“Is there anyone or anything in this city which can’t be bought?” I said, slipping him a note. “Yeah,” the… — Alastair Reynolds

“Is there anyone in Chasm City she hasn’t deceived?”

“Possibly, somewhere, but only as an extreme theoretical possibility.”

Evolution doesn’t greatly care about what happens to creatures once they’ve passed on their genetic heritage.

“Don’t tell me you aren’t the slightest bit curious, Norquinco.”

“I hope you burn in hell, Sky Haussmann.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”