Interview with Vladimir Vasilyev

   First question: do you like interviews? Honestly.

   Hard to tell. It's the second interview in my life. I don't know yet.

   It's too standard to ask how did you begin to write. I'll ask: why did you begin to write?

   Because writing is far more interesting than reading. As soon as I realized that, I immediately began to write. I was fourteen.

   Do you think you chose the right path in your life? I mean, writing. Or you should go on other way?

   Now I know for sure that I can do anything else much worse than writing sci-fi. So, this way I bring the least harm.

   It's hard — to write books all the time? Don't you get tired? Do you want to abandon everything for a couple of years?

   I do. I want, want very much. But the conveyor is running, I can't stop. I keep trying to do everything well. Others shall judge whether I'm successful or not.

   What's your attitude towards your works?

   Ironically-discreet.

   Do you think that in future your taste is going to change and you will begin writing, say, philosophical science fiction?

   I doubt it. Of course, looking so far ahead is a thankless work. But during fifteen years my taste hasn't changed a bit. So I have serious doubts that I'll start writing something different from bare thrillers. You may consider me primitive, but I really like thrillers. It's interesting with them.

   Maybe you'll abandon science fiction and turn to realistic prose?

   Never.

   Home, relatives, normal domestic problems - does it harm your work?

   Happily enough, my domestic problems were solved four years ago. I have everything - a home, a fridge and stuff in the fridge. I hope that in the future all my problems will come from different directions.

   Does the process of writing bring pleasure to you?

   Certainly! When you print the last phrase and the ready file is transferred from the /work directory to the /ready directory - it's such a joy! One can't describe that, you have to experience it yourself.

   How does your condition reflect on the book? Or do you, as people say, intentionally drive yourselfi into a certain condition?

   No, I don't. But the current state influences the texts. Greatly. Sometimes in advance.

   Author's opinion. For how long will your books last? Or, more precisely, in how many years will they be forgotten?

   The books will last for as long as the paper will last. They will be forgotten five years after the publication. Thrillers are momentary goods.

   Is it easy for you to publish a book now? Who dictates the terms - you or the publisher?

   It is easy. The conveyor is running, everything I write now will inevitably be published. It is profitable for me, for the publisher and for the reader. No one dictates, neither me nor the publisher. That's why I'm free, I write what I like and the reader may be sure that there shall be no requested things.

   Is every new book an event for you? Or are you already used to it?

   Of course it is an event, but not so bright as the first book. For example, I await the beginning of the sailing season with more impatience than the next book.

   Do you write books just because you write or do you try to deliver some ideas, influence the society?

   And how can unpretentious thrillers influence the society. Writing is more interesting than reading. Why do people watch or read thrillers? I write them for the same reason. It's just more interesting for me than for readers and watchers, since I can somehow dictate the rules of the game.

   Is the society worth doing something for it? Your opinion.

   No, it is not. The society as I understand it is either a mob of amorphous faceless nonentities or a group of scoundrels. Good people are vanishingly rare. Luckily, I have a long-established circle of frends not falling under such definition. It's the main thing I achieved in my life - friends.

   Do you see literature geniuses among contemporary sci-fi writers?

   Alas, when a fantast becomes a serious author, he leaves sci-fi. For example, Evgeny Lukin. It's a marvellous writer. But all he writes now are mere attemts for science fiction. He'd better honestly leave for mainstream. His clothes are to tight for him, he has outgrown them. As a result, everyone is unhappy: sci-fi, Lukin, and readers.

   What is the future of sci-fi? And fandom?

   It's simple: good books will be published. And we will come to fans' conventions and drink for the written and not yet written...

   Now, about you. What music do you like? What films? What way of life is the most appropriate for you? Who are you?

   About music: I like hard-rock of eighties and earlier. Deep Purple and everything like it. Don't like Beatles, prefer Creedence, 10CC, Slade and Sweet. Twisted Sister and Manowar. Of the more or less contemporary groups I distinguish Rammstein and Therion. Also I like Latin-American and Celtic folk. About films: favourite director - Quentin Tarantino. I respect Cameron, Spielberg and Zameckis. «Criminal reading», «Aliens», «Indiana Jones», «Back to the future» - all these films are on my shelf and I watch them from time to time. About my lifestyle and me: I'm a fidget and wanderer. A couple of weeks ago I returned from Moscow and Sverdlovsk. The day before yesterday I returned from Kharkov. Now I'm leaving for the sea. The day after tomorrow I'm leaving for Moscow and then to Petersburg.

   What is on the first place for you - your interests or the interests of those around you? Are you a cruel man, or a kind one?

   It is impossible to say what is more important. One has to consider the opinions and wishes of the people surrounding him. But anyone who says that he does not consider his own interest, lies. It seems to me that life is a constant search of compromise between yourself and others. About cruelty: I'm harsh rather than cruel. The surrounding world is too evil to be a kind man.

   Do you have many ill-wishers? Those who try to spite, offend?

   I'm too small a target to have ill-wishers.

   And is there a person you would wish death to?

   I wish death to all customs officials. Seriously. I've had enough of them.

   Would you like to begin life anew to be able to fix your mistakes?

   I want to live my present life to the end, and then I wouldn't mind beginning it all anew. And I have little doubt that the second circle would not be very different...

   What do you think about you future as a writer and as a person? When do you plan to quit writing?

   I never thought about this kind of things. As for now, writing feeds me and brings moral satisfaction. What will be then? I don't know.

   Does your last book have to be something utterly marvellous? To mark your going, so to say. Did you think about it?

   No, I didn't. I hope very much that my really last book will be perceived by me as just another one. And that I'll never know it's the last.

   Thank you very much!

   You are very much welcome.