Neal Stephenson, sci-fi author of Snow Crash and The Diamond Age, has been writing his new novel, Quicksilver, with a fountain pen. In an interview accompanying the promo site for Cryptonomicon, his most recent novel, Stephenson explains that "Part of the theory was that it would make me less long-winded, but it hasn't actually worked. I think it has improved the quality of the actual work somewhat, simply because it is actually easier to edit something on paper than on screen. So usually every page of the original manuscript has been gone over 2 or 3 times before it goes into the computer and then when I type it into the computer that's another pass again where I can make changes if I want to." Writing teachers may also be interested in Stephenson's other remarks during the interview about his writing process and how research integrates into his novel writing. A work of historical fiction, Quicksilver is scheduled for release March 6, 2003.