It takes me a long time to get with a landscape. It took me 20 years before I wrote anything about Ibiza, and I haven't written about Oregon yet, although I've been there 20 years - possibly I'm almost due.

I'm quite influenced in this by one of my heroes, Montaigne, who thought a man's real task was to render as honest an account of himself as he could.

Action isn’t my forte. I’m an expert on contemplation and mild regret.

I have never been a critic of science fiction as a whole.

I sell well now in Russia. I remember one signing in Russia some years ago where the bookstore had two strongmen to hold the crowds back.

Why in God's name should a God be praised if he is only performing his Godly function?

Science fiction is very healthy in its form.