alastair
reynolds
by Craig Harvey
Alastair Reynolds is one of the best new science fiction writers I have
had the pleasure of discovering in a long time. His four volume
space-saga (Revelation Space, Chasm City, Redemption Ark, and the
upcoming Absolution Gap) is "hard" science fiction at it's very best. I
was so impressed, that I felt compelled to email him and see if was
interested in an interview for the magazine. Fortunately he was, and so
here it is, a small (but enlighting) look into the mind of a fantastic
novelist.
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I've always written stories, from the moment I could write. I started a
novel when I was 13, finished it when I was 16. That was about the time
I made a conscious decision to take it further. I started reading around
the subject, finding out about the magazines and how other writers had
broken into them.
What was the first Sci-Fi book or movie that
really got you interested in the genre?
Fantastic Voyage and the Time Machine are two SF films that I remember
watching at a very early age, along with the obvious television
influences: Star Trek, Dr Who, Thunderbirds etc. The first SF book that
really rocked my world was probably Rendezvous with Rama: I can remember
reading it in a state of breathless excitement. But I was also
breathlessly excited about Battlestar Galactica as well.
Do you find it difficult to have the time to
pursue a writing career, because of your main job as an astonomer? I
imagine it really helps when writing "hard" science fiction.
The two are sometimes hard to balance. I think you can have a full-time
job and be a fairly prolific writer, but it doesn't leave much room for
anything else, like a social life. As a hard SF writer, my main sources
of inspiration are popular science articles and books, rather than the
day job. My work as a scientist focusses on rather specific technical
issues, which don't translate too well into fictional terms.
How long did it take to put together the story
outline for the "Revelation Space" series. Also, what influenced you in
the character creation?
There was no story outline: never has been, never will be. Every time
I've ever tried to work to a plot, or an outline - anything more
elaborate than a series of scribbled notes on the back of a beermat -
it's been a disaster. I just jump into the story and see where it'll end
up. The plot, if anything, only emerges during the telling of it. If I
have a vague idea where things are heading, I'll often try and throw a
swerve into the story at the last minute. Character creation: I take a
lot from contemporary crime writing, especially the hard-boiled noir of
writers like James Ellroy, James Lee Burke, Lawrence Block. Ellroy
described his own characters in LA Confidental as "bereft of sympathy".
That sums up my approach. I'm not interested in creating characters the
readers can cosy up to. In the words of Mark E Smith of The Fall: "I am
not here to cheer you up".
I noticed the name of the gas giant in the
yellowstone system was called "Tangerine Dream." I take it you like
electronic music?
Not as much as you'd think. I think the Tangerine Dream reference was
just a throwaway joke: I don't even own one of their records, as it
happens. I like stuff like Air, Goldfrapp, 808 State, some Kraftwerk
(especially Trans Europe Express, one of my faves).
What bands do you really like?
The Fall, especially. Also, in no particular order: Steely Dan,
Soundgarden, Killing Joke, Throwing Muses, the Who, Joy Division, the
Chameleons, Young Gods, Eels, King Crimson, Crispy Ambulance, the
Chills, Los Lobos, Bailter Space, Headless Chickens, Guided By Voices,
Sonic Youth, Radiohead, Husker Du, REM, XTC, Kitchens of Distinction,
and (again), The Fall. I like a lot of embarrassing 70's prog rock, but
we won't go there. Solo artists: Neil Young, Kristin Hersch, Bob Mould,
Peter Gabriel, Al Stewart, Bjork, Scott Walker, among others. Walker, in
particular: the man's a genius.
I have read in interviews where you say that
you think it's very possible that we are completely alone in the
universe. However, you have said that your opinion changes regularly on
this subject. While life on Earth is very complex, don't you feel that
if we evolved, that life could have arisen somewhere else in the
universe?
From what many scientist's state, the chemical compounds for
life are fairly common in the cosmos, it's just a matter of everything
being in the right place at the right time.
I change my opinion constantly just so that I can avoid taking a
position, basically. My take on it is, yes, the universe is a very big
place, but it may have to be this big before you have a good chance of
intelligent life arising even once. Life itself may be quite common
(although we have no evidence that it is), but intelligent life - what,
I think, we're really interested in - may be extraordinarily rare.
Remember, there was no intelligent life on Earth for most of its
history, but life appeared to have got going as soon as it could. It's
anyone's guess what happened to trigger the emergence of intelligence,
and since we're arguing on the basis of one data point - us - we can't
say anything very cogent about the likelihood of intelligence elsewhere.
After the fourth book "Absolution Gap" are you
planning to write some other stories within the same "universe"? Or do
you have plans for an entirely new series?
I'm not thinking in terms of series, but the next novel after Absolution
Gap will not be set in the same universe, and will be very different in
tone and theme. It will, however, still concern itself with space
exploration on some level. The current working title is "Century Rain",
and I hope that it will be an interesting new take on both alternate
history and time-travel. After that, I don't rule out a return to the
Revelation Space universe - but the largee story arc of the Inhibitors,
as dealt with in RS, Redemption Ark and Absolution Gap, is now finished.
Are you planning on doing in book signings in
the U.S. or any conventions?
No immediate plans, but I hope it will happen eventually. I did visit
the WorldCon in San Jose last year, and it was nice to meet people. I
had a great time.
When is "Absolution Gap" due out in the stores?
The UK edition is out this October (2003), but I'm not sure about the US
edition - I'd guess about a year later.
How many drafts of a book do you go through
before finishing it? Do you find yourself doing many re-writes?
It's hard to tell, these days. At least two major drafts, but bits of
the novel may go through many more. Some passages might be rewritten and
shuffled around dozens of times. Some bits hardly need any work at all.
