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Did you join
NASA to become an astronaut?
The possibility to fly
in space was certainly an enticement to join NASA, but
my main interest at the time was to become a part of
the space program. I joined NASA before the first flight
of the Space Shuttle and I wanted to be a part of that
dream.
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How bulky is
the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft when you piggyback the
Shuttle?
Bulky, ponderous, hulking
and massive. The Boeing 747, by itself, is a joy to
fly. It is responsive to the pilot inputs even when
at its heaviest allowable weight and at its lowest allowable
speeds. That cannot be said when you put the orbiter
on the back of the aircraft. While the configuration
is designed so that the orbiter lifts its own weight
at cruise speeds, it most certainly does not compensate
for the drag imposed. Also, having that enormous mass
placed so high above the normal center of gravity makes
it interesting in even the slightest turns. If I was
to use only one word to describe how it feels to fly
on final, I’d say “wallow.”
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What are your
thoughts about the end of the Shuttle program?
I think that I speak for
all Americans, as well as a great percentage of the
population around the world, when I say that I’ll
be sad to see it go. It is the most impressive flying
machine and most complicated feat of engineering to
have ever come from the mind of our species.
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What inspired
you to write Specific
Impulse?
I have always loved science
fiction – it always forced me to stretch my mind
in different directions. In short, I wanted to read
a book that mixed the elements of action, suspense,
and hard science in a way that told a good story and
made me think. After a point, I decided I should write
that book.
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What advice
would you give would-be writers?
First, be tenacious and
second; be true to your reader. You have to string 150,000
words together into a coherent story. The average writer
can only put out 2,000 words a day. Add to that the
old saw that “writing is re-writing.” You
will probably have to rewrite your book five or six
times. By the time you publish your book, you may have
written a million words. You can’t quit or slack
off. Bulldog tenacity is the only trait that will get
you through the process.
Also, you cannot forget that a book is published for
an audience to enjoy. You must figure out who your audience
is and speak to them with your written words. |
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How did you
come up with the idea for your character F.R.E.D.?
The idea for Fred
came from several conversations with folks working on
machine-based intelligence. They were trying to consider
the intelligence traits that such a construct would
possess and came to the conclusion that sci-fi had gotten
it completely wrong. They couldn’t come up with
one depiction that would accurately represent the machine
they were trying to build. So, I shamelessly stole those
ideas (with their permission, of course).
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Your wife Dayna
is known for her long-time association with rock stars.
Who's your favorite rock star and why?
Dayna
Steele is my favorite rock star. Period. Bar none.
End of story. She is also the most intelligent rock
star that I have ever met.
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What will be
the title of your next book and when will it be released?
The next book in the series
is titled Mass Fraction and is targeted for a 2012 release.
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Are there any
experiences in aviation you have yet to realize?
Yes. I haven’t had
the next flight experience yet. That’s always
the one I appreciate the most.
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When will we
"conquer" space?
We haven’t even
conquered our baser selves. Space will have to wait
until we can accomplish that small feat. |
