"The Second Book of Memorable First Sentences From Books That Don't Exist" - Page 10

Graham · 10-07-2013, 03:16 AM

"Mazenka!" squalled the Gimfrog, slaking madly with akzma, as jervils flopped from the dewtrees.

Graham

doubleshuffle · 10-07-2013, 03:31 AM

It was in the good old days, when ice-cream cost only a cent and the police would still clear the road for a lynchmob.

Dr. Drib · 10-07-2013, 09:13 AM

For all lovers of hard-core science fiction. (And you know who you are, you lovers of Hal Clement and Ben Bova.)

“The stars are big,” General Cathcorp told the new recruits at the Interstellar Junior Academy, as he walked purposefully through the group of gangly adolescents, his arms swinging back and forth like powerful pistons, his gravelly but grandfatherly voice droning on in that way which spoke of years of experience in the jungles of outer space: “Yes, men, the stars are big and faraway; so far, in fact that the mind literally boggles at the thought of such immense distances to be penetrated in our quest to fathom the unknown -” and here the grizzled old man paused a moment, as if remembering his youth, before continuing: “Think about that the next time you hop into you roadster with a girl in one hand and a stickshift in the other.”

Dr. Drib

Anna Drake · 10-09-2013, 07:26 PM

Oh, golly. I don't have a first sentence for you, but Martha Grimes published a crime series featuring her protagonist Richard Jury in which a fictional author was mentioned. Great fun, the whole thing. Wish I had a first line for you. But thanks for the memories.

Corkobo · 10-10-2013, 04:55 PM

The third time Peter died he decided to change his profession.

Hitch · 10-10-2013, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corkobo

The third time Peter died he decided to change his profession.

+1. I'd keep reading a novel that started with this line.

Graham · 10-10-2013, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitch

+1. I'd keep reading a novel that started with this line.

Oh no! We're going to have to start thinking up good first lines now! :-)

Graham

Namekuseijin · 10-10-2013, 06:31 PM

As a child I was told a tale of old, shockful o' gold and good ale, and when growing up would find solace from life's gales by singing bold to women's face this very tale, in first person, mind you, the very ace without fail...

crich70 · 10-10-2013, 07:00 PM

He was gifted with a sense of the absurd, and a wit to match it, which more often than not led him into situations he'd rather have avoided in more sober moments.

Namekuseijin · 10-10-2013, 07:35 PM

LOL, srsly LOL

Hitch · 10-10-2013, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

Oh no! We're going to have to start thinking up good first lines now! :-)

Graham

Oh, no!

I've ruined the thread!

Hitch

crich70 · 10-10-2013, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitch

Oh, no!

I've ruined the thread!

Hitch

: (couldn't find a violin).

Corkobo · 10-11-2013, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitch

Oh, no!

I've ruined the thread!

Hitch

Uh, sorry, I'll try for not serious...

How about this one instead:

The Ambassador's reception was not what I had expected, for example, nobody was spoiling us with Ferrerro-Rocher, so, in the end, I felt less than captivated by his exquisite taste, which turned out to be a bit too salty.

Dr. Drib · 10-11-2013, 11:01 AM

There was no denying that Lord Mallory was an ugly protagonist (and here he had to wince at the author’s choice of words), but being ugly and also a virgin complicated things with Lady Wimbsly to the point that he hoped the author would allow him a bit of privacy on his wedding night.

Dr. Drib

Dr. Drib · 10-11-2013, 01:27 PM

Q: Why do authors use cliches?

A: Because they're lazy writers.

Here's two, because I'm very lazy this morning:

The discovery of the manuscript in the musty corridors of the bookstore caused Ben’s heart to leap to his throat (which would have killed him had he not pushed it back down).

His heart leapt with joy as Beverly expressed her love for him and said, “Yes, I will marry you”; but, a moment later she was screaming in terror as she saw the fleshy organ hopping and flopping upon the floor, leaving red smears of gore upon the couch, the kitchen table, and finally settling upon the remains of a spaghetti dinner.

Dr. Drib

10-07-2013, 03:16 AM	#136
Graham Wizard Posts: 2,742 Karma: 32912427 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Device: Kobo H20, Pixel 2, Samsung Chromebook Plus	"Mazenka!" squalled the Gimfrog, slaking madly with akzma, as jervils flopped from the dewtrees. Graham Last edited by Graham; 10-07-2013 at 03:37 AM.

10-07-2013, 09:13 AM	#138
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,611 Karma: 60184181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	For all lovers of hard-core science fiction. (And you know who you are, you lovers of Hal Clement and Ben Bova.) “The stars are big,” General Cathcorp told the new recruits at the Interstellar Junior Academy, as he walked purposefully through the group of gangly adolescents, his arms swinging back and forth like powerful pistons, his gravelly but grandfatherly voice droning on in that way which spoke of years of experience in the jungles of outer space: “Yes, men, the stars are big and faraway; so far, in fact that the mind literally boggles at the thought of such immense distances to be penetrated in our quest to fathom the unknown -” and here the grizzled old man paused a moment, as if remembering his youth, before continuing: “Think about that the next time you hop into you roadster with a girl in one hand and a stickshift in the other.” Dr. Drib Last edited by Dr. Drib; 10-11-2013 at 11:38 AM.

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10-07-2013, 03:31 AM	#137
doubleshuffle Unicycle Daredevil Posts: 13,944 Karma: 185432100 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Planet of the Pudding Brains Device: Aura HD (R.I.P. After six years the USB socket died.) tolino shine 3	It was in the good old days, when ice-cream cost only a cent and the police would still clear the road for a lynchmob.

10-09-2013, 07:26 PM	#139
Anna Drake Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 2175016 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: rural Illinois, USA Device: Kindle	Oh, golly. I don't have a first sentence for you, but Martha Grimes published a crime series featuring her protagonist Richard Jury in which a fictional author was mentioned. Great fun, the whole thing. Wish I had a first line for you. But thanks for the memories.

10-10-2013, 04:55 PM	#140
Corkobo Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 1053398 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Scotland Device: Kobo Glo, Nook Touch	The third time Peter died he decided to change his profession.

10-10-2013, 06:31 PM	#143
Namekuseijin affordable chipmunk Posts: 1,290 Karma: 9863855 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brazil Device: Sony XPeria ZL, Kindle Paperwhite	As a child I was told a tale of old, shockful o' gold and good ale, and when growing up would find solace from life's gales by singing bold to women's face this very tale, in first person, mind you, the very ace without fail...

10-10-2013, 07:00 PM	#144
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	He was gifted with a sense of the absurd, and a wit to match it, which more often than not led him into situations he'd rather have avoided in more sober moments.

10-10-2013, 07:35 PM	#145
Namekuseijin affordable chipmunk Posts: 1,290 Karma: 9863855 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brazil Device: Sony XPeria ZL, Kindle Paperwhite	LOL, srsly LOL

10-11-2013, 11:01 AM	#149
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,611 Karma: 60184181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	There was no denying that Lord Mallory was an ugly protagonist (and here he had to wince at the author’s choice of words), but being ugly and also a virgin complicated things with Lady Wimbsly to the point that he hoped the author would allow him a bit of privacy on his wedding night. Dr. Drib

10-11-2013, 01:27 PM	#150
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,611 Karma: 60184181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Q: Why do authors use cliches? A: Because they're lazy writers. Here's two, because I'm very lazy this morning: The discovery of the manuscript in the musty corridors of the bookstore caused Ben’s heart to leap to his throat (which would have killed him had he not pushed it back down). His heart leapt with joy as Beverly expressed her love for him and said, “Yes, I will marry you”; but, a moment later she was screaming in terror as she saw the fleshy organ hopping and flopping upon the floor, leaving red smears of gore upon the couch, the kitchen table, and finally settling upon the remains of a spaghetti dinner. Dr. Drib