Roger Zelazny

Quotes

1. After signing it, he added the postscript: By the time you read this, you will already be dead.

   p. 162

2. 

   “...And I have seen stranger things in a long and colorful career.”

   “Exactly. So what is the problem in believing my story?”

   “You’ve nothing to back it up with. Even if you’re right, I’m still right in not believing without evidence.”

   p. 172

3. 

   “And you, I take it, are Red Dorakeen?”

   “That is correct. Anything I can do for you?”

   “As a matter of fact, yes. You can die.”

   p. 72

4. 

   I do not have the time to give you more than my contempt.

   p. 181

5. 

   I shall return to being a man, and I shall let the people keep the Buddha who is in their hearts. Whatever the source, the message was pure, believe me. That is the only reason it took root and grew.

6. 

   "I decided that mankind could live better without gods. If I disposed of them all, people could start having can openers and cans to open again, and things like that, without fearing the wrath of Heaven. We've stepped on these poor fools enough. I wanted to give them a chance to be free, to build what they wanted."

   "But they live, and they live and they live."

   "Sometimes, and sometimes not. So do the gods."

   "You were about the last Accelerationist left in the world, Sam. No one would have thought you were also the deadliest."

7. 

   I know my power is returning. I can feel it. Many things are returning now. During the weeks we have dwelled here in Ratri's palace I have meditated upon my past lives. They were not all failures, deathgod. I have decided this today. Though Heaven has beaten me at every turn, each victory has cost them much.

   p. 265

8. 

   A facility with oaths is not the most reassuring quality in a bargainer. And your strength is also your weakness in any bargaining at all. You are so strong as to be unable to grant to another the power to control you. You have no gods to swear by. The only thing you will honor is a gambling debt, and there are no grounds for gaming here.

9. 

   You are a fool to speak of last great battles, Sam, for the last great battle is always the next one.

   p. 181

10. 

    "I have seen all-colored Mara atop the spire of the highest tower, and I have felt the power of the weird he lays — for I have seen the phantom cats troubled within the wood, then hurrying in this direction. I have seen the tears of a man and of a woman. I have heard the laughter of a goddess. I have seen a bright spear uplifted against the morning, and I have heard an oath spoken. I have seen the Lord of Light at last, of whom I wrote, long ago:

    p. 203

11. 

    "Are you not Maitreya, Lord of Light, for whom the world has waited, lo, these many years — he whose coming I prophesied long ago in a poem?"

    "No, my name is Sam," he replied, "and I am about to depart the world, not enter into it. Who are you?"

    "I am a bird who was once a poet. All morning have I flown, since the yawp of Garuda opened the day. I was flying about the ways of Heaven looking for Lord Rudra, hoping to befoul him with my droppings, when I felt the power of a weird come over the land. I have flown far, and I have seen many things, Lord of Light"

12. 

    "I came to Hellwell, the wrath of the gods swarming and buzzing at my back. Now sixty-six demons are loose in the world. Very soon, your presence will be felt. The gods will know who has done this thing, and they will take steps against us. The element of surprise will be lost."

    "We fought the gods in the days of old . . ."

    "And these are not the days of old, Taraka. The gods are stronger now, much stronger. Long have you been bound, and their might has grown over the ages. Even if you command the first army of Rakasha in history, and backing them in battle I raise me up a mighty army of men — even then, will the final result be a thing uncertain. To delay now is to throw everything away."