One of the many things I do not understand about Americans is this: what is it like to be a citizen of a superpower, to maintain democratically the means of planetary extinction. I wonder how this contributes to the dreamlife of America, a dreamlife that is so deep and troubled.

Most writers need a wound, either physical or spiritual.

I want incremental improvements. There's the record of all the revolutionary and violent change and extremism in general - it's dreadful.

Every writer hopes or boldly assumes that his life is in some sense exemplary, that the particular will turn out to be universal.

The future could go this way, that way. The future's futures have never looked so rocky. Don't put money on it. Take my advice and stick to the present. It's the real stuff, the only stuff, it's all there is, the present, the panting present.

It's good fun to create an unpredictable character. When he comes into the room, I don't know what he's going to do - I have to find my way.

You can kill time in a number of ways but it always depends on the kind of time you're fighting: some time is unkillable, immortal