It turns out that the killer application for virtual reality is other human beings. Build a world that people want to inhabit, and the inhabitants will come. Charles Stross applicationbeingbuild Change image and share on social
Pubs are, disturbingly, where I hatch most of my best idea-sculptures: possibly it's something to do with the disinhibiting effects of alcohol, or maybe it's just having company to yack at. Charles Stross alcoholcompanydisinhibit Change image and share on social
The paucity of near-future U.S. scifi is about the country becoming pessimistic, not being able to see the future clearly. There's a trend in U.S. scifi towards militarism and far-future stuff. Charles Stross countryfuturemilitarism Change image and share on social
One of my earliest recollections is being woken up at some ungodly hour in the morning by my parents and sat in front of the fairly new black and white television, watching a grainy image of a man in a white suit climbing down a ladder. It was the first moon landing, and I became a sort of spaceman, as many kids were. Charles Stross blackclimbearly share on social
Novels are one of the few remaining areas of narrative storytelling where one person does almost all of the creative heavy lifting. Charles Stross areacreativeheavy Change image and share on social
I tend to work on the principle that much humour relies on cognitive dissonance - on the foreground not matching the background, on the protagonist's response to a situation being inappropriate, and so on. Charles Stross backgroundcognitivedissonance share on social
Science fiction was rocket-mad for about 40 years until aerospace hit a brick wall about 1970. I would not write off space colonisation or exploration completely, but we are profoundly ill adapted for going boldly into outer space. Charles Stross adaptaerospaceboldly share on social
Fiction is the study of the human condition under imagined circumstances. Charles Stross circumstanceconditionfiction Change image and share on social
I have a low taste for urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Charles Stross fantasylowparanormal Change image and share on social
If you're going to write for a living, you should find something fun to write. Charles Stross findfunlive Change image and share on social