David Silberstein <davids at kithrup.com> writes: > On Thu, 17 Jul 2003, David Goldfarb wrote: > >> I've lived in Oakland/Berkeley all my life, and I've >> noticed this many times. Do people really not? I suppose >> there are just a lot of people who rarely look up; I've >> heard that there are those who haven't even noticed that >> the moon sometimes appears in the daytime sky. > > "I left Earth seven years ago. In that time, do you > know the most interesting thing I've learned about > downsiders?" > > It was so completely out of line out of anything I'd > been expecting to hear from him that it threw me > completely out of position. I stared at him, unsnapped > the guard on my holster -- heard the sound of holsters > popping all around me -- and said, finally, very gently, > "No. What is the most interesting thing about > downsiders?" > > "Downsiders," said the clown, "never look up." > > -- From "The Last Dancer", by Daniel Keys Moran Great book, and coincidentally, one I just finished reading. It's also the third book of a series so may not be the best place to start. The second book, _The Long Run_, IS a good place to start, as well as being super cool. Here's a sample >from that one: [copied from Chad Orzel's review cuz I'm lazy] "[W]hen I take something that belongs to, say, a Player whose behavior I find inappropriate... I've _touched_ that person. They can't ignore what I'm saying to them. They _can't_." Denice stared at him. "You mean-- you _steal_ things-- so people will listen to you?" "No, no," said Trent impatiently. "Don't be silly. Nobody ever listens anyhow. Mostly I steal things because I get paid for it." He grinned at her. "But isn't that a _great_ explanation?" Denice smiled slowly, reluctantly. "Oh, Trent." She shook her head slowly, the smile fading. "I never did know when to believe you." "Believe _everything_ I say," said Trent. "Everything?" "Or nothing. The results are the same." "What results?" "Chaos usually. But only because most of the people I hang out with have no sense of humor." The first book in the series is _Emerald Eyes_, which I just ordered to fill out my Amazon order (giving six people here a discount on it). --KG