Slashdot Mirror
Ask Neal Stephenson
Our latest Slashdot interview victim... err... guest... is Neal Stephenson, author of (among others) Snow Crash, CRYPTONOMICON, the much-discussed essay, In the Beginning was the Command Line, and more recently a series of books he calls The Baroque Cycle. (Last month Slashdot reviewed the series' third volume, The System of the World.) Now you can ask Neal whatever you want. As usual, we'll send him 10 -12 of the highest-moderated questions and post his answers verbatim when we get them back.
Neal, what's your Slashdot account name?
May we never see th
In a fight between you and William Gibson, who would win?
Do you read Slashdot?
How do you deal with questions from sycophantic slashdot fanboys drooling all over you?
Greetings to you in the name of the most high God, from my beloved country Nigeria.
I am sorry and I solicit your permission into your privacy. I am Barrister Leonardo Akume, lawyer to the late Dr. Koffi Abachus, a brilliant Nigerian mathematician.
My former client, late Dr. Koffi Abachus, died in a mysterious plane crash in the year 1994 on the way to a scientific conference to make an announcement of the utmost importance to mankind.
He was planning to present a paper regarding his extensive work on data storage. It is said the data storage device he had developed, would be roughly ten times more secure compared to the latest quantum excyption techniques. The device was about the size of a steamer trunk, and stored on a privately owned island close to the coast of Nigeria. Dr Koffi Abachus is also the King of the local tribe by heritage...
Oh well.. Should there BE a data haven? If so, where?
"/Dread"
Is there such a thing as an ending consultant? Could you perhaps employ one? I'm sure that your books would sell much better if the author line was "Story by Neal Stephanson, Ending by Whots Hisname."
-russ
Don't piss off The Angry Economist
Like many writers, Mr Stephenson subscribes to a name-generating service. For a reasonable fee, a quarterly list of names is sent to him. If he sees a name he likes, he calls the service and tells them which one he intends to use. The service checks to see if any other author has already claimed that name, and if not, Neal gets to use it.
As Mr Stephenson is a very forward-thinking, technology-adept sort of person, I imagine he uses one of the more modern name services, with web access.
-- Jeff Paulsen
Well, he could save himself a lot of work by recommending his own oevre.
Probably not exactly what you meant, though.
I just have to know, is Harry going to die?
My guess would be that they are in Japan.
What is your favorite word?
What is your least favorite word?
What turns you on?
What turns you off?
What is your favorite curse word?
What sound or noise do you love?
What sound or noise do you hate?
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
What profession would you not like to do?
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Finally, what the f*ck is the deal with Enoch Root??
Dear Neal,
Could you tell me where I can download your books (Cryptonomicon, among others ) for free?:-p
Thanks.
Why does yahoo do this
Not only what will we have 10 years from now - but what major item will be gone? [Cars? TVs?...]
I'll go with either "our freedom" or "our dignity".
Downmodding is the refuge of the weak. Don't downmod, make a better argument!