He contrasts this with the data-driven landscape of modern art consumption, where artists often cater to audience preferences. Kraus, however, prefers to work in isolation, allowing his books to exist as complete visions before editorial input.
"The Sixth Nik" represents a maximalist approach to science fiction, a genre Kraus admits he is less schooled in. To avoid repetition, he embraced a "go to maximum strength" strategy, building the world concurrently with the narrative rather than establishing it beforehand. This method, while unconventional, proved to be an unusually enjoyable process for him.
The novel extrapolates current online trends into a dystopian future where the internet has devolved into a violent space called "The Snarl." Kraus expressed pessimism about the current state of social media, envisioning a future dominated by fragmented, closed-circuit internets, or "CC Nets," which will offer limited but more trustworthy online experiences. He believes "The Sixth Nik" paints a relatively optimistic picture of 500 years from now, given humanity's current destructive path.
Beyond his literary achievements, Kraus has found significant personal fulfillment in the collaborative process of filmmaking. The production of "Whalefall" led to meaningful connections with director Brian Duffield and actors like Josh Brolin. He views screenwriting as a welcome departure from novel writing, offering a faster-paced creative outlet that serves as a refreshing change of pace.
Kraus's work on "Partially Devoured" is described as a culmination of his career, weaving together critical analysis of "Night of the Living Dead" with memoir. He embraced the challenge of braiding disparate elements into a cohesive narrative, comparing the endeavor to feats of endurance that appeal to his desire to undertake difficult tasks.
Looking ahead, Kraus revealed that a sequel to "The Sixth Nik" is planned for release next summer, marking his first true follow-up to a previous work. He also has a Western novel, "We Who Bend the Tall Grass," slated for the following year, alongside other unannounced book and script projects. Despite this prolific output, Kraus indicated an intention to eventually slow down, though he currently thrives on managing multiple projects simultaneously to maintain creative momentum.