Novelists From Canada

"“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."

"“There was no indication of anything sinister?” “No, though a truly sinister intrusion would be phrased in such a way as to appear not sinister.” “That is not reassuring,” I said."

"When we have done more traveling together, you will come to see that occasionally we must be other than forthright with local authorities. Many of them lack imagination and react poorly to creativity and unexpected innovation."

"Hell, like Heaven, was an autocracy."

"“I suspect that the benefits of travel are indeed overrated. It seems mostly hardship and needless frustration,” she said."

"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."

"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."

"“What is your theory?” my assistant asked, but again I declined to answer. A mistaken theory that never went farther than its originator’s mind does not count as an error."

"“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.”"

"But from its inception, the labor movement had attracted the same range of opportunists and self-servers as would any activity that offered the unscrupulous an avenue toward power and self-enrichment."

"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."

"“Your remarks demonstrate how proximity narrows perspective,” said Gaskarth. “Events in and of themselves are less pertinent than the effects and interpretations to which they give rise.”"

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

"Assigning blame is a fixation of an ineffective mind."

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

"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."

"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."

"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."

"Have you considered the possibility that our standards as to what is important may differ?"

"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.”"

"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.”"

"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.”"

"“Down among your... population, in addition to labor organizers, you’re bound to have a few public relations consultants.” “Quite a few,” said the Archfiend. “It’s a field that rewards amoral inventiveness.”"

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

"“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.”"

"Gathering himself together, he asked the dwarf, “Was all this in some way planned and predetermined?” Gaskarth turned upon the young man a thoughtful gaze. “There are those who say that all is planned, to the placement of the last mote and mite. There are others who say that nothing is purposed, and that the galaxies themselves swing where they will. And then there are some, like me, who prefer to walk on, saying as little as possible.”"

"“We all use the world, and are used by it,” he said, after a moment. “Some of us are more aware than others of using and being used. It is our fortune to have fewer illusions.”"

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

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

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

"“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.”"

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

"“I disagree,” said Jenbo Lal. “Disagreeability is your forte,” said Gaskarth."

"The commerciants of Olkney were renowned for their egalitarian spirit, judging rich and poor alike solely by the weight of their purses."

"“Who was it who said that irony is the fundamental operating principle of the universe?” “I believe,” I said, “that it was Henghis Hapthorn.”"

"I cannot comment on your beliefs. What appears self-evident to one person may seem to another observer to be entirely the product of an idiosyncratic bent."

"When the Wheel turns, much that is impossible in the old phase becomes commonplace in the new."

"“Then how is it done?” “By magic, I suppose. How else?” “That is a foolish and flippant answer,” he said. “‘Oh, it’s magic,’ is not a handy solution to every mystery. I am not the child.”"

"“I do not wish to experience that again.” “Some people claim that the occasional exposure to fear enhances their enjoyment of more tranquil circumstances.” “Some people ought to be confined for their own good,” my assistant said, “and to prevent them from spreading dangerous inanities.”"

"“Then you will have to look at an experienced integrator.” “You mean a used and discarded one.” “We could quibble over narrow distinctions and shades of meaning all day, only to greet the evening with nothing accomplished. Or we could press on and solve your problem.”"

"I might have been lulled by her show of confidence, had I not commanded a fact or two about spaceships. “A Grand Itinerator compares to an Aberrator as does a mansion to a country cottage,” I said. “It is a matter of point of view,” she argued. “It depends on whether one concentrates on differences or congruencies. Being of a broad and generous spirit, I prefer the latter perspective. You may be the type who niggles.”"

"Persons who disguise themselves when they go out into the world rarely do so for innocent purposes. At best, they mean to pull some merry prank; all too often, they intend a considerably deeper mischief."

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

"Also, there was a remarkable display of objects that primitive humanity had allegedly thrust through various parts of their bodies—some of them extremely sensitive—for decorative effect. I shuddered slightly at the thought: self-mutilation, though everyone’s right, had always taken me aback."

"I had no doubt that there was madness here. How could it be otherwise in a cosmos that was ordered solely by will? It did not mean that the insane would automatically rise to the apex of the social order; their efforts would be diffused by the randomness of the impulses that drove them. But those whose extraordinary powers of will propelled them to the heights of power and rank would always be vulnerable to going further than they should. And there would be none but their equally mad rivals to restrain them."

"My intent was to spot not only Massim Shar’s cut-out but the other member of his criminal coterie who would be there to watch our transaction. There might even be a watcher to watch the watcher, trust being a commodity in short supply among the lawless.”"

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

"“We should be frank with each other,” Lavelan said. It had been my experience that most conversations that were launched on such a declaration represented an attempt by the initiator to gain far more information than he intended to give."