J Smith

“I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.”
― James Morrow, The Last Witchfinder

“Thus Gonzo, incendiarist and leader of men.”
― Nick Harkaway, The Gone-Away World

“The sergeants are shunted forward and they blink and stare up at Gonzo as he leans on the edge of his giant mixing bowl. MacArthur never addressed his troops from a mixing bowl--not even one made from a spare geodesic radio emplacement shell--and certainly de Gaulle never did. But Gonzo Lubitsch does, and he does it as if a whole long line of commanders were standing at his shoulder, urging him on.

"Gentlemen," says Gonzo softly, "holidays are over. I need an oven, and I need one in about twenty minutes, or these fine flapjacks will go to waste, and that is not happening."

And something about this statement and the voice in which he says it makes it clear that this is simply true. One way or another, this thing will get done. Under a layer of grime and horror, these two are soldiers, and more, they are productive, can-do sorts of people. Rustily but with a gratitude which is not so far short of worship, they say "Yes, sir" and are about their business.”
― Nick Harkaway, The Gone-Away World

“Ninjas are silly. They are the flower fairies of gong fu and karate.”
― Nick Harkaway, The Gone-Away World