In a basis of it interview conversation with the writer at the Kharkov festival of a fantasy "Star bridge-2002" has laid down.

— So with what all has begun?

It is difficult to find any starting point, all has turned out by itself. In the late eighties (last century) have got to me on eyes the first publications of a foreign fantasy. It is possible to tell, all and has begun with it.

— Began with stories?

No, the novel the "Turncoat" who subsequently has become by the first part of the trilogy «Wandering Senora» was the first, then there were stories.

— It was difficult to make the way to the first editions, publications?

Difficultly. Here it is necessary to thanks to tell G.L.Oldi. They have managed to punch a wall which somewhere till 1995-96 seemed insuperable — both in Kharkov, and in large Russian publishing houses. Actually on their enthusiasm and energy at first in Kharkov the first collections of a series "Crossroads" and books of the Ukrainian writers in a series «New Russian fantasy» have been published. But also after the first publications it became easier not. I had breaks for three-four years when it was published nothing, and, for example, on the novel «Die or disappear», written to 1996, the contract consisted three times and three times all broke. That one publishing house saw in the novel "Satanism" another collapsed. As a result the novel has been published only in 2000

— What means for you to write, create?

First of all it is requirement. Then — hope. Hope that my own life will change. However, later 10 years can tell, that the hope does not come true yet. (Grins.) but it does not concern creativity any more.

— You are happy with the creativity? You consider what products as the most successful?

With the majority of things it is happy. As the best I consider "Admission", «Lost light», «the Collector of bones», «Die or disappear», stories «Revenge of the invalid», «the Person of road».

— How to you the inspiration comes? How there are ideas of new novels of stories, stories?

All comes by itself. It does not give in to a rational explanation. Much appears from subconsciousness. It you will not name at all idea. But the text in such cases turns out much more powerful, than that is written as a result of reflexion and long painful pristraivanija words to a word.

— And this text shows entirely issued plan finished on sense a fragment?

The plan entirely does not come. The scheme in a head is for this purpose necessary — and I am not engaged in forming of schemes. It always gives artificiality. The surroundings which is as though an attitude projection is first important. On this background there are corresponding characters, and during the first moment I release, I liberate them. If they are natural and psychologically authentic, they start to operate according to internal relentless predefiniteness. Thus often it is absolutely not known, that will occur to them further, by the novel end. In this sense for me it too an adventure which can end badly or... Very badly.
With small stories on the size it is a little in another way: they are written often on one breath, for one or several days.

— How you usually write?

As soon as in a head there is a first offer — start to write. I cannot work under the plan and, say, it is obligatory to give out 10 kilobyte of the text a day. Though I envy those people which in a condition such plans to observe. I can not force to write myself — then the text turns out forced, unnatural. And it hardly probable not the main lack. In a word, if it is written — it is necessary to write. Does not go — do not suffer itself and do not torment a paper.

— Than the choice of so psychodelic genres in creativity has been caused?

Anything. Besides: there is a requirement — write. Thus I do not reflect at all on genres. There is no conscious choice, the plan to write something defined, for example, a mystical thriller.

— What can you advise to beginners which undertake for horror, dark fantasy?

Anything. If the person listens to councils of others it is not so free in the creativity.

— Whether you are going to to use postindustrial, apokalipsichesky the world represented in "Admission", «Lost light», in the following products?

I do not know. But I do not exclude such possibility. The similar world is interesting to that in him the essence of life is bared, all occurs on the verge of a life and death, at characters as a rule does not remain to time for narrow-minded displays. In exchange concerning a safe stall — hourly struggle for existence. Personally I feel katastrofichnost and hopelessness surrounding us, outwardly enough safe, but actually the decaying world.

— Style and subjects of your products change eventually. What promotes such changes?

It is difficult to tell. I simply do not reflect on it. There is only the present moment, all the rest — illusions and memory whims.

— Whether you, what dark fantasy for you can assert already passed stage?

While return it is not felt. Similar, what yes, it behind. But — all can be.

— What do you think of religion?

If the religion helps the person to be released, is perfect. But on a way to clearing it, probably, becomes the passed stage.

— Whether any philosophical ideas interest you?

No. While the secret of a life escapes the perception, no philosophical ideas will help to open it.

— What do you think of such human concepts, how "mercy", "philanthrophy", "love"? What they for you mean?

For certain these lines are inherent in certain people. It is possible to admire them only. And as abstract concepts at all should not be discussed it.

— Whether acquaintances after release of the next "mad" book jump aside from you?

No. (Smiles.) though I suppose existence of such moods among readers — judging by some responses. I concern it absolutely easy — as is known, on taste and colour... It is not pleasant — do not read.

— How you estimate Sorokin, Pelevin's creativity, Stogova (if faced those)?

From the listed read only Pelevin. «CHapaev and Emptiness» — the excellent book. The rest at it was not pleasant.

— What do you think of other writers developing open spaces horror'а? For example, to King, Kuntsu, Barkeru?

King — much is magnificent. Kunts — that came across, was not pleasant. Barker — read far not all from translated, but — it is very quite good. «Risen from a hell» and «the Master of illusions» — classics of a genre. Barker it is good and as the director. In general, many authors have one-two tremendous things in close to horror'у or to a mystical thriller genres — for example, Fleas, Dan Simmons from it «the Song of Cali», Harlan Allison. Also has put at all in a genre. After all in a sense «I do not have mouth, and I wish to shout» — more terribly many things from the category "pure" horror'а. Therefore, probably, it is necessary to speak not about surnames, and about separate products.

— At you rather unusual drawings. You somewhere studied to draw?

No to draw, as well as to write, I did not study. Besides, during the certain moment there was a requirement. The technics gradually became complicated and style changed. But recently I do not draw in general. Perhaps, ripens something new... Or the old dies.

— As is known, besides writing you work in scientific research institute elektroapparatostroenija. Whether probably now to live exclusively literary work?

For me personally it is practically unreal.

— What your nearest creative plans? Work over something large?

Accurate plans are not present.

— Whether read something now? In general, you read what books? Whether it is a lot of?

To read I begin everything, that comes into the hands, — a question only in on what page I throw. And if it is serious, the ten books from huge variety of what now, thanks God, are accessible would not be desirable to allocate.

— For you the glory, popularity matters?

Correctly to answer this question, probably, it is necessary to taste, and if it is speculative, popularity and glory for certain bring certain dividends, but, as they say, a stick about two ends. Anyway, never to it aspired.

— In your opinion, what is a primary problem of the literature — to learn or entertain? Or something the third? What do you think of this problem?

I consider absolutely senseless conversations on literature "problems". For this purpose there is an army of critics and literary critics, which only and are engaged obsasyvaniem similar exaggerated problems, generally in them and thought up to justify the existence. For the writer there is only its Dark tower facing to it — that should be expressed. It either is possible to it, or it is not possible. The rest, by and large, — another's opinions, morals, "problems", ideas — has no value.

— Can tell about the hobbies which are not concerning the literature? For example, what prefer music?

Fate, blues, rhythm-and-blues. Something from a jazz. And in general, depending on a condition, mood and a case, a range wide: from «Motorhead» to «King Crimson» and from Majlza Devisa to «Ramones». But, of course, most of all and more often I listen to a blues. While helps.

— What do you think of such achievement of progress as "world wide web" the Internet?

Useful piece — here at least for this purpose interview. If only flies not uvjazli in a web for ever. And, by the way, read «Lost light».