The British audience was very important to me. I have always looked away from American to non-American audiences and so this was important.

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.

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.

Ethical and questions of philosophy interest me a great deal.

I'm not so interested any more in how a great deal of science fiction goes. It goes into things like Star Wars and Star Trek which all go excellent in their own way.

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.

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