“I propose a conspiracy of orphans. We exchange winks. We reject hierarchies. All hierarchies. We take the shit of the world for granted and we exchange stories about how we nevertheless get by. We are impertinent. More than half the stars in the universe are orphan-stars belonging to no constellation. And they give off more light than all the constellation stars.”
― Confabulations
― Confabulations
“All plots tend to move deathward. This is the nature of plots. Political plots, terrorist plots, lovers’ plots, narrative plots, plots that are part of children’s games. We edge nearer death every time we plot. It is like a contract that all must sign, the plotters as well as those who are the targets of the plot.”
― White Noise
― White Noise
“Love is a decision, it is a judgment, it is a promise. If love were only a feeling, there would be no basis for the promise to love each other forever. A feeling comes and it may go. How can I judge that it will stay forever, when my act does not involve judgment and decision.”
― The Art of Loving
― The Art of Loving
“Love, he had ventured, was like the vast and sudden uncreasing of a lifelong frown.”
― The Only Story: A Novel
― The Only Story: A Novel
“All plots tend to move deathward. This is the nature of plots. ”
― White Noise
― White Noise
Selen’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Selen’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Selen
Lists liked by Selen






















