Justin Ulmer

“Why were so many Americans treated by their government as though their lives were as disposable as paper tissues? Because that was the way authors customarily treated bit-part players in their made-up tales... Once I understood what was making America such a dangerous, unhappy nation of people who had nothing to do with real life, I resolved to shun storytelling. I would write about life. Every person would be exactly as important as any other. All facts would also be given equal weightiness. Nothing would be left out. Let others bring order to chaos. I would bring chaos to order, instead, which I think I have done.”
― Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions

“Give him a name and you have a character. Give him character and you have a person.”
― Justin Ulmer

“I tried to think dead thoughts, and hoped the right expression was showing on my face.”
― Harry Harrison

“Merry he could be, and kindly to the young and simple, and yet quick at times to sharp speech and the rebuking of folly; but he was not proud, and sought neither power nor praise, and thus far and wide he was beloved among all those that were not themselves proud.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Unfinished Tales