I will not write a lame follow-up. It could take me 20 years. But I will never turn in a book that I'm not happy with.

I've learned never to close my mind to an idea simply because it seems miraculous.

For me, a good thriller must teach me something about the real world. Thrillers like 'Coma,' 'The Hunt for Red October' and 'The Firm' all captivated me by providing glimpses into realms about which I knew very little - medical science, submarine technology and the law.

Robert wondered if any of Harvard's revered Egyptologists had ever knocked on the door of a pyramid and expected an answer.

One could argue that there exist certain questions that are best left unanswered.

If you ask three people what it means to be Christian, you will get three different answers. Some feel being baptized is sufficient. Others feel you must accept the Bible as immutable historical fact. Still others require a belief that all those who do not accept Christ as their personal savior are doomed to hell.

To live in the world without becoming aware of the meaning of the world is like wandering about in a great library without touching the books.