VITAL STATS:

Name: Patrick Rothfuss

Website: www.patrickrothfuss.com

Publisher: DAW

THE TEN QUESTIONS

1. What’s your first fantastic fiction memory?

It’s hard for me to think in terms of early fantasy-related memories, because so much of my childhood revolved around fantastic stories. It’s like asking “What’s your first food-related memory….”

I remember having a read-along record of the Hobbit. The first chapter books I ever read were the Narnia books. And long before that, I read picture books. I remember there was a series about a young witch that had mismatched socks. I think her name was Dora. Wow… I haven’t thought about those books for years. I really loved them…

2. When did you realize you wanted to write fantastic fiction?

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a writer. I read so much when I was young, it seemed natural to want to write, too. I always thought that it would be so much fun….

And what do you know, it turns out that it is.

3. What are you currently reading?

Right now I’m reading Neil Gaiman’s Signal to Noise and Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. I know I’m behind the times on both of those. But on the off chance that people haven’t tried them out, I’d highly recommend either one.

4. Right this instant, what’s your favorite science factoid?

When people hear I’m a fantasy writer, a lot of them assume that I’m an idiot, scientifically. There’s an unspoken assumption that sci-fi is for people who like facts and logic, and fantasy is for people who can’t hack the hard math and like unicorns and elves instead.

While that might be true in some instances, it’s not the case with me. I was a big science geek back in the day. When I started college, I was going to be a chemical engineer. Because of this, I think I write a different kind of fantasy, and over the past year I’ve had a lot of fanmail that says things like, “I normally only read Sci-fi, but I really liked your book…”

Anyway, on to the question….

My favorite science thing I’ve learned recently is the fact that time is, effectively, digital instead of analog. Apparently, there is a unit of time so small nothing can actually really occur during it. That means that, in a strange way, the whole universe if a series of extraordinarily small events, rather than a smooth continuous line. It’s a weird thought, and I’m still trying to get my head around all the implications.

I’m also interested in some of the implications of string theory. Frequently, the implications of the new discoveries in quantum physics remind me of the old theories that ancient Greek philosophers and hermetic magicians used to spout. It makes you wonder if those folks were on to something…

5. Outside of your own medium, what’s your favorite science fiction story?

Firefly. I’m still pissed off that Fox canceled that show. I’m filled with burning rage over it…

6. What are you currently working on?

I’m making revisions on the second book of my trilogy: The Wise Man’s Fear. That’s my priority right now.

That said, I’ve also got a not-for-children children’s book in the works. It’s like a cross between Calvin and Hobbes and Neil Gaiman’s Coraline. I’m hoping to see that come out in 2008.

7. What kind of characters interest you most?

When I’m reading, I want clever, realistic characters. I never want to read a book and find myself asking questions along the lines of, “Why don’t they just [insert obvious action here] that would solve everything….”

I also don’t want to read about someone who makes stupid choices. I shouldn’t find myself thinking, “If he knows the mob wants to kill him, why would he just go back to his apartment?”

A character can make *wrong* choices, but they shouldn’t be dumb. That’s just sloppy on the part of the author. I want to read a book and think, “Wow, that was really clever….”

8. How did you break in to the business?

I didn’t break in so much as I slid in. I worked on my trilogy for seven years. I wrote all three books from beginning to end, then back from the end to the beginning. Then I spent two years getting rejected by every agent in the known universe.

Then I submitted a piece of my story to the Writers of the Future contest, and won. At their workshop I met Kevin J Anderson. We chatted, and after he read my story he put me in contact with his agent, Matt Bialer. Matt eventually became my agent…

9. What’s the worst story idea you ever had?

The novel I started back in high school. I was based off characters my friends and I had created for a D&D campaign. The less said of it the better. Seriously.

10. If you could rapidly advance one technology overnight, what technology would it be?

Aperture science. We need to start making some serious strides there….

Barring that, I’d like to see a cheap, reliable bullshit detector on the market inside two years. It would change everything. Think about it, you’d never get screwed buying a used car again. Ladies, you’d never have to wonder if that guy at the bar was feeding you a line of shit.

Our entire political system would have to be dismantled and rebuilt as a result. But honestly, I can’t see that as anything but a good thing…

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