Brian Salyards
asked
Jeff VanderMeer:
I often look at the world and wondering how an intelligent being from "somewhere else" would view things. I find this enjoyable and based on your writing I would imagine you do too. When I voice my observations people look at me like I am an alien. Reading your work makes me think in even newer and weirder ways. Thank you. And, in your opinion, what is the true value of weirdos in modern society?
Jeff VanderMeer
Thanks, Brian. The truth is we need a sea-change in our attitude toward Earth and our place in it, and trying to observe the world from alien perspectives is a valuable part of trying to visualize that. I'm dedicated to this in all of my fiction and although it's impossible to truly get beyond our human perspective, the effort, even in failing, can bring us closer to new and healthier ways to view our environment.
More Answered Questions
Chad Post
asked
Jeff VanderMeer:
Annihilation and Authority bring to mind a few Stanislaw Lem books (Solaris and His Master's Voice in particular) along with the Strugatsky brothers (Roadside Picnic)--do you view Lem & Strugatsky as influences on your work? Which other works by these authors, or works by other fantastic world authors would you recommend to bide the time until Acceptance finally comes out?
Teodor
asked
Jeff VanderMeer:
Annihilation and Authority both take distinctly different genres as starting points. It certainly seems to be a more 'controlled' approach than, say, City of Saints and Madmen, which gleefully and deliberately plays around with various genres, styles and voices. Do you think that you're at a point in your career when such 'fine-tuning' is the next logical step?
Jake Chambers
asked
Jeff VanderMeer:
What did you think about "The Man Who Had No Eyes" in City of Saints and Madmen in the the mass market paperback edition NOT being encyphered (because the change of format had shifted things and would have required recoding the piece)? Do you think the book lost something with that decision, or do you think most readers wouldn't have bothered to solve the code in the first place?
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more