The Author Says:
I wrote this one shortly after reading Kim Stanley Robinson’s RED MARS. I wanted to write an in-solar system story, but after reading Robinson, I knew there was no point in my trying to create a better Mars. I simply couldn’t do it.
So, I turned my thoughts to Venus, and I’m glad I did. Working with a planet with such a challenging atmosphere opened up a whole new set of possibilities which could include floating cities and flying aliens.