Darwin and the Barnacle, by Rebecca Stott

In his own writing he knew that if he chose the wrong word or a clumsy inflection, the walls would fall, the picture fade, the evidence collapse. It took so much time to get it right, these words poised delicately against each other within a single sentence, patterned, balanced, holding the reader's trust for a moment longer, just to carry him or her, like a bridge, through to the next claim. If the reader accepted this claim, would she or he accept the next? How far would readers travel with him? Would they be converted? What would it take to get them to see through his eyes?

Earth Flight, by Janet Edwards

"All my life, I've heard the jokes on the vids about the Handicapped being ugly. Even knowing I was no different from norms, it still had an effect. I really am different now. People will look at me and see..."

"They'll see you're stunningly lovely." Fian took my arm and tugged me across to a mirror. "Look at yourself, Jarra!"

The Martian, by Andy Weir


Yes, of course duct tape works in a near-vacuum. Duct tape works anywhere. Duct tape is magic and should be worshiped.

Black Dove, White Raven, by Elizabeth Wein

These are just stories, you know. They are part of what we are, but they are not the real thing. All this year I have been thinking, What would White Raven do? And today, every time I thought it, I just didn't care what White Raven would do. So today I've just done what I would do. I've just done what I think is right.

I'm not going to stop making up stories. But I'm thinking they are not always just a maze to get lost in so you can run away from real life. They can just as well be maps to help you navigate.

Fire Study, by Maria V. Snyder

You asked how I can be so calm. I don't have time not to be. I would like to grieve and worry and carry on, but that doesn't achieve results.

Magic Study, by Maria V. Snyder

"Living is a risk," I snapped at him. "Every decision, every interaction, every step, every time you get out of bed in the morning, you take a risk. To survive is to know you're taking that risk and to not get out of bed clutching illusions of safety."

Poison Study, by Maria V. Snyder

A complete understanding of Valek's ill temper snapped into my mind. He had expected me to betray him and the Commander. How could he have believed that? I wondered. Didn't he know me at all? Anger, disappointment and relief warred in my heart. I was unable to propel any words past my throat.