The author can always delve into his own personality and find aspects of himself with which he can dress his characters.

In the world I live in, 'not worse' is nearly as good as 'better'.

Particles of raw inspiration sleet through the universe all the time. Every once in a while one of them hits a receptive mind, which then invents DNA or the flute sonata form or a way of making light bulbs wear out in half the time. But most of them miss. Most people go through their lives without being hit by even one.

It cannot be said often enough that science fiction as a genre is incredibly educational - and I'm speaking the written science fiction, not 'Star Trek.' Science fiction writers tend to fill their books if they're clever with little bits of interesting stuff and real stuff.

Don't you understand?" snarled Rincewind. "We are going over the Edge, godsdammit!" "Can't we do anything about it?" "No!" "Then I can't see the sense in panicking," said Twoflower calmly.

Them as can do has to do for them as can't. And someone has to speak up for them as has no voices.

Where's the pleasure in bein' the winner if the loser ain't alive to know they've lost?