Francis Stevens > Quotes

“When our poor, faultily sensitive vision can perceive a thing, we say that it is visible. When the nerves of touch can feel it, we say that it is tangible. Yet I tell you there are beings intangible to our physical sense, yet whose presence is felt by the spirit, and invisible to our eyes merely because those organs are not attuned to the light as reflected from their bodies. But light passed through the screen, which we are about to use has a wavelength novel to the scientific world, and by it you shall see with the eyes of the flesh that which has been invisible since life began. Have no fear! ("Unseen - Unfeared")”
― Francis Stevens, American Fantastic Tales: Terror and the Uncanny from Poe to the Pulps

“They curtailed the education of the people as needless and too expensive. When the people complained, they placated them by abolishing all grades above the primary and turning the schools into dance halls and free moving-picture theaters.”
― Francis Stevens, The Heads of Cerberus

“I seen things I dassn’t tell of; and I’ve walked the streets of Tremont when the walls of the ten red cities seemed crashin’ all about me. I’ve stood on the docks by the river and seen the river spread and stretch out wide—wide and purple-blue, like the seas is way south. And I’ve seen his white horses come in, with the blood streamin’ free from their throats. And I’ve seen—him—stalkin’ across the waters.”
― Francis Stevens, Claimed

“Mr. Mercy says, "Oh, you're as good as a Superlative already.”
― Francis Stevens, The Heads of Cerberus

“What I want I get, and what I get I keep.”
― Francis Stevens, Claimed

“Drayton strained his eyes toward the hills, already purple in the sun's last rays. What hope was there among those desolate heights, more than was offered by the empty flatness of the plain? How many miles could be traversed by this frail-looking sister of Trenmore's before those dainty, high-heeled pumps of hers were worn to rags? Before she dropped exhausted? How many more miles could he and Trenmore carry her if they found neither food nor water?”
― Francis Stevens, The Heads of Cerberus

“Please don't joke any more, Terry," protested the other wearily. "I've not gone into details, but all the fun has been crushed out of me in the last year or so.”
― Francis Stevens, The Heads of Cerberus