David Behling kicks off his comedic sci-fi universe

David Behling

By Max Bowen

You can’t say that David Behling isn’t ambitious.

In early October, he will release “Josh & Sen Save the Multiverse: The Path of One,” part one of a 15-book series. Yep, you read that right.

In this interview, David talks about what kicked off this book, how his own background factored into the worldbuilding, and who Josh and Sen are.

The book will be released on Oct. 3 through Cadence Group. You can learn more at https://joshandsen.com/.

I read that this book is the first of a 15-part series. Was it always your plan to make such a lengthy series?
What a great question! Actually no, I didn’t intend to have 15 projected books when I first sat down to write. Now, I had always intended to write a series. I believe that multiple installments is the only way to adequately develop a universe, and the characters in that universe, without boring the readers to death at any one time. At least I hope I’m not boring them to death!

I planned maybe three or four books. I was originally going to write about a mortal who had gotten serendipitously enlightened to Immortality through accidental exposure to Immortal Ka. He would then go on Immortal Masters' missions to protect mortals from extinction at the hands of diabolical Immortals feeding off of mortal sapients like herd animals ignorant to advance their own cultivations. It still seems cool to me, and, who knows . . . I may still write it someday. But when I started putting words on the screen for this idea, I thought that it was much more interesting to bring an Immortal down to mortality and have them go through the levels of mortal cultivation to Transcendence and beyond . . . And then I decided that these cultivators would need to also save the multiverse . . . As formidable as Josh and Sen are . . . to accomplish these lofty goals, it will take quite some doing. I have them slated for 12-13 books to get through mortal cultivation and two to three books in Immortal Transcendence to get the Multiverse out of trouble.


What can we expect in future books?
Hehe, I am just about finished with the copy edit on the second book: “Karma and Bigger Fish.” Which I plan to release March 2024. When that is done, I will start the developmental edit on the third: “The Lover’s Trove.” Which has been all out of my head and in electrons since mid-July. I am about to start writing the fourth: “Star Child / Void Child.” So, I have pretty good ideas what to expect in these.

In general, Josh and Sen realize that they are just small actors on a much larger cosmic stage. But for some reason, Karma, Balance and Reality have taken notice of Josh and Sophie’s separation, and are actively working to empower Josh enough to reunite them. We will learn that Sophie has a major role in this show as well. We will also see that, as powerful and ‘all knowing’ as Immortals are, they may be subject to the same failings and foibles that we all are. Josh and Sen will advance in general advance in cultivation one step per book. They make new friends, and some new enemies. Josh and Sen will need to clean up some of the trash in their part of the galaxy before it cleans them up. They also learn that they are multiversal persons of interest and will need to continue their growth before some very old and powerful cultivatory monsters decide it is better to be rid of them then to allow Karma and Balance to wreak havoc with the ongoing multiversal plans.

Do you have a plan for how often or when they’ll be released?
Assuming people like reading about Josh & Sen as much as I like writing about them, I plan on releasing a new installment every five to six months.

Let’s talk about Josh and Sen. Where did they come from?
On really good days, sometimes it feels like I’m just recording a story that has already occurred. I know a good deal of Josh and Sen comes from this blessing of the Muses. On top of this, it is true that you write what you know. I know a little about the law, medicine, Chicago, Florida, divorce, science, history, martial arts, being separated from your kids, feeling powerless but not being able to give up, unattainable family expectations . . . a bit about science fiction, fantasy, pop culture and mythology. . . So I would have to say that Josh and Sen came from little parts of this knowledge rolling around inside of my brain and how I apply them in my own life. Much of this is absolutely magnified out of proportion in the books to their actual representation in my life, but definitely from there.

Lastly, at a certain point, the people you are writing about take on a life of their own. If you keep writing about them, their reactions are shaped by how they reacted in their past.

How do the two get along through the course of the book?
Without any spoilers . . . there are some definite rough patches for Josh & Sen. But at their core, each is a good sort and they work through them. By the end of the Path of One, their relationship is moving to what it will become in the remainder of the series . . . brotherhood. They come to depend on each other for more than their skills, powers, and abilities . . . but find in one another a guy they trust and can count on when the chips are down and the light at the end of the tunnel is indeed a train with its brakes out and hauling several boxcars of loose nitroglycerine.

This is your first book. What led you to pursue writing?
The pandemic had a tremendous effect on the entire world. This was particularly true in third-world countries that relied on tourism for their incomes.

In 2021, we were visiting family in Bali, and saw how desperate the people were for help and hope. My wife and I have a tremendous love for the Balinese people so we invested in our local community with time and funds. But, somehow my word-fevered mind wondered what it would be like to have a couple of guys, who in our time of need, would go to the mattresses for us all. It triggered in me the idea of Josh and Sen Saving the Multiverse. So, incredibly, at least to me, I started working on a goal I’d had since I was a kid in high school but had long forgotten. I began writing.

I like how the book is comedic. What’s your preferred kind of humor and how did you weave it into the book?
Thank you! In a group setting, I always find it easiest to laugh at myself. So I aim the humor at embarrassing moments for Josh & Sen in the books. They make pretty easy targets in their own individual ways

Did any aspects of your own life help in the writing process?
According to a study published about 20 years ago, the one quality all medical students share is not intelligence, a desire to help others, or to study science. It is the ability to delay gratification. I suspect that this helps me with writing. When writing, there are no rewards until you have invested a significant amount of time, energy, blood, sweat and tears. In my case, I’ve been writing every day for over a year . . . and I’m still waiting to see if people will like what I offer.

I read in your bio that you’re a “born sci-fi, fantasy, and video game admirer.” Any books or games that inspired you in any way?
Many and many more!

As I’m sure they have for many authors, J.R.R Tolkien’s books, “The Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings” have inspired me greatly. His way of creating ultimate good vs evil has always made me to want to create my own world also reflecting these qualities.

In the genre of game literature, The 12-book Cradle Series. Will Wight’s broadly sweeping creativity, world building and taking his hero from less than nothing to the heights of absolute, world-shattering power has inspired me to see if I can do the same for my heroes.

But perhaps as much as any of these, Advanced Dungeon and Dragons. I was a kid, in a group of kids that would sit around a table on Saturday afternoons, exploring our imaginations through a world created by one of us. Taking our chances, rolling our dice and seeing how the fates of our characters unfolded. I’m so old that several of our group are now gone. But I can still see our faces over a shared pizza. Excited when we won. Laughing when we lost. Very good times!

Lastly, I have played WoW since its release almost 20 years ago (11/2004). I have been inspired by the depth and richness of the world Azeroth. The intricacy of its quest/story lines. The need to rely on groups to get to the universe's darkest corners and not least of all its humor, some subtle, some not so much.

But read the books and see where else. I’m not very subtle when I steal from any of the hundreds of the movies I have loved watching over the last 50 years!