There's an outline for each of the books that I adhere to pretty closely, but I'm not averse to taking it in a new direction, as long as I can get it back to where I need it to go.

If you are writing any book about the end of the world, what you are really writing about is what's worth saving about it.

Behind every writer stands a very large bookshelf.

My inventing time is all done under the influence of aerobic exercise. Basically, I do all my thinking while I run.

I grew up during the Cold War, when everything seemed very tenuous. For many years, right up until the fall of the Berlin Wall, I had vivid nightmares of nuclear apocalypse.

We live, we die. Somewhere along the way, if we're lucky, we may find someone to help lighten the load.

This ravishing world. This achingly bittersweet, ravishing world.

I have any number of completely dark obsessions and fascinations, and none of this was present in my profile or my growing profile as a writer.

What strange places our lives can carry us to, what dark passages.

My theory of characterization is basically this: Put some dirt on a hero, and put some sunshine on the villain, one brush stroke of beauty on the villain.

My rule has always been, write the next part of the book that you seem to know well. So I won't necessarily write chapter two after chapter one.

Communism is the opiate of the intellectuals - With no cure except as a guillotine might be called a cure for dandruff.

Writers have superpowers.

It doesn't matter where we begin the personal/political circle, but it matters desperately that we complete it.

Both are salty, one will give me carpal tunnel, I'll go with the fries.

They often say, "What's the point in astrology if you can't change your destiny?" Well, it's true that you can't change your destiny, but still it helps knowing about gravity.

When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall; And when Rome falls--the World.

Education, the great mumbo jumbo and fraud of the age.

Don't let your character change color with your environment. Find out who you are and let it stay it's true color.

Let lovers be crazy, disgraceful and wild Those who fret about such things Aren’t in love.

Should one ask: 'how do I cope with a well-ordered enemy host about to attack me?' I reply: seize something he cherishes and he will conform to your desires.