(That grabs your attention a bit more readily than '1, 2, 3, 4' - dontcha think?)
Vader's Mom held an open tag (didn't name names, just kind of...tagged anyone) for folks to participate in one of those book memes: grab what you're reading, go to a certain point on a certain page, and reproduce what you find. With me so far? Did I lose anyone? No? Good. And we're walking...
The rules are:
- Grab the book closest to you.
- Open to page 123, go down to the fourth sentence.
- Post the text of the subsequent 4 sentences on your site.
- Name of the author and book.
- Tag three more people.
I'm altering mine slightly, because the subsequent three sentences aren't much fun. Add in the fourth and fifth, and it's a better-contained scene-let. (Will someone please let me know when I started talking like this, and why? Thank you. We now return to the regularly scheduled broadcast.) From page 123 of Esther Friesner's Here Be Demons (sarcastic humorous semifluff from the 1980s, the Decade of Snark), reproduced exactly as it appeared:
“I accept your welcome. Furthermore, on behalf of my government, I wish to hereby officially lodgea complaint with the United Nations, calling for the public censure of this expedition, which has not only shamefully violated the national heritage of of a sovereign Third World Nation, but has also usurped the site whose exploration belongs to these men.”
“Huh?” said Dr. Hack.
His hopes of getting a translation were drowned out by the forward surge of reporters toward Sonia. They weren't much closer to understanding her than Dr. Hack, but the fine, round tones of phrases like “public censure”, “shamefully violated”, “sovereign Third World Nation” and “usurped” were pure box-office dynamite.
It doesn't sound like much...and if you aren't a fan of sarcastic 1980s science fiction/fantasy, you won't love the book. If you're interested, though, you can check used bookstores or look for the re-released omnibus edition.
I tag SJD of Write Coast, Rashenbo of Writing Aspirations, and...uh...you.
Yeah. You. The one staring at the screen right now, reading these words.
Keywords: | memes | books |
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