It's interesting - I think superheroes get much more unfair derision. There are so many good superhero books being done. Science fiction is almost more reputable, I guess, at least a step up from poor superheroes.

Evil does not listen to reason.

Science fiction is no more written for scientists that ghost stories are written for ghosts.

I think that's what distinguishes Schmidt, really. In the movies now, so much of what is appealing to an audience is the dramatic or has to do with science fiction, and Schmidt is simply human. There's no melodrama; there's no device, It's just about a human being.

There are relatively few science fiction or fantasy books with the main character being an old person.

But I think, and hope, that the novels can be understood and enjoyed as science fiction, on their own terms.