Short Story Writers From Canada

"The insane had a tendency to cloak others in the strange garments they found hanging in the backs of their own mental wardrobes. So, for that matter, did the rest of us, but the consequences of error were usually less drastic."

"“Magic,” said my integrator, “has rules. At the heart of the willful, associative universe, we find a modicum of rationalism, just as we find uncertainty at the core of the rational cosmos.” “Exactly,” I said. “And there seems no other explanation for it than sheer perversity on the part of whatever entity is responsible for the whole untidy business.” I thought about it a moment more then said, “Perversity, or just a very idiosyncratic sense of humor.”"

"“Are you familiar with Wallader’s theory that every society is fundamentally organized around one or another of the cardinal sins?” “I believe not,” I said. “He argues that the true seed of every culture, whatever the ideals to which it gives lip service, always turns out to be one of the seven mortal iniquities identified by the ancients: pride, greed, and anger are the most common; lust, gluttony, and envy less so; those based on sloth usually do not last.”"

"I realized that Chumblot’s brief had told only the official story which, as in many sophisticated societies, departed starkly from the practical facts."

"To me, the human body was not a quasi-metaphysical mystery to be unraveled. It was a kind of soft machine whose parts could be repaired when they broke down, or—even better—replaced entirely with materials God would have used if He’d only had access to teflon and stainless steel."

"Bunker Hill Sansom—though he told everyone to call him Bunky, and God help any who didn’t—had made his billions by finding new ways to do old things. Inarguably, his ways were better ways, provided your definition of “better” was “more fashionable.”"

"“Very well,” I said, “let us roll the pebble and get the avalanche on its way.”"

"“I detected some quavers in his voice that indicated stress. But I would not say that he lied.” “Though it was not the whole truth.” “It never is. The ‘whole truth’ starts with the beginning of the world and its telling takes an inordinately long time.”"

"A research scientist is someone who cannot rest content within the confines of existing knowledge, but always itches to know what is over the horizon. Or it’s somebody who doesn’t know to leave well enough alone."

"“I have a plan.” “What kind of plan?” “A daring and bold one,” he said. “Is that wise?” “It has to be that kind of plan. It’s that kind of cosmos.”"

"“That does not sound like I’m getting an answer soon.” “We’re glad you understand.” “No,” says Jason, “I don’t understand!” “Then we’re sorry you don’t understand.”"

"They wake up the lead guitarist, although it takes him a while to get both his eyes pointed in the same direction. But the bass player is as laid-back as bassmen usually are, and the drummer’s not as insane as most of his peers."

"Well, as I say, authority is always lawfully relinquished, but sometimes the legitimacy is acquired after the relinquishment. “You mean retroactively?” I mean that cause and effect are not always arranged in an ideal sequence. “In other words,” Filidor translated, “not only do victors write the histories, but usurpers also rewrite the rule book to justify the illicit seizure of office.” Perhaps not the most felicitous manner of putting it, but essentially correct. “I am surprised the people put up with such shenanigans. They should rise up.” Unwittingly, I am sure, you put your finger on the flaw in your own reasoning. “How so?” You said, “They should rise up,” not “We should rise up.” As long as it is a matter to be solved by others, it will not be."

"Insanity was not unknown among the wealthy. Indeed, some forms of madness had sometimes been cultivated as fashionable accessories."

"The resident said, “I have heard it argued that the world as it is now arranged must be the right order of things, for a competent Creator would not allow disequilibrium.” Grolion found the concept jejeune. “My view is that the world is an arena in which men of deeds and courage drive the flow of events.”"

"“In any case”—he gestured at the car—“this vehicle has achieved a state of permanent inanimation.”"

"The resident made a casual gesture. “These are matters of history, of which our old Earth has already far too much. We need not consider them.” “True,” said Grolion, “we have only now. But some ‘nows’ are connected to particularly pertinent ‘thens’ and the prudent man takes note of the connections.”"

"“I will give you,” said Grolion, “a promissory note for a handsome sum, redeemable the moment I am restored to my birthright.” “The restoration of your fortunes, though no doubt inevitable, is not guaranteed to arrive before the sun goes out.”"

"The young man glanced at the document. His first thought was that its author must have learned penmanship from a seismograph."

"Hell, like Heaven, was an autocracy."

"Coming whence you do, you doubtless assume that the mores and customs of your own land arise from the workings of simple human nature. But human nature is far from simple, and what appears natural in your own milieu may seem chillingly alien when transported into some foreign sphere."

"“Knowledge can be a hindrance to right action,” answered the little man. “There are those who hold that, if we but knew the full ramifications of even our least deeds, the ensuing concatenations of cause and effect would paralyze us with indecision.”"

"Into the Zeelotic ethos, we have injected the philosophical axiom—well known to the field of fashion—that the outmoded only remains so until it becomes unremembered, after which it may justly return as the avant-garde."

"“I am not one to deny the broadening effects of distant lands,” offered Nofreg, “yet I have often said that the chief benefit of travel is to allow the returned sojourner a renewed appreciation of his native milieu.”"

"“This conversation would be more easily conducted,” said Filidor, “if I had any notion of what you are talking about.”"

"Does not the acceptance of a spurious perfection end the search for true perfection?"

"“I will inform the world of your preference,” said Gaskarth, “but I doubt it will lead to any significant improvements in your lot.”"

"“From within such a calcified culture, no change can be generated; the impetus for reform must arise from without. Hence, the external threat posed by Hunan Diath.” “Who does not exist,” said Filidor. “Who need not exist,” said Gaskarth, “so long as the idea can do its work.”"

"Talking was only one of the uses to which Chalivire liked to put her large and loose-lipped mouth; another was filling it with the products of The Braid’s renowned kitchens."

"As ever, you vainly grasp at diaphanous vastness while the tangible turns to mist in your hands."

"The direct approach is not always the wisest strategy, as those who have fallen off mountains can testify."

"Things are as they were meant to be. “But it was arranged so by you and me.” Then we are instruments of fate. “Knowing instruments,” said Filidor. How does that make a difference?"

"Filidor marveled at the intransigence of adolescence, not remembering that he had possessed an abundance of the same quality not many years since."

"“That is unfair,” said Filidor. Gavne shrugged. “Things are as they are. If you quest after justice, young women are the wrong continent to explore. They run more to clemency or spite.”"

"She could be—he hoped would be—what he had always lacked: a center to the map of his life, that one, necessary fixed point from which he could navigate out into the world and by which he could always find his way back home again."

"Filidor was becoming more and more convinced that he had recently been inhabiting a reality that was at sharp variance to the rest of the world’s."

"Mortals have always been frightened of the night's velvet embrace and the creatures that walk in it, and yet they find themselves mesmerized by it."

"There was sadness in her, of course, but she didn't wish to crack like fine china either. She could not wither away. In the world of the living, one must live. And had this not been her wish? To live. Truly live."

"He'd fallen in love slowly and quietly, and it was a quiet sort of love, full of phrases left unsaid, laced with dreams."

"In her spare time, she looked to books or the stars for company."

"But does it matter what we call Latin American literature? Isn’t a rose by any other name just as sweet? In my experience, it matters because categories create expectations."

"Categories should not act as straitjackets, and yet the magic realism label has sometimes strangled rather than liberated Latin American literature."

"Gothic has this slow, moody, syrupy sort of pace. That is what gives gothic its shape."

"In my experience, the term magic realism is often overused and stereotypical, spoken without much thought."

"Magic realism once referred to the literary style of a loosely connected group of Latin American authors who penned works some 60 years ago, but in the English-speaking world, the term has become synonymous with Latin American writing in general. Picture every work by a British writer being called “Austenesque” today, and you get an idea of this phenomenon."

"I wish we had more nuanced, complex conversations about books. Why can’t we speak in expansive terms about genre and aesthetics? About mood and texture? About things that fit into categories and the ones that defy them?"

"Words are seeds, Casiopea. With words you embroider narratives, and the narratives breed myths, and there's power in the myth. Yes, the things you name have power."

"It's probably a lot better to imagine that you can deal with vampires and witches, because at least those, there's some ways to combat them. When you're talking about humans, there are no certain remedies for dealing with a band of roving soldiers."

"Growing up in Mexico, we didn't have a dividing line between the fantastical and the literary, like you do in Canada, so it bled through. Therefore, my writing bleeds through categories and I enjoy the challenge of changing constantly, like molting out of a book."

"Thematically, I like to write quiet stories. I’m not a bang-bang kind of writer. I love, love Shirley Jackson. Stuff that is slow and builds up layer by layer. Sometimes my mother makes fun of me because of that. She’d rather that I have more shooting and spaceships going woooosh."