Ross Lockhart’s Reviews > The Night Ocean > Status Update

The American id could not be educated, Spinks thought. It needed horror in order to stay awake and to justify its most pleasurable pursuit, the destruction of helpless people who had never done anything wrong.

America is truly Lovecraft's country: fearful because it cannot love.

Here, in horror's heart, I had found my people. Only, what people they turned out to be! Shamblers, moochers, living corpses with terrified eyes. Angry women and stealthy children. Vacant people set like stones at the feet of trees.

"After all, there's nothing especially lovable about a billowing collection of atoms, spiraling around in compliance with laws that have nothing to do with us."

"He needed to believe that he was a superior being, or at least that he belonged to a superior race, because, in his heart, Howard was terrified that he was nothing at all. His prejudice was like a child making a wall out of sand, to keep the ocean out."

Ablo, Aklo, Outer Spheres.

Then, damme, I must have drows'd, for the next I knew, the Boy had vanish'd, and with him, all my Suits except the thin blue, the Flatbush Overcoat I had from Sonia, and Samuelus's Radio, which he had entrusted to my Safe-Keeping. How shall any of it be replac'd?