I think it can be quite impossible to think well of yourself, so I prefer not to think about that too much. But I am very pleased, obviously.

As far as the mechanics go, working with other people on received ideas was for me a very interesting technical problem. I can't say that any of my collaborations engaged my heart, but they engaged the craftsman in me.

But science perhaps is very difficult without faith. Also there is no simple way of saying now we have science, we don't need faith anymore.

A novel is often a longer process in handling self-doubt.

I think it can be quite impossible to think well of yourself, so I prefer not to think about that too much. But I am very pleased, obviously.

Ethical and questions of philosophy interest me a great deal.

I was never able to write seriously about heroes because I was very aware that I was not one and that in my background there was not this heroic thing.