kelper@talk21.com Ghastly Beyond Belief A collection of quotes from science-fiction books and films edited by Neil Gaiman and Kim Newman (Arrow, London , 1985) This is one of my favourite books. If I could buy copies for all of my friends, I would, but it’s long out of print. Back in 1997 I started typing it up for a friend in California - I didn’t get very far but I was recently discussing the book with some other friends and I’ve decided to put the sections online (as a public service), and I may, in time, add more sections. Over to the book: Foreword It was the authors’ original intention to write the definitive book of science fiction and fantasy quotations, a deathless compendium that would be used in academic circles for years to come; something like the Oxford Book of Serious Literary Quotations, only snappier. When the publishers pointed out that this would have the sales appeal of a book on “Yak-herding for Bank Managers”, the idea was regretfully abandoned. The book you are holding is entirely useless as a work of reference. It doesn’t even have an index. Part One: The Novels Attack of the Killer Blurbs Introduction to the section on cover-blurbs, and the sub-section The Blurb Sexual. The Blurb Rhetorical Also includes The Blurb Paradoxical and The Blurb Improbable. The Blurb Horrific Also includes The Blurb Misleading. The Blurb Overblown Also includes The Blurb Barbarian, The Blurb Bizarre, The Blurb Professional, The Blurb Practical, The Blurb Philosophical, The Blurb Sartorial, The Blurb Doomsday, The Blurb Descriptive, The Blurb Non-Existent - and some select Introductions, including their own. Characters: Heroes Also includes Women and Scientists (Mostly Sane). Next: The Bad Guys - but don’t hold your breath. Part Two: The Films Really don’t hold your breath.