The elevator shaft was a kind of heat sink. Hot food was cold by the time it arrived. Cold food got colder. No one knew what would happen to ice cream, but it would probably involve some rewriting of the laws of thermodynamics.

My advice is this. For Christ's sake, don't write a book that is suitable for a kid of 12 years old, because the kids who read who are 12 years old are reading books for adults. I read all of the James Bond books when I was about 11, which was approximately the right time to read James Bond books.

It was sad music. But it waved its sadness like a battle flag. It said the universe had done all it could, but you were still alive.

Cake is not the issue here.

Soon to come in licorice, orange, cinnamon, and banana, but not strawberry, because I hate strawberries.

I taught myself more in the library than school taught me.

It is always useful to face an enemy who is prepared to die for his country," he read. "This means that both you and he have exactly the same aim in mind.