Deann Hoeft

“Kowkosvki? You handling this?”
“I am.”
The suit turned and stared at me with his dark eyes. “Detective Hayden. I take it you’re the shooter?”
“I am.”
“And you are?”
“Jack Ludefance. I’m a PI hired by Mr. Kingsley to investigate the murder of Professor Zambear.”
“Oh, yeah, I heard about you. Who’s in the bedroom?”
“Rudy Orkut. My computer tech.”
“Computer tech, huh? Any idea who this dead body is?”
“Not a clue.”
― Behcet Kaya, Uncanny Alliance

“Let’s get to know each other. My name’s William, William More, but you can call me Willy. I’m an engineer-chemist who graduated from MIT. So . . . but you’re all alike to me . . . of course, you would be . . . you’re robots. And all your names are that sort of, um . . . codes, technical numbers . . . I need some marker where I can pick you out. Well, well, to you I’ll call . . .,” and Willy pondered for a moment, “Gumball, yes, Gumball! Do you mind?” “No, sir, actually no,” CSE-TR-03 said, agreeing with its new given name. “Ah, that’s wonderful. And then you’re Darwin,” Willy said, accosting the second robot. “Look what a nice name—Darwin! What do you say, eh?” “What can I say, sir? I like it,” CSE-TR-02 agreed too. “Yes, a human name with a past . . . You and Gumball . . . are from the same family, the Methanesons!” “It turns out thus, sir,” Darwin confirmed its family belonging. “And you’re like Larry. You’re Larry. Do you know that?” More addressed the next robot in line. “Yes, sir, just now I learned that,” the third robot said, accepted its name as well.”
― Todor Bombov, Homo Cosmicus 2: Titan: A Science Fiction Novel

“The single most powerful asset we all have is our mind. If it is trained well, it can create enormous wealth seemingly instantaneously. An untrained mind can also create extreme poverty that can crush a family for generations.”
― Robert T. Kiyosaki, Rich Dad Poor Dad

“Guests began drifting toward the edge of the lawn.
Jane heard the shift around her as someone whispered,
“Graham’s here.”
― D.L. Maddox, The Dog Walker: Secrets