Steve Boyett Quotes

Language is a biggie, too. I utterly loathe fantasy novels in which characters stride thusly up yon hill. Walk up the damned thing, for the love of god. This Renaissance Faire lily-gilding has damaged the veracity of contemporary fantasy more than any single quality I can think of (though arguably the inability of many fantasy [and science fiction] writers to have the perspective to see how often they engage in what Freud called “projection” may be an equal culprit in the self-ghettoization of fantasy and science fiction as literary forms).

Tip: utopian and floral town names are inversely proportional to their hellholishness.

Nothing’s worth living for if there aren’t things you think are worth dying for.

The Boyett Style Guide: (a) anything worth doing is worth overdoing (I can’t write a check if it isn’t in iambic pentameter); (b) anything worth saying is worth saying three times; (c) leave no literary stone unturned; (d) fill all cracks, paint all surfaces, and illuminate all dark corners; and (e) whenever two or more metaphors are suitable, use them all. I never metaphor I didn’t like.

A difference which makes no difference is no difference.

I don’t think I believe Evil exists. I believe selfishness does.

You had to be a virgin to touch a unicorn...
A flush crept up my neck. Okay, so I’d touched her. Being a virgin had some advantages after all. Hooray.

Innocence is in many ways ignorance.

Don’t go looking for adventure; you might find it.

Change implies cause, and cause implies source. Things don’t just happen.

Life goes on, yes, and our capacity for self-deception accompanies it.

'Different laws of physics,' said Ariel, "and 'supernatural' seem synonymous to me.

The end of the world turned out to be something I preferred to fantasize about rather than experience.

The National Hot Air Museum is just down the road a piece, he added. "Better known by its branch names: the Capitol and the White House.

But we've got to be quiet. Understand?"
"I know how to be quiet. Even girls can do it, under pressure.