It looked the sort of book described in library catalogues as 'slightly foxed,' although it would be more honest to admit that it looked as though it had beed badgered, wolved and possibly beared as well.

Who'd want a pony when you could have the whole universe? It was far more interesting and you didn't have to muck it out once a week.

I became a journalist at 17. A few hours later, I saw my first dead body, which was somewhat... colourful. That's when I learned you can go on throwing up after you run out of things to throw up.

The sun rose slowly, as if it wasn't sure it was worth all the effort.

Quick, someone's coming! Look real!

It's an old magical principle - it's even filtered down into RPG systems - that magic, while taking a lot of effort, can be 'stored' - in a staff, for example. No doubt a wizard spends a little time each day charging up his staff, although you go blind if you do it too much, of course.

Evil begins when you begin to treat people as things.