What good is theillusion offiction if it cannot show us a way to become the people we need to be?
The Fantasy Writer’s Assistant (p. 40)
In their exquisite self-centeredness our ancestors believed that they were alone in the universe. At the same time, they had convinced themselves thatEarth was the blue apple of God’s eye and the sole reason for all of creation. This two-headed fallacy caused humanity both delusions of grandeur and a paranoiac sense of loneliness.
The Far Oasis (p. 43)
A slight grin that has nothing to do with merriment is the sure sign that she is about to set things straight. Her overall air is one of constantsuspicion, and ever readiness to take offense.
The Woman Who Counts Her Breath (p. 59)
He’s no physician, he’s Grandfather Mess. He couldn’t cure a pain in the ass unless he left the room.
At Reparata (p. 75)
“My dear Philosopher,” said the countess. “You givesanity a bad name.”
At Reparata (p. 75)
Realmemories intrude now and then as do self-admonitions for a wasted life, but the smoke’s other feature is that it lets you not give a shit about anything but taking in more smoke.
Exo-Skeleton Town (p. 105)
Life was never so clear-cut as to offer anything as certain as a war betweenHeaven andHell. That was for stories.
If he’s not crazy, he’s probably playing with your mind. He seems to have a healthy measure of mischief about him. That string tie is a good indicator.
Malthusian’s Zombie (p. 173)
“You gotta watch that anger. The customer’s always right,” said Merk. “The customer’s hardlyever right,” said Slackwell.
Floating in Lindrethool (p. 199)
Between Heaven and Hell there is this place calledreality. Reality might as well be Hell if you don’t have cash.
Floating in Lindrethool (p. 205)
“I understand the human brain. It’s a double-edged sword. An evolutionarily development that gives you the wherewithal to know that life is basically a shit pastry one is obliged to eat slowly, and the ability to disguise that fact with beautifuldelusions.” “Where doGod and the cash come in?” asked Slackwell. “The cash is the pastry part. God, he just likes to watch us eat. The more we eat the more he loves us. You can’t live without love.”
Parents—so essential yet sometimes like something you have stepped in and cannot get off your shoe. What else is there but tolove them?
The Empire of Ice Cream (p. 56)
My hero wasJ. S. Bach. It was from his works that I came to understand mathematics and, through a greater understanding of math, came to a greater understanding of Bach—the golden ratio, the rise ofcomplexity through the reiteration of simple elements, the presence of the cosmic in the common.
The Empire of Ice Cream (pp. 58-59)
Halloween was close, our favorite holiday because it carried none of the pain-in-the-ass holiness of Christmas and still there was free candy.
Nothing is more comforting to people than to have their certainties trumpeted back to them in bold, clear typeface.
The Weight of Words (p. 291)
Now I was stuck and could feel the tide of years suddenly beginning to rise around me.
The Trentino Kid (p. 307)
The wind and sun, the salt water, the hard work aged a body rapidly, and when I would look at the old man who clammed, I was too young to sense thewisdom their years on the water had bestowed upon them and saw only what I did not want to become.
