How do you research the scientific and technological information in your books? I like to take my time with research. Sometimes, I collect information for years, piece by piece. One of my novels was 14 years in the making! Whenever I feel that I’m missing something, I turn to specialized source materials. Some of those books are hard to find, but I know where to look. I have a great collection of my own, lots of books on philosophy and mysticism. This love of philosophy doesn’t prevent you from creating plots worthy of Hollywood action movies, about a lone hero who saves the universe. My books aren’t just about adventure: each has a unique idea that requires some work from the reader. Things aren’t black and white in our world; the line between good and evil is often blurred – though as far as other worlds, it’s anyone’s guess. But as long as we live in a world that yearns to see good triumph over evil, I’ll give my heroes a happy ending. This happy ending is often quite relative. In your novel Absolute Player, Earth turns into a cosmic lens, and the infinity of space is filled with death traps. Yes, but it’s not all bad: the world doesn’t end, humanity rises out of the ruins. You have to understand that my books require a certain level of scientific and philosophical knowledge not only from the author, but from the reader. You have to spend more time with my books than with, say, a detective story. You have to think them through. How long did you have to work before becoming an “overnight success”? About 20 years. Why do you think it took you so long? I had to keep plugging away and wait for people to realize the value of my work. In those 20 years, I’d written enough material for 20 volumes… Back in those days, a writer was allowed to publish maybe one book in 3 years. Nowadays, things are different: if your book is successful, you’ll be able to publish another one, and another one… But this has drawbacks: if you write too fast, you can become a hack. A lot of science fiction writers have been corrupted by the sudden success. Your favorite hero is a sort of superman… Not really. If you read carefully, he’s a lot more than just a mountain of muscle. He’s not a one-dimensional cutout without fear and beyond reproach who rides over obstacles like a tank, waves his sword around, breaks jaws left and right… He has a depth of feelings, a delicate nature – in other words, he’s someone I’d like to read about. In a way, I always write for myself. Nevertheless, your characters spend most of their time searching for treasure and fighting bad guys. Yes, they’re usually experts at fighting. I like reading about experts, and I like writing about experts. But the rich inner world of my characters is also very important: that’s what draws the readers in, makes them empathize with the hero, makes them want to be like him. I don’t lecture my readers – I simply show them my characters as they struggle with violence, fight for their ideals and their planet. They’re not mercenaries who’ll fight for whomever, kill whomever, as long as they get paid. They have an inner compass that keeps them on course. Is your life as thrilling and unpredictable as the lives of your characters? Not even close. My wife Zoya and I have been together for 30 years. We have a son and a daughter, a little granddaughter. When I met Zoya, I was studying at the university, and she was working as a nurse. She was gorgeous – I’d never seen a more beautiful girl! I saw her in a streetcar and was dumbfounded. Got out at my stop and immediately started kicking myself that I didn’t talk to her. Then, a year later, I saw her again in the university gym. She was surrounded by men. I felt intimidated, but this time I had to do something: I clawed my way through the throng of admirers and won her over. A year later we got married. It was an amazing experience, wooing her. I still remember the feeling. I’d give everything to go back there, to relive that day. Actually, while we were married, I fell in love twice more – almost to the point of divorce. Fortunately, I have an understanding wife.