Genies rarely have nightmares, for the same reason that elephants don't usually worry about being trampled underfoot. With the possible exception of bottles, there's nothing in the cosmos large enough or malicious enough to frighten them, or stupid enough to try.

It was irritating to have one's physical shortcomings pointed out quite so plainly twice in one evening, once by a beautiful girl and once by a dying badger.

Human beings can get used to virtually anything, given plenty of time and no choice in the matter whatsoever.

New technology is useful, but it's inefficient and ugly; it knows it'll be obsolete by lunchtime tomorrow, so it has no incentive to be anything else

After all, what else is scientific enquiry of any sort other than a controlled version of banging one's head against the universe until something gives?

Luck, like a Russian car, generally only works if you push it.

I try and do 2,500 words a day, every day of the year