There's paradox and irony in the character of Azdak, and it's political. He's not just wacky, he grinds a certain ax,

The problem with Einstein's paradox is that it doesn't fold in biology?specifically, space radiation and the biology of aging.

Man is literally split in two: he has an awareness of his own splendid uniqueness in that he sticks out of nature with a towering majesty, and yet he goes back into the ground a few feet in order blindly and dumbly to rot and disappear forever.

Irony is the form of paradox. Paradox is what is good and great at the same time.

He's kind of this empty vessel of a character, ... His awkward sensibilities, his neuroses, I loved those things. . . .

It was a wonderful project to work on, and a very different character for me.