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.

I don't finish every story, but I probably write and send out three out of five of them.

I've always thought of absurdism as a French fad I'd like to belong to.

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

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.

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.