Could You Repeat That? 149
Fuzzy Nation, John Scalzi
"Threaten me ever again, DeLise, and I'll make sure the rest of your life is spent guarding bat shit in a ZaraCorp guano mine. If you don't think I can do it, piss in my direction one more time. Do it."
Ancillary Justice, Ann Leckie
My fear and uncertainty, my near panic, drained away. The omen Stillness had flipped, become Movement. And Justice was about to land before me, clear and unambiguous.
The House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende
"The government's already got enough problems to deal with. It's not going to interfere with us."
"It wouldn't be the first time they've attacked students," someone said.
"Public opinion wouldn't stand for it," Gomez replied. "This is a democracy. It's not a dictatorship and it never will be."
"We always think things like that only happen elsewhere," said Miguel, "until they happen to us too."
Mr. Kiss and Tell, Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham
"Endless stacks of evidence and unsorted information to sift through? You're thrilled. This is Veronica Mars catnip."
"Yeah, better get your spray bottle at the ready in case I start rolling on a pile of carpet-fiber spectographs," Veronica said with a mock scowl. "This is why you shouldn't hire your friends. It's all nice and professional until the insubordination starts."
Mislaid, Nell Zink
"It's a way of labeling you. You fall in love with one man, so they tell you you're into men, which is a joke. Nobody likes men. I mean, come on. Most of them are disgusting."
The First Bad Man, Miranda July
They were terrible people, even slightly worse than most. I stalled, fumbling with the sleeves of my gown. Should I introduce myself or try to kill them? Not violently, just enough that they wouldn't exist.
Eileen, Ottessa Moshfegh
Everything just sat there collecting dust, a magazine splayed over the arm of the couch for years, candy dish full of dead ants. I remember it like those photos of homes in the desert ravaged by nuclear testing. I think you can imagine the details for yourself.
Fates and Furies, Lauren Groff
"And do visit, from time to time. I am curious to see how you change. I predict either something ferocious or something thoroughly bourgeois. You will be a world-eater or a mother of eight."
"I won't be a mother of eight," she said.
Indexing: Reflections, Seanan McGuire
Like all Snow Whites before her, and all Snow Whites to come, Henrietta Marchen enjoyed the silent, blameless sleep of the departed. The air around her was cold, and smelled of apples, and nothing stirred.
At All Costs, David Weber
"My God, woman! Your life was destroyed. You've rebuilt a new one, a deeply productive one, without ever surrendering. You're entitled to not be strong about everything every instant. And you have the right to admit that it hurts, and that things frighten you."
How the Light Gets In, Louise Penny
It was, he knew, very little use lying to Myrna. But neither could he tell her the truth.
"I'm fine," he said, and saw her smile.
Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
She would read it in a week; she needed a week to gather her strength. She would reply, too, she told herself. She would tell him everything. But a week later, the letter still lay there. She placed a book on top of it, then another book, and one day it was swallowed beneath files and books. She would never read it.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Benjamin Alire Saenz
I think I really loved him when I was a little boy. I think I really did. Maybe that's why I felt sad and empty--because I'd missed him all my life.
Kitty Steals the Show, Carrie Vaughn
This city had been a city for two thousand years, and I could feel that with every step I took. Bits of all that time were still here, alive, even if it was just in the form of collective memory.
I wondered if being in London was a little like being a vampire.
T is for Trespass, Sue Grafton
In my experience, the urge to rescue generates aggravation for the poor would-be heroine without any discernible effect on the person in need of help. You can't save others from themselves because those who make a perpetual muddle of their lives don't appreciate your interfering with the drama they've created. They want your poor-sweet-baby sympathy, but they don't want to change.
The Awakened Kingdom, NK Jemisin
"Grief sounds like a bad thing," I said, frowning. "Why don't you and Naha and Mama get rid of it?"
"That would require removing love from existence. Do you believe it would be a good thing to do so?"
Ban en Banlieue, Bhanu Kapil
One thing next to another doesn't mean they touch.
And...
I can't sleep at night. Approaching death each time, I feel neither anxiety nor fear but relief that I can try again.
"Threaten me ever again, DeLise, and I'll make sure the rest of your life is spent guarding bat shit in a ZaraCorp guano mine. If you don't think I can do it, piss in my direction one more time. Do it."
Ancillary Justice, Ann Leckie
My fear and uncertainty, my near panic, drained away. The omen Stillness had flipped, become Movement. And Justice was about to land before me, clear and unambiguous.
The House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende
"The government's already got enough problems to deal with. It's not going to interfere with us."
"It wouldn't be the first time they've attacked students," someone said.
"Public opinion wouldn't stand for it," Gomez replied. "This is a democracy. It's not a dictatorship and it never will be."
"We always think things like that only happen elsewhere," said Miguel, "until they happen to us too."
Mr. Kiss and Tell, Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham
"Endless stacks of evidence and unsorted information to sift through? You're thrilled. This is Veronica Mars catnip."
"Yeah, better get your spray bottle at the ready in case I start rolling on a pile of carpet-fiber spectographs," Veronica said with a mock scowl. "This is why you shouldn't hire your friends. It's all nice and professional until the insubordination starts."
Mislaid, Nell Zink
"It's a way of labeling you. You fall in love with one man, so they tell you you're into men, which is a joke. Nobody likes men. I mean, come on. Most of them are disgusting."
The First Bad Man, Miranda July
They were terrible people, even slightly worse than most. I stalled, fumbling with the sleeves of my gown. Should I introduce myself or try to kill them? Not violently, just enough that they wouldn't exist.
Eileen, Ottessa Moshfegh
Everything just sat there collecting dust, a magazine splayed over the arm of the couch for years, candy dish full of dead ants. I remember it like those photos of homes in the desert ravaged by nuclear testing. I think you can imagine the details for yourself.
Fates and Furies, Lauren Groff
"And do visit, from time to time. I am curious to see how you change. I predict either something ferocious or something thoroughly bourgeois. You will be a world-eater or a mother of eight."
"I won't be a mother of eight," she said.
Indexing: Reflections, Seanan McGuire
Like all Snow Whites before her, and all Snow Whites to come, Henrietta Marchen enjoyed the silent, blameless sleep of the departed. The air around her was cold, and smelled of apples, and nothing stirred.
At All Costs, David Weber
"My God, woman! Your life was destroyed. You've rebuilt a new one, a deeply productive one, without ever surrendering. You're entitled to not be strong about everything every instant. And you have the right to admit that it hurts, and that things frighten you."
How the Light Gets In, Louise Penny
It was, he knew, very little use lying to Myrna. But neither could he tell her the truth.
"I'm fine," he said, and saw her smile.
Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
She would read it in a week; she needed a week to gather her strength. She would reply, too, she told herself. She would tell him everything. But a week later, the letter still lay there. She placed a book on top of it, then another book, and one day it was swallowed beneath files and books. She would never read it.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Benjamin Alire Saenz
I think I really loved him when I was a little boy. I think I really did. Maybe that's why I felt sad and empty--because I'd missed him all my life.
Kitty Steals the Show, Carrie Vaughn
This city had been a city for two thousand years, and I could feel that with every step I took. Bits of all that time were still here, alive, even if it was just in the form of collective memory.
I wondered if being in London was a little like being a vampire.
T is for Trespass, Sue Grafton
In my experience, the urge to rescue generates aggravation for the poor would-be heroine without any discernible effect on the person in need of help. You can't save others from themselves because those who make a perpetual muddle of their lives don't appreciate your interfering with the drama they've created. They want your poor-sweet-baby sympathy, but they don't want to change.
The Awakened Kingdom, NK Jemisin
"Grief sounds like a bad thing," I said, frowning. "Why don't you and Naha and Mama get rid of it?"
"That would require removing love from existence. Do you believe it would be a good thing to do so?"
Ban en Banlieue, Bhanu Kapil
One thing next to another doesn't mean they touch.
And...
I can't sleep at night. Approaching death each time, I feel neither anxiety nor fear but relief that I can try again.