Quotes from Andre Norton

These are the quotes tweeted from @sueannbowling over the past week. The first four are from Horn Crown, by Andre Norton; the next two are from The Crystal Gryphon, also by Andre Norton.

“Go in peace, though that is not what you will find, for it does not lie within you.” The dryad speaking to Elron.

“All things must balance in any world.” Gathea, trying to explain the Horn-Crowned One to Elron.

“We must fight fear lest we vanish into nothingness.” Elron, facing dark evil.

“You cannot compress years of learning into a few words here and now.” Gathea is saying that she cannot teach Elron what he needs to know, but it strikes me that our politicians try to do it all the time.

“Knowledge is what every man should seek, and knowledge of himself most of all.” Riwal, the Wise Man, speaking to Kerovan when Kerovan seeks him out as a child.

“They are afraid of that which they cannot touch, see, taste, hear or otherwise clearly perceive.” Abbess Malwinna, speaking of her occasional ability to foresee the future.

“Had the near-breakdown of society gone hand in hand with the elimination of pets?” Bowling, “Death of a Dog.” The protagonist is a retired scientist who believed — and published — that dogs helpd humanity evolve.

Quotes From Owlknight, by Lackey and Dixon

These are the quotes tweeted during the last week from @sueannbowling. The first six  quotes are from Owlknight, by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon.

“Of all the things in the world, I think patience is the hardest.” Darian, recognizing that he must be patient if he is to find out what happened to his parents.

“They may drive me crazy, but they’re my parents.” Keisha’s reasoning as she observes Darian’s obsession with finding his parents.

“It was one thing to take pleasure in the defeat of an enemy, but gloating over it made you no better than he.” Shin’a’in saying, thought of by Darian as he hears of the end of the Blood Bear clan.

“Competition keeps the breed strong.” Tyrsell the dyheli stag, when a problem comes up at Council.

“Anyone who understands bribery can’t be that much of a barbarian.” Val’s comment when Chief Vorden suggests that the “gift” of wedding shawls might be considered a bribe.

“No one wants to look bad in front of the important stranger.” Darian’s thoughts on why the Council matters were resolved so quickly – they are also preparing for the arrival of a herald-mage.

“If you don’t feel confident about trying, I sure don’t.” Bowling, Tourist Trap. Timi, when Roi is reluctant to try to dig memories out of his mind.

Quotes from Ann McCaffrey

The first six quotes are from The Masterharper of Pern, by Anne McCaffrey. All of these quotes were tweeted from @sueannbowling over the last week.

“Learn to take honest praise with the same dignity with which you’ve received criticism.” Masterharper Gennell to Robinton, as he is deciding where to send him for his first assignment as a Journeyman.

“Let’s not borrow trouble until it comes our way.” Lobirn, when Robinton is his journeyman and Fax is still merely a holder.

“Knowledge had a way of penetrating any barriers set to exclude it.” Robinton is hoping that parents will pass their knowledge to their children in Fax’s hold, since Fax will not allow the harpers to educate them.

“A wall has two sides, my friends.”  Robinton, mediating a dispute over who should rebuild a broken wall.

“If you believe in anything—anything—keep that faith. ” Masterharper Minnarden talking to Robinton, about Robinton’s (and his) belief that Thread will fall again.

“Got yourself in, get yourself out.” Robinton’s chant as he tries to sail his and Kassia’s honeymoon sloop to safety.

“Lions don’t climb trees.” Roi’s frantic thought as he is attacked by a puma (which he has never seen before) from a tree branch. Bowling, Tourist Trap.

Quotes from Andre Norton

These are the contexts of the lines that have been quoted for the past week from @sueannbowling.

“Prudence is sometimes a weapon when other fail.” Andre Norton, The Jargoon Pard. Kethan, forcing himself to stay hidden after his shape-change.

“The answer lay within my mind.” Andre Norton, The Jargoon Pard. Kethan is beginning to realize that the key to the change between pard and man lies within himself.

“It is how you use it or abuse it that counts.” Andre Norton, Horn Crown. Quaine suspects that Elron has second sight and is warning him that it may be dangerous in this land.

“Each man walks the road that is appointed to him.” Andre Norton, Horn Crown. The Wise Woman, speaking to Elron as he prepares to leave.

“Go your own way, as all men do.” Andre Norton, Horn Crown. The Wise woman is making it clear that she doesn’t think much of the male sex.

“All things are possible when a seed is well planted.” Andre Norton, Horn Crown. The dryad speaking to Elron.

“If I eat it myself I know exactly where it will go.” Sue Ann Bowling, Tourist Trap. Kyrie, who is worried about her figure, mindspeaking to Roi

Since it’s the fourth of July today, you might want to look at an earlier post of mine on the history of fireworks. I’ve just updated it with some pictures.

Quotation Contexts

These are the quotations tweeted from @sueannbowling over the past week.

“Politicians! Always butting in where leaders are needed!” Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon, Owlsight. Kerowyn, disgusted by what Keisha has to tell her about the town mayor.

“Revenge doesn’t get you anything productive. And it tends to breed more of the same.” Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon, Owlsight. Keisha to Darian, as they prepare to kidnap one of the barbarians to get information.

“I want answers, but sometimes there aren’t any.” Merces Lackey and Larry Dixon, Owlknight. Darian, hoping that with Wintersky’s help he can find some clue to what happened to his parents.

“You are known by who you know.” Merces Lackey and Larry Dixon, Owlknight.  Saying about the Northerners, thought of by Keisha as Hywel is strutting a bit.

“It’s one short step from being sure that something good can’t last to sabotaging it.” Mercdes Lackey and Larry Dixon, Owlknight. Shandi to Keisha, when she thinks her sister should push things a bit with Darian.

“Luck only favored those who didn’t need it.” Merces Lackey and Larry Dixon, Owlknight. A saying recalled by Darian when he wants to go after his parents: “Lucky” people are those who are prepared.

“Her mind opened a memory to him, of snow and speed and the awesome power of the avalanche beneath her.” Sue Ann Bowling, Homecoming. Marna is remembering avalanche surfing, merely an extreme sport from her point of view. Lai sees it as sheer madness.

Quotes from Anne McCaffrey

These are the lines quoted last week from @sueannbowling, with their contexts.

“The fool who treats himself has only a fool for a patient.” Anne McCaffrey, Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern. Desdra to Masterhealer Caspiam, when he is sick and arguing with her on medications.

“The resolute man accepts misfortune and endeavors to survive, mature and improve because of it.” Anne McCaffrey, Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern. Caspiam speaking to Alessan, assuring him that the epidemic is not his fault.

“One is always more sorry for the things one didn’t do than the things one has done.” Anne McCaffrey, Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern. Moreta, during the needlethorn expedition when Alessan remarks that she had been clever to bring mixed pairs – which include Moreta and Alessan.

“What matter the motives, hidden or open?” Anne McCaffrey, Nerilka’s Story. Nerilka arguing with herself that her determination to help nurse the sick at Ruatha is no less valid because she has long wanted to go there.

“It doesn’t cost anything to be gracious, no matter where you are or what you’re doing.”  Anne McCaffrey, The Masterharper of Pern. Something Robinton’s mother often told him.

“Modesty is all very well and good, but don’t let it get in your way.” Anne McCaffrey, The Masterharper of Pern. Masterharper Genell to Robinton, as he is deciding where to send him for his first assignment as a journeyman.

“If we start saying the water distribution system is unsafe, they’ll get their water from sources we know are unsafe.” Sue Ann Bowling, Tourist Trap. Anden, the administrator on Eversummer, when Marna suggests that the plague they are facing may be waterborne.

Don’t forget the blog hop Friday!

Quotes from Ray Bradbury

My very old copy of The Martian Chronicles

Ray Bradbury died last week. In his honor, all of the quotations I tweeted last week were from his first book, The Martian Chronicles. Some of the problems he wrote about have been – not fixed, but at least changed. Others – well, the book was published in 1950, and we don’t seem to have made much progress in the last 70 years. The book is a collection of short stories (some would qualify as flash fiction today) and I have given the title of the story the quote is from.

My copy is in better shape than I remembered, though it’s pretty yellowed. I think it must have been The Illustrated Man that I remembered as falling apart, as I was unable to find it.

“Marriage made people old and familiar, while still young.” Ray Bradbury, “Ylla.” Thoughts of a Martian wife, before the Earth people arrive.

“It’s just words we don’t understand.” Ray Bradbury, “The Summer Night  Martian children, singing “Old Mother Hubbard” but not understanding why.

“Doesn’t an old thing always know when a new thing comes?” Ray Bradbury, “And the Moon be Still as Bright.” Spencer, talking to the Captain of the fourth expedition to Mars, after they have discovered all the Martians dead of chicken pox.

“We Earth Men have a talent for ruining big, beautiful things.” Ray Bradbury, “And the Moon be Still as Bright,” from The Martian Chronicles. Spencer, in response to the Captain saying “We won’t ruin Mars. It’s too big and too good.”

“Anything that is strange is no good to the average American.” Ray Bradbury, “And the Moon be Still as Bright.” Spencer talking to the Captain as he remembers his father.

“There were so many things a tree could do.” Ray Bradbury, “The Green Morning.” Benjamin Driscoll becomes the Johnny Appleseed of Mars.

“Them as has helps them as hasn’t.” Ray Bradbury, “Way in the Middle of the Air.” This story (remember it was published in 1950 and some of the language would not be acceptable today) takes as its theme the decision of African-Americans all over the south to emigrate to Mars – and they are determined no one shall be left behind because of debts.

Quotes from Andre Norton

The first six of these quotes, all tweeted last week from @sueannbowling, are from Year of the Unicorn, by Andre Norton. This is a first person book, with Gillan as the narrator.

“Can anyone accept what they do not know?” Gillan is fighting with her own doubts and fears.

“Can any one truly say what a man is, or may come to be?” Gillan is trying to stand up against the pack, but at this point she does not believe her own words.

“Fear could become so familiar that it no longer was a goad.” This is what Gillan has said earlier, but now that the pack is trying to separate her spirit from her body, she is not so sure.

“Fear can kill.” Gillan, hiding from That which Runs The Ridges.

“Was I only real to myself?” Gillan, realizing that she has no shadow.

“To see ever the cloud and not the sun is to woefully and willingly blind oneself.” Gillan, as she prepares to take on herself the challenge to the pack.

“You’d be cheating them by taking more than your share of the work.” Sue Ann Bowling, Tourist Trap. Penny to Roi, when he offers to use his esper abilities to help with camp chores.

Quotation Contexts

The first 6 quotes are from Owlsight, by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon. These are the quotes that were tweeted from @sueannbowling last week.

“Pain shared is pain halved, as joy shared is joy doubled.” One of the things the Elder Rainlance says as part of the Hawkbrother marriage ceremony.

“You must not pledge yourselves thinking you can change each other.” Rainlance, a little farther along in the marriage ceremony.

“It was easiest to get something done if you didn’t stop to ask permission first.” Keisha’s thought as she is preparing to move out of her parents’ house.

“It isn’t what you call me, it’s what I answer to that counts.” Tayledras proverb, quoted to Darian by Firefrost when he is wondering about the Tayledras habit if taking (or being given) use-names.

“The more stress you’re under, the fewer stresses you notice.” Darian noticing that quarrels have increased in the village, which is under far less stress than the party that first rescued him.

“Bluffs either cost you half or twice.” Shin’a’in saying, quoted by Snowfire when it looks as if they will have to bluff an invading tribe.

“If you see me heading off in the wrong direction, say something. Sue Ann Bowling, Tourist Trap. Roi’s comment to Penny when she objects to his taking over in what he sees as an emergency.

Quotation Contexts, Anne McCaffrey

The first five quotes are from Dragonseye, by Anne McCaffrey. This is set roughly 200 years after the end of the first round of Threadfall on Pern.

“Good apples in every basket as well as bad.” Bridgely’s return to M’Shall’s “Not every holder in Bitra’s useless, you know.”

“Our glorious past is past.” This is actually two statements. Sallisha starts protesting the new, more practical curriculum, with “But our Glorious past –” and is topped by Sheledon’s “Is past.

“Failure had appalling consequences. Failure usually did.” The full quotation is “And yet, the scale of Threadfall was awesome and failure had appalling consequences.

“Failure usually did.”

“One had to know the bad to properly appreciate the good.” Iantine has been in Bitra Hold (and nearly died escaping) so Bendan Weyr seems like heaven.

“We’ve got what we’ve got and have to make do.” Clisser, the head of the College (precursor to the Harper Hall.) The whole quote is “ ‘Ours not to wonder what were fair in life,’ ” he quoted to himself, “which is a saying I should get printed out to remind me that we’ve got what we’ve got and have to make do.”

“We must be good at surviving to have lived so long on this planet.” Anne McCaffrey, Moreta. Moreta, as she comes to realize that the plague has probably infected her.

“She had to try.” Sue Ann Bowling, Tourist Trap. Amber, when she realizes that her leg is infected, but she must keep going.

And just as a nod to theme day on the blogathon, I’d choose a different title. Homecoming was the first book I published, but it’s not the only one now.