Paolo Bacigalupi Quotes

Author Image

Paolo Bacigalupi

Profession : Writer

Birth : August 6, 1972

My conception of my ideal reader has expanded quite a lot as I've matured: Ultimately when I think of my ideal reader, it's someone who's not sitting down with the intention of automatically arguing with the book: somebody who's going to give me enough slack to tell my story.

Paolo Bacigalupi

I suspect that young adults crave stories of broken futures because they themselves are uneasily aware that their world is falling apart.

Paolo Bacigalupi

Teens want to read something that isn't a lie; we adults wish we could put our heads under the blankets and hide from the scary story we're writing for our kids.

Paolo Bacigalupi

As an author, you're really grateful for the people who are supporting you, but on some other level, that can be a dangerous echo chamber.

Paolo Bacigalupi

The sources and research I use for my inspiration aren't your typical sci-fi subjects, but it's really driven by obsession and personal anxiety more than trying to take up the sword and do what's right.

Paolo Bacigalupi

I know people who have gone into career death spins, and that's something you're always aware of as a writer.

Paolo Bacigalupi

As a writer, you should care about reluctant readers. You want these kids to feel like books are amazing and cool and that they're an escape.

Paolo Bacigalupi

Businesses that decide to be reality based and identify where they're vulnerable to climate impact, that start thinking about how to buffer against it, are going to be able to take advantage of shortages. When the water runs out, not everyone is in the same pickle.

Paolo Bacigalupi

The marketplace tells us that good, visceral storytelling has a place. But there are lots of questions about the format that stories take.

Paolo Bacigalupi

Maybe storytelling belongs in audio - a short story is the length of a commute. That can be a sacred spot where you have the ear of the reader without having to compete with other media like games or TV.

Paolo Bacigalupi

Economies are embedded inside ecosystems. Companies dependent on tourism, for example, are affected by low rainfall - there's less snow for skiers, and forest fires are more intense.

Paolo Bacigalupi

Everyone in China knows The Topics. The television stations and newspapers run the same state-generated stories all across the country, and the Chinese form their opinions based on these somewhat controlled sources.

Paolo Bacigalupi

I didn't think of myself as writing 'cli-fi,' but I'll take the label. I'll take any label that makes someone think they might be interested in my stories.

Paolo Bacigalupi

I'm definitely writing my fears. It's almost therapeutic to at least voice a terror, to say, 'I'm worried that Lake Powell looks low and Lake Mead looks even lower.'

Paolo Bacigalupi

We're all happier when we know less, because the details are frightening and haven't really improved much. The more you pay attention, the more horrifying the world is.

Paolo Bacigalupi