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comment by NikolaiFyodorov
NikolaiFyodorov  ·  3515 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Fifth Bi-Weekly Give Me A Quote From Something You've Been Reading Lately

"I had a chance once to go New York-ward," said the driver after a long lull. Xman could not bring himself - had he ever been able? - to draw him out. Just when it seemed he had no intention of elaborating, the driver said, "Somebody told me I had the makings of a great one. 'In yourself you are a great one,' that somebody said. 'But I can foresee horror for you in the big city. You'll end up alone, spending your nights alone, a pockmarked fast-food addict taking dictation from the stars in behalf of a universal language.'" Taking a deep breath the driver accelerated for no visible reason. "Then she said something else: I've yet to understand it." Xman never importuned but as if he had, the driver sliding his hand toward the glove compartment and removing a little notebook grumbled, "Oh all right. Since you insist I'll read it."

"'You think you are beyond everybody's comprehension: beyond formulation, beyond bracketing. But I can foresee your intelligibility as a remnant, a failure, a nobody ranting and raving against the failed dawn. When your undeniable uniqueness is projected, the die being cast, upon the screen of universal resistance something monstrous will ungraciously take place. In yourself you are great but thrown into the world you cast another shadow.' That's why I never left. But it's sure to be different for you."





lil  ·  3515 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Source?

NikolaiFyodorov  ·  3515 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I can't believe I forgot to add it, after pursuing eightbitsamurai for his source earlier. This is from Xman, by Michael Brodsky.

This will sound precious (it is precious), but I credit Michael Brodsky for derailing my writing career. He derailed it because I, in my mid-20s, could not fathom how somebody like Michael Brodsky could remain rooted in obscurity while others were lauded for work that was nowhere near his standard. If an obvious genius can't get recognition, what help does anyone else have, other than pure fortune?

That quote is from the first page of Xman. The novel is 539 pages long and every page is of equal or greater value.