Alikhan Zhaksylyk: For those who cherish the truth, it must be conveyed through art

We are pleased to present our interview with the young writer Alikhan Zhaksylyk, whose latest book, Should We Worship at Notre Dame?, was published in February of this year. In this interview, we discuss his work and the pressing issues facing society.

We heard that your book, “Should We Worship at Notre Dame?”, has been published for the third time. Congratulations! How is your book selling overall? As someone who has already published two books, how do you assess the book market in our country, and people’s willingness to pay for books?

Bookselling is not an easy business for one person. You write, advertise, and sell, and promoting your book also requires a significant amount of time and effort. You still need a lot of money to invest in this. But we didn't stop. I sold 2,000 copies of “Should We Worship at Notre Dame?” and submitted it for the 3rd edition. The third edition will be prepared by Mazmundama, the most famous and hardworking publishing house in the country. They will bring the book to a large and wide market. I am establishing a creative relationship with this publishing house. The book trade is not bad. As Stephen King said, “The strongest writer is the writer who can pay his utility bills.” The book trade in our country is developing; you can earn money not only for utility expenses, but also for a living.

You wrote on social networks that you submitted your novel “From Africa to Alaska” for publication. Could you give us a little information about the new book, its genre, and the questions it raises?

I liked the novel “From Africa to Alaska”. In this piece, I was brave and boldly tried different experiments. I condemned the largest genocides in human history, the slave trade, and the modern trade in orphans. I also wrote about changing not only the inner world of a person but also their appearance.

Many writers, science fiction authors, and filmmakers say that in the future, people will become semi-robots, providing arguments for this claim. In this novel, I wrote that people give birth to and reproduce individuals with the head of a frog. Imagine an ordinary person with a frog's head; have you ever seen one like this in your life? They are smart, very smart, strong, and educated, and they excel at following orders. I used a parallel description of how a nomadic tribe from Africa came to Alaska, reflecting human history. The book is out, ready, and I’ll receive it this week to put up for sale. The most famous publishing houses in the country are interested in this novel, but for now, we are selling it ourselves. In the future, we plan to work with publishing houses.

This seems very interesting. It's kind of like a fantasy genre, which is very nice because it's difficult to find such bold genres in Kazakh literature. Why do you think the themes in Kazakh literature are monotonous? There are very few Kazakh writers who have dedicated their work to specific genres such as fantasy, science fiction, or detective fiction. What do you think is the reason for this?

I can't devote myself to one genre. I can write everything, and I want to write everything. Until recently, I lamented why writers don’t write like that, why don’t they explore diverse genres. It's useless to dwell on it. Because literature is a vast ocean. Into it flow the yellow river and the clear spring, as well as streams originating from mountain tops, yet the ocean maintains its own color. Similarly, literature encompasses various forms: some write classics, some bring magic, some introduce fantasy, and others reflect social reality. All these contributions blend together, enriching and developing the overall flavor of literature without altering its essence.

Therefore, it is impossible to single out one author for one genre. I always avoid writing in just one genre. I criticize myself a lot to explore other topics, make an effort, and push my boundaries. If we continue to write in one genre, we will remain in the same place, writing only in that way. We see that writers who write only stories often struggle to write novels. This is a great tragedy for a writer—to remain in one place, in one genre, is like saying, “I can only get this far; this is my limit.”

In an interview, I saw a colleague of yours say, “You are probably the only writer in the country who makes a living from writing without doing any other job.” So now you only make money from writing?

It's interesting. When you asked this question, I was actually buying paper to write on. I mean, I'm unemployed, and I make a living solely from writing. Before this, I worked as a ghostwriter, but I ran into a problem. I was writing papers for graduate students, typically 10-15 pages, and getting paid for it. One day, a student asked for my help, and I agreed to write an article for him in exchange for some money to cover my living expenses. He agreed, and I wrote the article.

Then, I got a call from the police. They said, "You have made writing articles commonplace. We will determine whether it is fraud or a criminal case." I explained that I was simply helping students with their materials and receiving a small payment for my work. I clarified that I'm not a teacher and don't work anywhere, so it wasn't a bribe but honest work. However, they saw it differently. When I asked what to do next, the police told me to return the student's money and write another article for free. I didn't have the money to hire a lawyer or go to court, so I agreed. I returned the money and gave the student the material. He then told me, "Don’t be offended that the situation is like this." I reassured him that I wasn't upset; I admitted that what I was doing wasn't good. I just explained that the law shouldn't be used in this way. When I told the student how much effort I put into writing and researching, he cried and apologized profusely. This made me realize that I shouldn't expect good things from society.

One day, it struck me that I had been writing these meaningless articles for years. I thought, why not write a novel and sell it? So now, I'm focused solely on writing novels.

From your previous interviews, I noticed that you criticize older generation writers, particularly Soviet Kazakh writers, saying that “their works lack an idea.” Are there any writers, however, whose works you enjoyed and who may have influenced your writing style?

In Kazakh literature, there are many "classics." As readers, we are not allowed to criticize, share our opinions, or express our thoughts about the works of certain writers because the entire nation has recognized them as classics. Analyzing and discussing this is not permitted; otherwise, you will become an enemy of the people. Therefore, if asked about Kazakh literature, I will respond: “That's right, we have all classics.”

I don't want to complicate things. "All our writers are strong, we don't have bad writers, our literature is the greatest," I would say. If asked to name a few, I would mention two or three names, seven or eight poets and writers.

Oralkhan Bokey is the only great writer in Kazakh literature whom I truly love. That's all. But I don’t compare my writing and methods with his; I love Oralkhan only as a reader. I do not imitate anyone in world literature. All my contemporaries talk about Orhan Pamuk and Markes. It is a shame for a person to choose another person as a model. I have no preference for any writer in my field. Of course, I like Camus and Mishima, and I really appreciate how Hemingway hides his emotions and doesn’t cry, but I don’t imitate any of them.

As for poets in Kazakh literature, there is only one poet: Mukhtar Shakhanov. Whether he writes for the masses, in journalistic language, or in an artistic or simple style, he stands out. Why? Because he doesn't cry at all. I've never seen him or his poems cry. I can say that he is a real poet. All the other poets of the Kazakh era, whether alive, dead, gone, or emerging, are just crybabies who meow and whine. They are far from art, do not grasp the essence of art, and have no idea about it.

There are probably no Kazakh writers who influenced my writing style. I distanced myself from Beimbet (Mailin) in the 8th grade, left (Muhtar) Magauin and Abish (Kekilbaev) when I was 17, left Oralkhan (Bokeev) when I was 18, and left Tolen Abdikov when I was 19. Since then, I've been searching for my path. I'm not saying they are bad writers. I'm talking about the effect they had on me.

Isn't it hypocritical to say that?

I tried to give an honest answer. A month ago, I posted my opinion about our current literature, not about our past. Someone shared it, and it spread. I clearly showed the reader the face of modern hackwork, but a crowd is a crowd—about 500 people cursed me, calling me “shameless”, “impudent”, “weasel”. Then I realized that there is no need to show our people what is true and what is a lie. All we want is a lie, and we want it even though we know it is a lie. This is why our society will continue to enjoy it if you condense, color, and detail the lies. You'll be damned if you tell the truth. But hope is not lost; we have enough strong readers.

That’s why I say it’s easier for me, because it’s a thousand times better to fish, cook barbecue, and have a good rest with my family than to fight with those who don’t like the truth.

When I raise such topics, hundreds of people say: “This is someone who is not recognized; he wants to be recognized by using the names of the greats,” or “Today’s youth knows everything; they want to become famous by touching on it.”

I avoid it. Lies must be given to those who do not want the truth; let them enjoy it. For those who cherish the truth, it must be conveyed through art, and everything will turn out fine.

It's clear now. Which modern writers and contemporaries do you read? Do you follow contemporary literature in general?

Of course, I read everything. I’m aware of who is succeeding, who has stalled, and where they might end up. I was also referring to those who are unlikely to achieve success. Knowing them is important from various perspectives, such as market trends, as readers love dynamic writers. They appreciate writers who aren't boring, who force them to admit their shortcomings and leave their worthless values ​​behind. I read all my contemporaries, and at this moment, I remember the words of Otezhan: “There are a thousand poets like you; everyone thinks they are better than the rest.” It's true; everyone thinks they are exceptional and innovative.

I mainly draw inspiration from three sources: 1. Stephen King's dedication to hard work and quality, akin to Coca-Cola's consistency; 2. Ray Bradbury's boldness. He never shies away from any fantasy novel, writes boldly, and convinces both himself and the reader; 3. James Cameron's evolution. His early scripts were not great, but he wrote and directed Avatar. “Avatar: The Way of Water” is a great piece of work, and I am committed to the themes and values it portrays. When writing, I take these three principles into account.

All young writers today are in search of their voice; no one is standing out. But it’s very concerning that they are all of the same type. For example, everyone complains, saying “we need support, we need support.” They get support, even if they don’t write anything, yet they are at the forefront of every competition and award. But their laziness is beneficial for me. Until they step up to write a novel, sell it, and publish it, my books will be on bookstore shelves and distributed.

Later, especially among young writers: “The author does not owe anything to anyone. A writer should not correct the language of the country and educate the people”. Or we hear words like “everyone writes for themselves.” What is your opinion on this matter? In general, does the writer have any responsibilities to the country?

These are the words of a fool. Of course, the entire nation is responsible for education and correction. But there are tasks! Not feeling the responsibility of a writer to humanity and society is not writing; it is prostitution.

The most important task and responsibility is the transfer of values! Why do Dante in the 8th century, Shakespeare in the 5th century, and Goethe in the 3rd century continue to speak to humanity? Do you understand the meaning? Because they are carriers of value. Thanks to true poets, writers, and scientists, yesterday's values have reached today. For example, name one of your ancestors who lived in the 18th century and was neither a poet nor a writer. Did he leave you the value of love? Even if he did, why do those who now take 3-4 wives claim that "our ancestors took 4 wives"? This indicates that our society selectively accepts only certain values from the past, rather than embracing all the precious values passed down from that time and society.

And remember Dante, who called out "Beatrice!" throughout his life: does a writer or a poet have any responsibility or duty towards society? I answer: yes, and this is the task of conveying value. Transfer the precious values from the last century to the next century.

Let's move on to the monetary side. How can you convey value when purchasing a book? Yes, it can! Quality and money are twin concepts and go hand in hand. The higher the quality of your book, the higher the price and the better the royalty. Therefore, one should not agree that the quality of booksellers leaves much to be desired. On the contrary, a person in sales tries to write even better so that his next books will be a success.

Those who claim they are not responsible are often those who lack the skill to write, don't know what topics to address, or which values to promote. Then they say, "Come on, I know myself." But what is the point of writing if society does not learn from it? Holding a pen is like standing at the forefront of reason and intelligence; there is no option to avoid the struggle. You must engage and confront the issues head-on.

In your observation, what is the value of the current Kazakh people? And what values should we unite around to create a healthy society?

Our main value now is to preserve our material. The values that unite us are the price of gas, gasoline, and Utilspor. Have you noticed? All the upheavals in our country, all the noise, are around cars and auto parts. Well, there is finally a buzz about a social issue, so why don't they take to the streets to drive out the thieves in factories and big industries? Do you know the reason? Because our society calls thieves investors. The exploded mine in Karaganda belongs to the Indians, the ferroalloy plant in Aktobe benefits the Jews, Zhezkazgan copper is stolen, and finally, we are dying in the hundreds because of a social problem, the price of bread. Why not terminate the contract with these investors and invest the money elsewhere? No, the simplest thing for society is to reduce the price of gas from 62 tenge to 54 tenge. What's happened? How far can we go, where can we get for 8 tenge? Is 8 tenge worth the blood of hundreds of people? Our main value is, oh my God, this stinking gas. The price of gasoline in Turkey is 470-540 tenge; in our region, it is 160-180 tenge. How they are living?

To create a healthy society, we first need people who know at least some basic sciences. Secondly, will we die for 8 tenge or will we think about the questions of what we will do to independently develop the ore of Karaganda, the Aktobe plant, and the copper of Zhezkazgan? We need to know this, at least we should think about that.

If we consider Kazakhstani society as a whole, it is not united around respect, justice, and goodness. Religion is against democracy, the police are against justice, society itself is the enemy of good!

Now there is only one way: teach basic sciences to today's youth and give priority to democratic and humane values.

Who is responsible for the values of society? Are the people themselves or the government unable to convince people and solve their problems?

Both the people and the government share responsibility for the values of society. It's a symbiotic relationship where each influences the other. The government sets policies and frameworks that can guide societal values, but the people need to internalize and uphold these values.

For instance, it is good to strive for what is yours, but the work you do must be appropriate and valuable to society. If your work is valuable and important, and if your skills are needed, you should ask for a higher salary, demand it, and ensure that your contributions are recognized. The authorities should assign decent salaries to citizens in accordance with their abilities and merits, solving the problem. There's no need to romanticize hardship or make a hero out of oneself in dire situations.

Secondly, this is not just a social issue; we have many people with great potential, yet the influence of the oligarchy is immense. After all, the state of spirituality is bad, what does this mean? It means that no matter how rich our society is, it will remain poor. If you catch someone now and give him so much money and such wealth, will he be in the same state in five years? This is good if he is, but what about inner wealth? Does external wealth, enriching your outer world, make you rich inside? The price of gas has nothing to do with the value poverty of society, the price of bread has nothing to do with it, as well as high wages.

In the past, writers were considered the "intelligentsia" of the country's elite. Can we call modern writers intellectuals? What do you think is the criterion of intelligence?

“You can tell the quality of a nation by who it honors,” said John Kennedy. If we look at who is honored today, we see singers, athletes, naked prostitutes, and religious "teachers." Do you consider this a quality nation? They claim to be poets, yet when you read their poems, they mostly lament, complain, and portray themselves as victims. Consider the works of those who profess to be society’s poets: "I miss the village, I have many enemies, someday the Writers' Union will recognize me." This reflects the state of our art and intellectuals.

Now, if you ask someone on the street to name an intellectual, even if they know, they might not bother to mention one. In the lists of singers, athletes, and celebrities, why are there no names like Darkhan Abdik or Askar Zhumadildayev? Why can't people say a kind word about Ermek Tursynov or Daniyar Salamat? There are a lot of mathematicians and physicists in the country. But the quality of our nation is now Dariga Bodikova, Ochou, and Koyanbai.

There are no specific criteria for being considered intelligent; one simply needs to serve honestly in their field, work diligently, and do so with sincerity and an open heart.

What are your plans for the future? Do you want to enter the global market and submit your work for prestigious awards?

Yes, I plan to submit "Should we worship at Notre Dame?" for the Booker Prize in 2025. The press is working on it now, and there will be good news soon. We've sent some materials to an American magazine and are waiting for a response. I've just finished another long novel, which touches on society's obsession with the cheap world and includes unexpected events and different worlds. I plan to end 2024 with three novels.