Interview With L. E. Modesitt, Jr
Six Shooter Series
Why do you write?
You might as well ask why I breathe. I write because it’s such a part of my life that I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t.
What's the one invention/political policy you'd like to see realised in your lifetime?
There are all too many political changes necessary for civilization to endure for me to lift one above the others, but I would like to see a highly efficient, inexpensive, and non-toxic solar power generating cell become available.
If you could be any fictional character for a day, who would it be, and why?
None of the above, especially as the question is worded. Good characters live in “interesting” times, and interesting times almost always translate into “difficult and dangerous times.” I’ve seen enough of both not to appreciate the quiet times.
If I had to be a fictional character for a day, I’d probably pick Johan Eschbach from my own Ghosts of Columbia. He’s a better pilot, person, and politician that I am, and is never at a loss for words when surprised. And he understands what’s important in life, because he’s learned it all the hard way.
Five books that will always stay with you?
- Collected Poems of W. B. Yeats
- The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
- Soldier, Ask Not by Gordon R. Dickson
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny
Has the Internet significantly changed writers, for good or bad?
I think it’s far too early to make a full determination because you can’t judge the full impact of institutions and technologies on people until you see the effect on a generation from birth. We’re just now seeing the appearance of writers who have effectively grown up with the internet.
From what I’ve seen of students, however, I must say that I’m concerned, because far too many of them seem to deny the validity of information, events, etc., that doesn’t have a presence or a value on the net and because what I’d call the “net commonality” tends to adopt a “top forty” view on all subjects.
In addition, the net reinforces niche identification and social fragmentation, not to mention an amazingly prosaic intolerance of the “other.” Whether these developments are merely “growing pains” or a foreshadowing of an intellectually narrowed future remains to be seen.
What are you working on right now, tell us more!
I’m working on a complex, far-future, science fiction novel [as of yet untitled] that explores the inter-relation of what I call the Technology Paradox with the environment and the inability of cultures to see their own weaknesses –- and, oh, yes, a massive human-created artifact that is both indestructible and inexplicable to any of the cultures succeeding that of its builders.
L. E. Modesitt, Jr., is the author of more than 50 science fiction and fantasy novels, a number of short stories and technical and economic articles. His novels have been translated into German, Polish, Dutch, Czech, Russian, Bulgarian, French, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew, and Swedish. He has been a U.S. Navy pilot, a market research analyst; a real estate agent; director of research for a political campaign; legislative assistant and staff director for U.S. Congressmen, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues. His first story was published in Analog in 1973, and his latest book is Haze [Tor, June 2009].
L.E. Modessit, Jr.
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