Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Interview with Neal Stephenson

The science fiction magazine Locus has an online presence which I look at once a month, because it offers a remarkably full set of links to all kinds of interesting articles about this and that as well as pure scfi. This month it provided a link to an interview with Neal Stepehenson, conducted by Mike Godwin.

As you would expect, if you know anything about Neal Stephenson, he has a great many insightful and rewarding things to say. And if you don't know anything about Neal Stephenson, then this is a good place to start.

Among other things, Neal introduces us (well, me) to the theologian Walter Wink, and his concept of domination systems (not as dirty as it sounds). He comments on US attitudes to scientists and technologists, and demonstrates that he understands the difference between alternate history and alternative history (I told you he was smart).

By the way, it looks like you should add Robert Hooke's Micrographia to your reading list, along with Urn Burial. You can find some of Micrographia here. I've been telling you that those seventeenth-century guys were worth reading, and maybe you'll take it from Neal if not from me.

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