The platform underneath the balloon fell on her as she was trying to escape," she explained. "She was crushed." "I'd have been disappointed too.

Alternatively you can twist the cylinder round twice clockwise; that turns it into a hand grenade. Five-second fuse. I tested it on one of my assistants. Poor old Bennett... he should be out of hospital in a couple of months.

I'm not very good at creating worlds. I prefer to write about the world as it is.

There are few things in the world that we don't know. Science has explained everything away.

…my life has been a remarkable one. Maybe one day someone will write a book about me . . .” "I’ve never much cared for horror stories.

Do you realise how much trouble you're in?" "Perhaps I'll have some Weetabix after all.

My perfect reader doesn't just read - he or she devours books.