Who ... what are they?" "My pride and glory," Alex said fondly. "Betty and Lucy Coltrane. Best damned bouncers in the business. Though of course I'd never tell them that. Fiercer than pit bulls and cheaper to run. Married to each other. They had a dog once, but they ate it.

There are any number of magical creatures, mostly female, whose singing can bring about horror and death. Sirens, undines, banshees, Bananarama tribute bands...

No one likes to admit that in the end we all die by inches, gradually losing all the defining visual characteristics that make us us

Sometimes humour is all we have to say the things that can't be said.

I take it you know my companion?" Oh,yes!" said Savage, his smile disappearing. "We know all about Ruby Journey. Please don't let her kill anyone important. Or set fire to anything." Your reputation precedes you," Random said dryly to Ruby.

After all, you’re only an immortal until someone manages to kill you. After that, you were just long-lived.

While the cat's away, you may find the rats getting damned uppity.