Bellamy Young Reveals What She's Obsessing Over Currently and Her New Book

Bellamy Young is a self-proclaimed “science geek,” and her new book addresses some of her real concerns about artificial intelligence and control, while being set in a dystopian, young adult world.

The Aetherion Code: The Spark, which she cowrote with her longtime friend and The Last Ship actress, Fay Masterson, was released on July 1. The young adult novel is the first in a trilogy series that is set in 2053 and follows “a group of rebellious teens in a Martian penal colony who uncover a long-buried secret about Earth’s fate involving a new class of AI.”

“[Fay and I] are both big science geeks and have always shared information and articles on the latest breakthroughs or conundrums. A couple of years ago, we shared two articles in a row that suddenly opened a window into this story for us,” the former Scandal actress, 55, exclusively revealed in the latest issue of Us Weekly’s What I’m Obsessed With series. “I think we also each remain trepidatious as AI becomes a part of modern life, so writing about that was a way to investigate it, meditate on it and find a positive way forward — for our characters, at least, which is all we can control.”

Although her book is set on a different planet, Young candidly revealed to Us that she is quite scared of going to space.

“The idea of the explosive lift-off alone really scares me, but the endless silence of space itself and the true vulnerability of the human body under those conditions … it’s so humbling, and rightfully so,” Young said. “That being said, I am a person with a lot of fears, and I do believe growth happens when you face something that terrifies you — within reason, of course. If I had to, or if, as with the teens in our story, I was forced to, I hope I would make the surrender and meet the moment.”

Young told Us that she’s currently hooked on the book-turned-Apple TV+ series Murderbot starring Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian and more.

“Didn’t think it would be for me, but tuned in for research, as it’s followed a path we hope our book will. The writing is so sharp and the characters so well-drawn — I am in,” the Prodigal Son actress said. “It’s set in the future, but addressing so many of the issues we’re all trying to find footing with right now.”

Beyond TV and books, Young had much to say about Sinners, the box office hit that was released in theaters in April and now streaming on HBO Max. Starring Michael B. Jordan as the main characters, twins Smoke and Stack, Young told Us the movie “laid me flat.”

“The story, the metaphors, the artistry. And I am not a scary movie person, but I wanted to start watching it all over again the instant that juicy credit sequence ended,” Young said. “They just don’t make ‘em like this anymore.”

Young also told Us that she is also trying to work on her Portuguese to communicate better with her in-laws. In 2020, Young married musician Pedro Segundo after three years of dating.

“Susana Morais has written a series of novels that have translations and help me learn. I started with A Cidadela Misteriosa and am on to O Mistério da Janela Aberta now,” she told Us.

The Aetherion Code: The Spark is available to purchase at www.aetherioncode.com. For more on Young, pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.