Question: How long ago did you come to sci-fi? Idols of your childhood?
V.V.: I have come to fandom when I first got to a meeting of the club, in 1984 or 1985. I was introduced by Sergey Stulnik. Before that I read only science fiction, not associating with anyone. Having completed my military service in 1988, I met other fans - went outside. Took up going to cons. Idols of my childhood: Nosov «Neznayka on the Moon». Later I was fascinated by Lem's novel «Astronauts».

Question: A wave of translated and Soviet sci-fi began recently. What do you think about it: is it a qualitative or a quantitative leap?
V.V.: The quantitative leap is obvious, there is more sci-fi now. And the situation with quality is ambivalent - there is a lot of hack-work now, that would have never be published before. And at the same time now there is a number of good works that were not published before: Zelazny, Harrison's «Deathworlds». I.e. both leaps are present here.

Question: What do you think about the present situation in the Soviet fandom?
V.V.: The fandom is transforming. When all fan movement was prohibited, fans were friends, were ready to sacrifice anything. Nowadays fandom is a way of life and a profession. Everything is bought and sold, commerce everywhere. I don't say it's good or bad, it's just the fandom has become different. It's less and less interesting at club sessions due to commercialization. Fandom is coming to a some totally new stage.

Question: Your short story «Sadovaya, 7» is, I suppose, a deeply lyrical thing. Is there an author in foreign or soviet sci-fi that has reached unattainable height in this direction?
V.V.: About «Sadovaya, 7»... It's a wandering story. I am a wanderer myself. I think it is an unfulfilled dream. And about other authors - Sheckley has good things. Also I like a Chzech wtiter Karel Mihal. He has very interesting stories, for example «Brownie of Gouska the Paver», or «Strong Personality». There is a zest in them. And thrillers are my second love. Sergey Ivanov's thriller «Roaring Wings» had a greatest impact upon me. It's not a pure thriller, but a thrilling thing nevertheless. I can't forget it. And, more importantly, it is readable twice. And it is my chief criterion - is it interesting the second time or not. I think sci-fi must be interesting and the notorious Strugatsky's story «Burdened by evil» wasn't interesting for me. Maybe they have overgrown the reader so much with this thing, and left me so far behind, that I ceased to understand, perceive them. And the works that are referred as «cheap but good» I always liked, and I try to write in this way.

Question: Do you write thrillers yourself?
V.V.: My very first story is a pure thriller, without any thoughts - plot and action. My second story is somewhat different, but still written by the laws of a thriller.