Dima Zales > Quotes

“You’re a man after my own heart,” Hillary says with a smile. “That’s actually a pet peeve of mine, and I think you verbalized it perfectly. The entire human race has this tendency—the inclination to cling to their own group. This obsession with sub-dividing ourselves is responsible for practically every evil in the world. Everyone fails to see that the hatred between our people is just another example in a series of these meaningless feuds. They all start with people who are extremely alike, and then a tiny difference creeps in, and people separate along that difference, after which insanity ensues. Sooner or later, you get that ‘we hate you because you hate us’ deadlock, or worse.”
― Dima Zales, The Thought Pushers

“my mouth is currently stuffed with bacon, egg, and English muffin,”
― Dima Zales, Sleight of Fantasy

“A woman. A She, not an It. Blaise could hardly believe it. Could it be? Could this girl be the object?”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“His control lasted long enough for Larn to exit the room. As soon as the door closed behind him, Barson headed to the corner where a sand-filled potato sack was hanging from the ceiling. His hands clenched into massive fists, red-hot jealousy filling every inch of his body. Unable to contain himself any longer, he lashed out, punching the bag over and over again, until his knuckles were sore and sweat ran down his back. Pausing, he ripped off his tunic, and then continued, venting his rage with furious blows.”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“How many books did you get through?” he asked. She sat up in bed, brushing a few strands of long blond hair off her face. “Three hundred and forty nine.” Blaise blinked. “That’s very precise. Are you sure it wasn’t three hundred and forty eight?” “Yes, I’m sure,” she said seriously, then smiled. “In fact, it was 138,902 pages and 32,453,383 words.”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“everything you’ve ever experienced in your ‘real’ life was your brain’s interpretation of your sensory inputs.”
― Dima Zales, Haven

“The old man looked at her. “In that case, why don’t we just let it be? We have never seen anything like it before—an intelligence that was created, not born, a being from the Spell Realm—” “No.” Augusta shook her head, everything inside her rejecting that idea. “We can’t take that kind of risk. The thing needs to be destroyed now, before it has a chance to destroy us.”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“that the hand is warm, rather than cold. When I was a kid, I expected people to feel cold in the Quiet, like stone statues. With the Professional’s hand moved away, I pick up his cards.”
― Dima Zales, The Last Humans: The Complete Trilogy

“The silence was deafening. All around Gala, the fairgoers stood as though frozen in place, staring at the near-accident in morbid fascination. The ale merchant recovered first, jumping toward the shocked child to pull her away from under the barrel. As soon as the girl was not in danger, Gala felt her focus slipping, and the barrel fell, breaking into little bits of wood and splashing ale all over the place.”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“living means experiencing the world with your mind.”
― Dima Zales, Haven

“No wonder people hate seers so much. All these plots within plots are exhausting.”
― Dima Zales, Reluctant Psychic

“The Council Leader nodded, but there was a thoughtful expression on his face. “Have you noticed that she saved a child?” he said slowly, cocking his head to the side. “This creation of Blaise’s might not be as monstrous as you imagine.” “What?” Augusta stared at him in disbelief. “No. That doesn’t mean anything. One act of compassion—if that’s what it was—does not eliminate the threat that this thing poses. You know that as well as I do.”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“For almost two years, the rain had been sparse, and grain was becoming increasingly difficult to obtain. Augusta did her best to purchase whatever grain was available and send it to her people, but the ungrateful wretches still complained.”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“Blaise’s creation, however, was not a myth. She—it—was an artificially created monster with potentially unlimited powers. For all they knew, it could destroy the world and every human being in it. And Blaise was attracted to it. The thought made Augusta so sick she thought she might throw up.”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“Your best bet is to enjoy things when life brings you something good, and tough it out as best you can when it brings you the usual shit storm.”
― Dima Zales, The Enlightened

“Esther, do not be alarmed. This is Blaise and I am using the Contact spell I told you about once. To prove my identity, as we agreed on that occasion, I am mentioning the time you caught me spying on my father. Now listen to me carefully. I have reason to fear for Gala’s safety. She is in danger from the Council, and I need your help. Please take her to Kelvin’s territory. I know about his reputation, but that’s precisely why Neumanngrad might be the last place they would expect her to be. Please use whatever money you need—I will pay for everything. Stay at the inn on the southwest side of Neumanngrad when you get there, and try to be as inconspicuous as possible. I will hopefully join you soon.”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“Augusta created a magical object called the Interpreter Stone, and I came up with a simpler magical language to go along with it. So now, instead of reciting a difficult verbal spell, a sorcerer can use the simpler language to write his spell on cards and feed it to the stone.”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“smiled.”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“His sense of humor was permanently replaced by the Pythagorean Theorem.”
― Dima Zales, Oasis

“As I suspected, I’m as naked as a stripper at a nudist colony.”
― Dima Zales, Sleight of Fantasy

“When she was done, Blaise stared at her in astonishment. “Did you just read and understand that whole book?” “Yes.” Unable”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“All this time, I’ve wondered what Nero’s nature is, and he turns out to be a freaking dragon?”
― Dima Zales, Paranormal Misdirection

“No matter what it took, he would get to the bottom of this matter—and when he did, the man who betrayed him would pay.”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“It’s easy to convince myself to let go of certain principles when they get in the way of something I really want.”
― Dima Zales, The Thought Readers

“mouth as he spoke, and when he stopped, she looked up again, meeting his gaze. “It’s strange,” she said, “hearing words this way. These are the first real words I’ve heard.” Blaise felt a chill go down his spine. Getting up from his chair, he began to pace, trying to keep his eyes off her nude body. He had been expecting something to appear. A magical object, a thing. He just hadn’t known what form that thing would take. A mirror, perhaps, or a lamp. Maybe even something as unusual as the Life Capture Sphere that sat on his desk like a large round diamond.”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“was usually a she—though on occasion, it experienced being a he, too. It knew who it was, even though every time it was someone different. Inside these visions, the world was easy. Understandable. But it was just an illusion. Outside these visions was the being’s reality. The reality”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“A lie is not a lie if you don’t know you’re lying.”
― Dima Zales, Limbo

“Esther frowned. “Not so fast. When was the last time you ate? You look like a stick,” she said disapprovingly. Gala felt insulted. A stick? That didn’t sound good. She had seen sticks; they looked fine to her, but she didn’t think it was a compliment to call a human being that. “I am not hungry,” she said, trying to keep the hurt note out of her voice.”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“What do you want from me? Am I to be some tool that people use to do magic? Is that my purpose in life?” “No, of course not!” Blaise protested, pushing away an unwelcome tendril of guilt. In a way, that had been exactly what he had originally intended for Gala, but she wasn’t supposed to be a person, with the feelings and emotions of a human being.”
― Dima Zales, The Sorcery Code

“Near death experiences seem to do that for me--- they bring out my sentimental side.”
― Dima Zales, The Thought Pushers