It's still magic even if you know how it's done.

After a while, another voice said: One, two, three, four- And the universe came into being. It was wrong to call it a big bang. That would just be noise, and all that noise could create is more noise and a cosmos full of random particles. Matter exploded into being, apparently as chaos, but in fact as a chord. The ultimate power chord.

Belief was never mentioned at home, but right actions were taught by daily example.

First draft: let it run. Turn all the knobs up to 11. Second draft: hell. Cut it down and cut it into shape. Third draft: comb its nose and blow its hair. I usually find that most of the book will have handed itself to me on that first draft.

But that was just it - hate was exactly the right word. Hate is a force of attraction. Hate is just love with its back turned.

What're quantum mechanics?" "I don't know. People who repair quantums, I suppose.

All holy piety in public, and all peeled grapes and self-indulgence in private.