I begin by assembling notes on characters. Large swaths of the plot become clear to me as I do this.

And the only forms of socialism in the world that were then getting results - malign ones, as it was - were the Fascist and Soviet republics. Fascism is a form of socialism - you rebuild the country, you find a scapegoat, and you go from there.

I wanted to portray a newly democratized, enclosed society. I wanted to show how extraordinarily fluid people are in their embrace of other human beings.

Classical music fulfills for me the function of narrative. I spend 90 minutes a day listening to symphonic music - Beethoven to Bartók - some chamber pieces, and that's my enrichment.

Joe Wambaugh's a friend. I know him only casually, but I like him a lot. I think he likes my books.

Closure is a preposterous concept worthy of the worst aspects of American daytime TV.

There's none with me, although you've seen me before - I'm outrageous.