Steven Brust: The Cool Stuff Theory of Literature states that all literature consists of whatever the writer thinks is cool, and the reader will enjoy the work to the degree that the reader and writer agree about what’s cool – and this functions all the way from the external trappings to deepest level of theme and to the way the writer uses words. I came up with it when I had to do an interview for Locus and hadn’t enough sleep the night before, so I had to invent something interesting to say. Its Godfather is Gene Wolfe and some advice he gave a writer when judging a writing contest. I heard the advice and it got me to thinking. Most of the things Mr. Wolfe says get me to thinking. Why aren’t you interviewing him?
Chris Olson: Well, uh. . . Mr. Wolfe’s work, as far as I’m aware, doesn’t contain flying reptiles with a penchant for sarcasm. . . .
Steven Brust: Man, couldn’t he do a helluva job of it though, if he wanted to?
