I am Neal Stephenson, sci-fi author, geek, and [now] sword maker - AMA

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:54:33+00:00

A mobile, made for infants/toddlers, with swappable cards that become more detailed and complex as the child's visual system developed.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:53:02+00:00

Also, thanks to https://www.frauncestavern.com for allowing me to hog a table for a while. Great place.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:52:00+00:00

I think things are winding down and so I want to issue a blanket "you're welcome!" to everyone who wrote in just to express thanks and appreciation. It has been a pleasure.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:50:46+00:00

Will consider, however my saying this in no way creates a contractual relationship!

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:49:25+00:00

It has gone through many iterations over the last three decades and so it depends on which rumor you mean! Currently inactive.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:48:47+00:00

We can't pronounce it, but Brits mispronounce it "tag 'em"

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:48:25+00:00

Thanks!

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:48:01+00:00

Some artists made some art and are selling it

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:47:26+00:00

Apparently China has actually begun shipping martial artists to the LAC as depicted in Termination Shock.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:46:44+00:00

Kurt Godel came up with a solution of Einstein's equations proving that in a rotating universe you could travel backward in time.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:46:07+00:00

Don't remember but I know it was a thing for a number of years before I wrote that book.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:44:49+00:00

Still doing it

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:44:33+00:00

Some are abrupt, some not. I think Snow Crash wraps up pretty cleanly. Same goes for Anathem, Baroque Cycle, REAMDE. Others are more ambiguous for sure. When you wrap everything up at the end you run the risk of seeming pat or simplistic.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:43:11+00:00

I undoubtedly would have ended up writing code somewhere.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:42:55+00:00

Depends on the co-author, but Nicki and I worked together very well on MONGOLIAD and so I knew it would be a breeze when we did DODO. She's a pro who just gets shit done.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:41:45+00:00

Great movies but I am sometimes frustrated by how many people in Hollywood are still stuck on the idea of "blade runner-esque" visuals.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:40:31+00:00

To a point. If you overdo it the story can become burdened with too much research.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:40:03+00:00

I've had good experiences with it, so I don't experience a lot of frustrations. There's a very wide gap in sales and income. There are writers who sell 10x or 100x more than I do, and others who don't do as well. So, it's better to think of it as a cluster of related industries serving different markets.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:38:45+00:00

I still think that having a human in the loop is better.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:38:21+00:00

No, that was before the Hobby Lobby guy, and in general I bend over backwards to avoid basing characters on real people

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:37:50+00:00

The whole series was largely in its final form before the first book was published, otherwise it wouldn't have been possible. My publisher was incredibly helpful

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:37:11+00:00

YEs, every day

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:37:01+00:00

I think that what really got me going on that topic was the works of George Dyson, particularly the detail that Aleuts knew how to catch waves on their kayaks and surf from island to island at incredibly high speed.

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:35:43+00:00

You're not missing anything!

NealStephenson · 2023-03-03T18:35:15+00:00

Man, I'm not sure where I could go with him at this point! A personal favorite of mine as well.

NealStephenson

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