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The one thing I never counted on was having luck on my side.It was generally simpler that way.
Alastair Reynolds -
He had never lost that mingled combination of awe and terror that welled up in him when confronted by the routinely huge distances of space.
Alastair Reynolds
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Everything looked utterly normal, exactly as Thalia had expected save for the absence of a rampaging mob.
Alastair Reynolds -
'But at least you cared. At least you were ready to do something.''This little mess,' Auger said, 'is all because of people who were ready to do something. People like me, who always know when they’re right and everyone else is wrong. Maybe what we need is a few less of us.'
Alastair Reynolds -
Am I that fascinating to you, or are you just more bored than I imagined?
Alastair Reynolds -
It was one of the oldest tricks of mob-management: give them a hate figure.
Alastair Reynolds -
They screwed with democracy. I’m not going to lose much sleep when democracy screws them back.
Alastair Reynolds -
'But you can be sure there are pockets of wealth and influence, and I’m willing to wager that a few people are wealthier and more influential than they were before.''That’s always the way with disasters,' I said.'What?''They’re never bad news for everyone. Something nasty always rises to the top.'
Alastair Reynolds
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The new regime which had succeeded his after the coup had become as fragmentary as the old, in the time-honoured way of all revolutions.
Alastair Reynolds -
'How long have we been friends, Dan?''I wouldn’t exactly call it friendship; more a kind of mutual parasitism.'
Alastair Reynolds -
The Jugglers store patterns, but they seldom show any sign of comprehending actual content. We’re dealing with a mindless biological archiving system, a museum without a curator.
Alastair Reynolds -
Rashmika could tell when anyone around her was lying. But seeing through her own deceptions was another matter entirely.
Alastair Reynolds -
They had been in love, desperately in love, but the universe cared nothing for the vicissitudes of the human heart.
Alastair Reynolds -
'Is he dangerous?'Anyone who lies for a living is dangerous.'
Alastair Reynolds
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'That’s how it went, wasn’t it Zebra?''It might,' she said. 'If I happened to be colluding in your own delusions.'
Alastair Reynolds -
Memo to himself: the one way to make people panic was to warn them not to.
Alastair Reynolds -
Anxiety is a useful tool: it forces us to make plans. But when too much anxiety freezes us into indecision, it needs checking.
Alastair Reynolds -
She wondered if she could put a dart in his eye. It would not kill him, but it might take the edge off his cockiness.
Alastair Reynolds -
'I’m not a bad man, Ilia. I’m just someone who knows exactly what needs to be done.''Like you said, always the most dangerous sort.'
Alastair Reynolds -
The poor didn’t have them and so the rich flaunted them, the larger and more conspicuous the better.
Alastair Reynolds
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Evolution doesn’t greatly care about what happens to creatures once they’ve passed on their genetic heritage.
Alastair Reynolds -
'Can I still wish you good luck?''You can wish me what the hell you like. It won’t make any difference. If it did, it would mean I hadn’t prepared well enough.
Alastair Reynolds -
'I feel as if I’m missing all the excitement.''In my experience,' Tunguska said, making himself a temporary seat, 'excitement is always better when it happens to other people.'
Alastair Reynolds -
'How are the internal complications, anyway? Aren’t the other branches of government getting a little suspicious about all these machinations?''Let’s just say that one or two discreet assassinations may still have to be performed,' Khouri said.
Alastair Reynolds