It’s the people who don’t worry—those who never have any doubts that what they’re doing is good and right—they’re the ones that cause the problems. Alastair Reynolds More Quotes by Alastair Reynolds More Quotes From Alastair Reynolds We live in a science fictional world with things like cloning and face transplants, and things seem to be getting stranger and stranger. Alastair Reynolds live face science world I'm always a little bit cautious around invented terminology because so much science fiction is off-putting to the uninitiated. You open up the first page, and it's full of all these made-up words. Alastair Reynolds words you always science When you're writing stuff that's already clotted with neologisms and trying to get across fairly abstruse concepts, you're already putting a heavy burden on the reader. Alastair Reynolds you burden writing trying Don't keep rewriting and polishing something if it isn't setting the world on fire: start something new instead and consider the earlier story a learning experience. Alastair Reynolds experience learning fire world We've had science fiction novels where China is dominant; we've had novels where India is dominant, and I suppose it's all about getting away from that cliched old tired idea that the future belongs to the West. Alastair Reynolds future tired india science I think I set myself on a course to become a scientist around about the time that Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos' series was on television, and there really was no going back for me at that point, and then I went on to study space science and then get my Ph.D., then go aboard and work in the European Space Agency. Alastair Reynolds myself me work science One of the big breakthroughs I had as a writer was when I stopped agonising over every word. Alastair Reynolds word every over big I couldn't ever write a straight crime novel: there'd be an intrusion of weirdness at some point. Alastair Reynolds point write some crime When I look back at many of the moments of wonder, awe, or terror that I've got from science fiction, it's often been because I've been put in the head of one of the characters. Alastair Reynolds back look moments science I'm still bothered by the threat of nuclear war. Alastair Reynolds still nuclear-war bothered war I'm not massively fond of right-wing nutters or war criminals. Alastair Reynolds right-wing fond criminals war To be remembered at all is an achievement of sorts. Alastair Reynolds remembered achievement I am playing in a playground that's already been played in. I am always aware that a lot of the furniture in science fiction is second hand. Alastair Reynolds i-am always furniture science I prioritise story over science, but not at the expense of being really stupid about it. Alastair Reynolds story being stupid science I always say that keeping abreast of science should never be seen as a chore. It should be something you do naturally. I don't sit there reading 'New Scientist,' putting post-it notes next to ideas. Alastair Reynolds you reading science ideas If there's a story I absolutely cannot tell without faster-than-light travel, then I am quite prepared to accept it - even though I don't personally believe it is possible. Alastair Reynolds i-am story believe travel I think the danger with using the term 'trilogy' is that it sets up particular expectations in the reader's mind. Alastair Reynolds think expectations danger mind I was never strong at maths, but I eventually got onto a university physics/astronomy course, and that led on to my Ph.D. and eventual employment. Alastair Reynolds never university employment strong I'm fascinated by steam engines and with Victorian engineering generally, and as a corollary to that, I'm fascinated by the idea of long-lived technologies. Alastair Reynolds idea victorian steam engineering I've never had much interest in spinoffery - the idea of writing in someone else's universe generally leaves me cold - but 'Doctor Who' is different. I've grown up with it. It's been part of my life since I was tiny, watching Jon Pertwee on a grainy black and white television in Cornwall and being terrified out of my mind. Alastair Reynolds me black-and-white black life
