D.A. Murray's Dominion Ascension: Turning the Gender War Inside Out

The 35th episode of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory features Mookie sharing the mic with debut novelist D.A. Murray to break open her provocative novel Dominion Ascension: a dystopian world where men are reduced to tools, women run everything, and control becomes the real antagonist.Her set-up is sharp, a post-war society reshaped by chemical damage and role reversal. The result is an authoritarian matriarchy that inverts the old system and then exposes it. Through Donnie, Linda, and Robbie, Murray builds a character-driven story that refuses to hide behind worldbuilding. Her story is about power, who holds it, and what they’re willing to do to keep it. Mookie pushes on the obvious question: is this feminist revenge fantasy, or something more uncomfortable? D.A.'s answer cuts deeper: the book goes beyond the cliche of men versus women to explore the mechanisms of ontrol versus humanity. Swap the players, and the same corruption shows up. Absolute power doesn’t care who’s holding it.Their conversation goes into...  The real-world Gen Z gender divide—and why this story hits now  How slow, incremental loss of freedom is more dangerous than sudden oppression  The role of technology as both enabler and jailer  Why character—not lore—is what makes sci-fi actually land They also get brutally practical about writing and publishing: Why writing the book is the easy part  The business side of being an author (and why most people ignore it)  Beta readers, market awareness, and not deluding yourself  The long game: building an audience, not chasing a miracle Murray doesn’t pretend this is a hobby, but treats it like a system. Her great advice to writers: Learn the industry, test your work, find your people, then keep going... And underneath it all, there’s something more personal which fuels the emergent drama: a controlled burn of D.A.'s lived experience, turned into powerful storytellilng.The GuestD.A. Murray is an emerging voice in feminist speculative fiction, balancing roles as a tech executive, debut novelist, and digital creator. Her novel Dominion: Ascension reimagines gender dynamics in a post-apocalyptic world, exploring power, resilience, and societal transformation.Originally from California and now based in Chicago, Murray has built a strong following on Instagram and TikTok, where she shares insights on writing, women’s empowerment, and creativity. Her #WritersInTech and #ReadWithMe series highlight her journey and spotlight female-driven stories.With degrees from UCLA and Kellogg, she brings a cross-cultural, business-minded lens to storytelling. She also speaks on the intersection of technology, narrative, and modern feminism, while leading workshops that amplify women’s voices.WELCOME TO DAMURRAY'S OFFICIAL WEBSITEWant to be on the show? Have feedback? Send Mookie a text!Support the show