Salon interviews Neal Stephenson

April 21, 2004 11:46 AM

Every culture can be kind of defined by what they drink in order to avoid dying of diarrhea. In China it's tea. In Africa it's milk or animal blood. In Europe it was wine and beer. Salon talks with Neal Stephenson. [premium/free day pass]
posted by xmutex (9 comments total)

I was pondering linking this interview. It's quite interesting, especially given that I'm 2/3rds of the way through The Confusion, which is a good deal more action-packed than the first volume of the Baroque Cycle.

Stephenson has also begun updating the Metaweb with the ever-useful page annotations for The Confusion.
posted by hoboynow at 11:58 AM on April 21, 2004

Here's another recent interview from Wired.
posted by gwint at 12:10 PM on April 21, 2004

I'm a fan of Stephenson, and I'll be at the Festival of Books Sunday in Los Angeles when he will be. I've been to several of his signings over the years.

The net is full of interesting stuff when you google for neal stephenson.

Not the least of which is his disused home page.
posted by artlung at 12:21 PM on April 21, 2004

America is defined by Pepto-Bismol?
posted by falconred at 12:46 PM on April 21, 2004

Well falconred, potable water and nutrition are the main things that prevent us from being sick all the time. Stephenson's point is something about how to get H2O into our systems.
posted by artlung at 1:44 PM on April 21, 2004

America is defined by Pepto-Bismol?

Seems appropriate.
posted by abcde at 2:02 PM on April 21, 2004

I haven't gotten my copy of The Confusion yet...but I'm eagerly anticipating it. I had to read Quicksilver twice, just to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Thanks for the link...I just love Neal. :)
posted by dejah420 at 2:15 PM on April 21, 2004

I'll drink to that.
posted by seanyboy at 3:39 PM on April 21, 2004

[This is good.]
posted by of strange foe at 12:00 PM on April 22, 2004