Alastair Reynolds's Quotes

Alastair Preston Reynolds (born 13 March 1966) is a British science fiction author. He specialises in hard science fiction and space opera. He spent his early years in Cornwall, moved back to Wales before going to Newcastle University, where he read physics and astronomy. Afterwards, he earned a PhD in astrophysics from the University of St Andrews. In 1991, he moved to Noordwijk in the Netherlands where he met his wife Josette (who is from France). There, he worked for the European Space Research and Technology Centre (part of the European Space Agency) until 2004 when he left to pursue writing full-time. He returned to Wales in 2008 and lives near Cardiff.

Alastair Reynolds's selected quotes:

Alastair Reynolds about Morning:

I'm not a morning person: I can't function until I've had a coffee - or several.

Alastair Reynolds about Future:

We've had science fiction novels where China is dominant, we've had novels where India is dominant, ...
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Alastair Reynolds about Strong:

I was never strong at maths, but I eventually got onto a university physics/astronomy course, and ...
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Alastair Reynolds about Life:

I've never had much interest in spinoffery - the idea of writing in someone else's universe ...
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Alastair Reynolds about War:

I'm not massively fond of right-wing nutters or war criminals.

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Alastair Preston Reynolds (born 13 March 1966) is a British science fiction author. He specialises in hard science fiction and song opera. He spent his early years in Cornwall, moved back to Wales previously going to Newcastle University, where he right to use physics and astronomy. Afterwards, he earned a PhD in astrophysics from the University of St Andrews. In 1991, he moved to Noordwijk in the Netherlands where he met his wife Josette (who is from France). There, he worked for the European Space Research and Technology Centre (part of the European Space Agency) until 2004 later than he left to pursue writing full-time. He returned to Wales in 2008 and lives close Cardiff.

All quotes from Alastair Reynolds sorted alphabetically:

Alastair Reynolds about Science:

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 about 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 about Work:

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 about Crime:

I couldn't ever write a straight crime novel: there'd be an intrusion of weirdness at some point.

Alastair Reynolds about Science:

I prioritise story over science, but not at the expense of being really stupid about it.

Alastair Reynolds about Mind:

I think the danger with using the term 'trilogy' is that it sets up particular expectations in the reader's mind.

Alastair Reynolds about Strong:

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 about Engineering:

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 about Science:

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 about Travel:

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 about Morning:

I'm not a morning person: I can't function until I've had a coffee - or several.

Alastair Reynolds about War:

I'm not massively fond of right-wing nutters or war criminals.

Alastair Reynolds about Life:

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 about Big:

One of the big breakthroughs I had as a writer was when I stopped agonising over every word.

Alastair Reynolds about War:

I'm still bothered by the threat of nuclear war.

Alastair Reynolds about Future:

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 about Achievement:

To be remembered at all is an achievement of sorts.

Alastair Reynolds about Writing:

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 about Science:

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.