An Opening Among God’s Editors
An editor at Saint Cyriac’s Illuminated College has suffered a nasty accident with a typewriter. They have an unexpected opening. The college that is, not the editor.
I love such writing, short and directly on-point, with no further context needed to enjoy it. Would we share more examples here?
Freely given
You are full to bursting of yourself. Like someone with a citrus tree in their garden – in summer, there is too much to use or even sell; it must be given away, or left to rot.
A Chat, but no tea
[..] Did you know that one drop in a barrel of water can kill a tiger? Don’t ask me how I know that."
The fellow glances under the laboratory tables. Finding no eavesdropping tigers, he continues.
Justice must be done! After your clothes have dried.
Owning a newspaper has its perks. For example, you can literally edit the narrative of world events to insert The Newt. A palatable mixture of fact and ‘fact’ is key.
Why break down a door when somebody can turn a handle?
Fabergé sausages
[..] Finding yourself out in it is akin to trying to walk through a hot, wet blanket. One that has recently been used to dry a hot, wet dog.
Your novel is a huge success at Court. There’s very little that they like better than stories about rock-jawed British manhood knocking villainous continentals about in the name of the Empire.
Some things don’t change, even if the empire falls.
The Youthful Naturalist squirms as he watches, like a child confronted with steamed vegetables.
"My Hamlet could bring tears to a Clay Man, my Hecuba had them howling, and yet, my Cassandra fell on deaf ears… "
Express an opinion!
Risky. Very risky.
Throw yourself to the ground
If she shoots you, you’ll be on the floor anyway. At least this way, it’s your choice. And who knows? She might even miss.
This is from a Candlefinder case, the MIssing Moll. The writing style is in general like this, i loved it!
Would this count?
A Terrible Shame, all Agreed
An Irregular Scholar has passed on, reputedly from a surfeit of prunes. Given the transient nature of death in Fallen London, it must have been one hell of a surfeit.
No lampreys were involved in this mishap.