The love of violence is an aspect of our humanity. Even the weak wish to be strong primarily so they can wield the whip.

But I think, and hope, that the novels can be understood and enjoyed as science fiction, on their own terms.

The pack of media brayed and bellowed outside the house for seven weeks. Sol realized then what he had known and forgotten about very small communities: they were frequently annoying, always parochial, sometimes prying on a one-to-one level, but never had they subscribed to the vicious legacy of the so-called "public's right to know".

The future is like smoke from a burning forest, waiting for the wind of specific events and personal courage to blow the sparks and embers of reality this way or that.

Pain is an interesting and off-putting thing. Few if any things in life concentrate our attention so completely and terribly, and few things are more boring to listen to or read about.

It occurs to me that our survival may depend upon our talking to one another.

The truth is, it's not a great career move to create a readership and then, in effect, abandon them.