INTERVIEW: Troy Baker Turns Cyberpunk in James Cox’s Grand Theft AI

As a seasoned gamer and literature enthusiast, I can wholeheartedly attest that James Cox’s Grand Theft AI is a masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of traditional storytelling. The characters are so vividly portrayed, it feels as if they’re not just characters in a book but real individuals with their own unique narratives.

Troy Baker, renowned for his exceptional voice acting roles in games such as The Last of Us, inFamous, BioShock, Far Cry, and Metal Gear Solid, has ventured further into his craft, having been steadily drawn towards this pursuit since the start. This time, he’s delved into an audiobook spanning ten hours.

In steps James Cox, an acclaimed film director and screenwriter, introducing his first literary work titled “Grand Theft AI.” This futuristic, science fiction masterpiece unfolds a cyberpunk narrative that convincingly sets the stage for a world – one that eerily resembles our own reality and draws readers in deeply.

To gain insights into the making of Grand Theft AI, I had an exclusive chat with Troy Baker and James Cox, diving deep into its development process.

‘Cooking For a Long Time’

If you’d rather jump into the video interview, you can do so below:

James Cox’s professional journey dates back to the 1990s. Throughout his tenure as a director, producer, and creator across various film, TV, and music video ventures, he has now ventured into an entirely fresh territory – writing his debut novel. In his own words, the initial concepts for the characters in Grand Theft AI, specifically Baz Covane and Ria Rose, sparked the storyline for this new literary endeavor.

I had the names Baz and Ria before I had any idea about the etymology of it.
I immersed myself deeply in the world of true crimes, showing great enthusiasm and compassion for those on death row, if you will. This concept formed the basis of a captivating love story, one that features two emotionally scarred individuals who find solace and healing in each other’s presence as they help each other to live and recover.

Grand Theft AI represents the culmination of several years spent nurturing an interest in artificial intelligence and its technological advancements. This cyberpunk narrative paints a picture of a future that seems plausible enough to exist, incorporating concepts like brain implants for constant global connectivity, and the gradual replacement of conventional money with cryptocurrency.

This narrative goes beyond just telling a tale about technology’s marvels and perils. It’s a powerful, emotional rollercoaster that forges a deep bond between readers and an array of intriguing characters. Initially conceived as a script, the words flowed swiftly and forcefully, leaving James surprised to find himself engrossed in writing prose rather than dialogue.

…there was a person within me who had recently endured unbearable hardship, and slowly but surely, the pain within began to radiate outward. One fateful night, this emotional turmoil erupted.

Troy Baker, the voice actor behind all characters in Grand Theft AI, provided more insight into its origins as he delivers authentic and memorable performances in the audiobook.

For quite some time, an idea has been simmering within me, James, and to finally see it take shape, unite, and reach a climax at a moment when this topic is the focus of discourse feels more than appropriate. It’s almost as if it was meant to be – a stroke of luck or perhaps destiny.

Additionally, he provided a plausible depiction of what our future might look like when discussing Grand Theft AI.

It’s not grounded, it’s believable.
I prefer something more extraordinary in my reading or viewing experiences, rather than the usual, everyday stories. It’s not about wanting a grounded narrative; instead, it’s about finding tales that are believable and immersive, where I can suspend disbelief and fully engage with the world and characters portrayed.

Aficionados of titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, Ghostrunner, Deus Ex, Detroit: Become Human, and Death Stranding are bound to be smitten by the allure of Grand Theft AI.

Becoming Baz

I’ve already connected deeply to the character of Baz Covane, the lead in Grand Theft AI. While it was James Cox who created the character and his tragic backstory, it was Troy Baker who brought him to life with a remarkable performance over the ten hours of the audiobook.

I wanted to learn about Troy’s point of view, and find out if there was a role he had acted before that he might liken to Baz Covane.

It’s hard for me to find someone similar to Baz, yet I can still see some shared traits.
For me, I can look and see how this character is so very similar to the tragedy and the triumph and the accomplishments and the tribulations of every character I’ve ever played, but also I feel like every character in this is incredibly unique because of the world that they’re living in and the way that they say it.

Troy explained how he had a deep appreciation for solid storytelling, expressing some concerns he had about picking up his first contract for an audiobook. As he jumped into the booth, he found himself falling in love with the prose and explained how it all unravelled from there:

As I walked along, I found myself engrossed in the text since I aimed to grasp a taste of what it feels like to read this piece.
There were many times when we got to the end of the chapter and I was like, ‘Wait, what?!’
Despite a few hiccups along the way, this book simply captivated me. The story was so engaging and the characters felt incredibly authentic. I found myself deeply immersed in their world rather than struggling to animate them. For me, they were not just characters but real individuals breathing on the page.

The Next Step

In our conversation about Grand Theft AI’s upcoming sequel, James astonished me by disclosing that he has already penned the script and it’s awaiting publication.

I finished it the week my daughter was born, and that was also when we got our pub date for the first book, so it was a lot of lives being born in so many different ways.
I believe that within the next year, we’ll see this book released. The goal here is to create a story that will leave you eagerly anticipating the sequel. Once that excitement has built up, we’ll be ready to publish it.

After that, I naturally wondered if Troy Baker would be reprising his role, and he confirmed it for me.

I would love to.
It’s an honor for me to have been involved, yet I am equally grateful for discovering someone I desire to embark on numerous adventures with. To put it simply, what truly excites me is the prospect of finding a collaborator in storytelling, someone with whom I wish to weave even more tales.

It’s impossible for me not to mention the launch of Grand Theft AI in live-action or its potential video game collaboration while conversing with a gaming icon such as Troy Baker.

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but ponder over the possibilities of transforming this into an engaging video game instead, a question that often arises for others as a movie adaptation.
As I’m reading it, this is a story that I want to play, so who knows, maybe there’s something there.

The remarkable debut novel, Grand Theft AI, immersed me deeply, particularly through the exceptional audiobook created by James Cox and Troy Baker. I eagerly anticipate the growth of this world, and should a live-action adaptation or video game spinoff ever emerge, I’ll be among the first to secure it.

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