At the University, behind the librarian’s desk, was a small selection of Western books that had been translated into Korean. They were forbidden to the general public; only top students could have access to them. At some high level of the government, somebody had decided that the nation needed an intellectual elite with some knowledge [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Fiction'
Recreation – “Casino Royale” – Ian Fleming
August 4th, 2011 · No Comments · Fiction, Spy Thriller, Trash
And then there was this pest of a girl. He sighed. Women were for recreation. On a job, they got in the way and fogged things up with sex and hurt feelings and all the emotional baggage they carried around. One had to look out for them and take care of them.
Tags:James Bond·sexism
Protuberances – “Casino Royale” – Ian Fleming
August 4th, 2011 · No Comments · Culture, Fiction, Trash
‘First of all,’ and he inhaled a thick lungful of Caporal, ‘you will be pleased with your Number Two. She is very beautiful’ – Bond frowned – ‘very beautiful indeed.’ Satisfied with Bond’s reaction, Mathis continued: ‘She has black hair, blue eyes, and splendid … er … protuberances. Back and front,’ he added.
Tags:James Bond·sexism
Heightened Interrogation – “Fatherland” – Robert Harris
August 3rd, 2011 · No Comments · Fiction, Security Policy, Trash, WW2
Down in the cellar the Gestapo were licensed to practice was the Ministry of Justice called ‘heightened interrogation’. The rules had been drawn up by civilised men in warm offices and they stipulated the presence of a doctor. It’s always amused me that this was written a decade before the War on Terror
Work – “The Big Sleep” – Raymond Chandler
June 27th, 2011 · No Comments · Fiction, Noir, Quotes
I work at it, lady. I don’t play at it.
Tags:Noir·professionalism
The Big Sleep – “The Big Sleep” – Raymond Chandler
June 26th, 2011 · No Comments · Fiction, Noir, Quotes, Religion
What did it matter where you lay once you were dead? In a dirty sump or in a marble tower on top of a high hill? You were dead, you were sleeping the big sleep, you were not bothered by things like that. Oil and water were the same as wind and air to you. [...]
Sobriety – “The Big Sleep” – Raymond Chandler
June 26th, 2011 · No Comments · Fiction, Noir, Quotes
Mr. Cobb was my escort,” she said. “Such a nice escort, Mr. Cobb. So attentive. You should see him sober. I should see him sober. Somebody should him sober. I mean, just for the record. So it could become a part of history, that brief flashing moment, soon buried in time, but never forgotten—when Larry [...]
Tags:Alcoholism·Noir
