"I would normally never set out to write a trilogy. It was not my intent when I began Brightness Reef. The fact that it will stretch into three books is my fault, as evidence of lack of discipline. ... I will outline in the future!"

"...The third book [of the trilogy] will take some people from Jijo and Streaker on a pell-mell ride through some of the more exotic places and features of my universe. We'll meet the hydrogen-breathing civilization, the machine civilization, the civilization of transcended beings -- all sorts of good sci-fi stuff."

"...One of the rules I try to follow is that normal people are going to be involved even in heroic events. Even if you have superior protagonists, I hate to make them slans. I hate the whole ubermensch, superman temptation that pervades science fiction. I believe no protagonist should be so competent, so awe-inspiring, that a committee of 20 really hard-working, intelligent people couldn't do the same thing..."

"...At first, I turned down the offer to do one of the 'Foundation' books... Then Greg Benford pointed out that the best science fiction always involves a conversation with the reader, as well as an author's conversation with him- or herself. ... Isaac himself went through three or four cycles in his attitudes towards power and destiny..."