In general, a little controversy isn't harmful: if anything, it gets people interested.

The trouble is, if you go too far towards being polite, the label that applies is "doormat".

The Magician's Land is a triumphant climax to the best fantasy trilogy of the decade.

I suspect losing paper maps but gaining GPS and online maps is a similar step function: maps still exist, but they're vastly more useful, not to say permanently up to date, in their new form. Again, I won't be shedding any tears, but I'll keep a paper road atlas in the back of my car for another few years, I think, Just In Case.

Writing novels takes up about 100% of my available working time.

For a sampler, you could try my short story collection "Wireless". Which contains one novella that scooped a Locus award, and one that won a Hugo, and covers a range of different styles.

I tend to think that immortal souls, invisible sky daddies, and Santa Claus all belong in the same basket. The disposition of that basket is left as an exercise for the reader.