Neal Stephenson And Writing

The Onion AV Club has an informational interview with Neal Stephenson, author of some of the heaviest — both literally and figuratively — science fiction novels in recent years. While none of it is earth-shaking, he talks more about the research and tasks of writing than the writing itself. It's refreshingly job-like, unlike the reliance of authors on announcing their unbridled creativity. I will say I don't particularly like Stephenson's work; I've read Zodiac and The Diamond Age, both of which start promising but end with whimpers. His description of his prepatory work may explain that. Neither of the two I've read are advertised as crowning achievements, so I may have to try on the copy of Snow Crash that's on my shelf and see if it is any better.