I prioritise story over science, but not at the expense of being really stupid about it.

We've had science fiction novels where China is dominant; we've had novels where India is dominant, and I suppose it's all about getting away from that cliched old tired idea that the future belongs to the West.

I think I set myself on a course to become a scientist around about the time that Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos' series was on television, and there really was no going back for me at that point, and then I went on to study space science and then get my Ph.D., then go aboard and work in the European Space Agency.

I am playing in a playground that's already been played in. I am always aware that a lot of the furniture in science fiction is second hand.

When I look back at many of the moments of wonder, awe, or terror that I've got from science fiction, it's often been because I've been put in the head of one of the characters.

One of the big breakthroughs I had as a writer was when I stopped agonising over every word.