When Kubrick decided to go the black comedy route with his movie, he thought of me to give it that flavor.

It's often the case with directors that they don't like to share credit, which is the case of Stanley. He would prefer just A Film By Stanley Kubrick including music and everything.

Stanley Kubrick went with his gut feeling: he directed 'Dr. Strangelove' as a black comedy. The film is routinely described as a masterpiece.

Kubrick ate it up. He loved it. He just let me go crazy.

David Burnett was the son of Martha Foley, who edited the Best American Short Stories series. She hired me to work with David and her to read stories for the anthology.

The important thing in writing is the capacity to astonish. Not shock—shock is a worn-out word—but astonish.