The Push from Within: The Extrapolative Ability of

Theodore Sturgeon

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Q: Could you explain the significance of your personal trademark, which is the letter Q with an arrow through it pointing to the right?

Q: How did you begin your writing career? Most anthologists date your first appearance as Ether Breather, which appeared in the September 1939 Astounding.

Q: Was there any impetus that guided you toward writing or was it something you did as a creative outlet?

Q: Since those early journalistic stories, your writing has developed into a prose form that utilizes each word. Is economy essential to your work?

Q: Do you have a particular method of writing?

Q: What is your analysis of science fiction?

Q: Do you resent being classified as a science fiction writer?

Q: Were you ever subject to any censorship?

Q: In stories of yours such as The Other Man, you write extensively about hypnosis. What kind of research did you do?

Q: Do you have vivid dreams?

Q: How can you explain the eternalness of your writing? It never seems dated or concerned with trivial matters.

Q: Do you think it is essential to have something to believe in?

Q: Which episodes of Star Trek did you write?

Q: Could you explain your distiction between talent and skill?

Q: Does this apply to writing also?

Q: Could you outline the process of metric prose?

Q: There seems to a great reluctance from students to contribute creative material to Phoenix. How would you explain this?

Q: What is your approach to fiction?

Q: Do you feel fiction has a certain power over reality?

Q: Do you think our technology is flawed?

Q: You have been busy with a mainstream novel for quite some time titled Godbody. How is the work progressing?

Q: What do you consider to be your most enduring work?

Q: Any last thoughts on your career as a writer?


(This interview html'ized by William Seabrook, published with permission of David Duncan.)