Quotes from Kenneth Oppel

During the Second World War, the United States military initiated Project X-Ray, a top secret program in which bats were trained to carry and deliver explosive devices. Ultimately the project was scrapped after hundreds of bats escaped from the test range, incinerated several army buildings, and took up residence beneath a large fuel tank.

A VOICE FROM THE CAVE

I tried to lure sleep to me, but she slowly shook her raven tresses and would not come back.

People headed off to bed earlier than usual, no doubt exhausted by watching the crew work all day.

Nothing's scarier than having a sick child, and one so newly born, and so vulnerable. It's the worst thing for a parent.

Do you worry it is sinful?" I asked. She took a breath. "No," she said firmly. "God is the creator, and anything on this earth is here by His permission. I cannot think He minds if we use His creations - only how. For good or ill. What we seek is for good, so I will not worry about it.

I don't know what kind of life we'll have together, with me always flying off in one direction and you in the other." I smiled. "It's a good thing the world's round

There was nothing left to say, and we all headed in our different directions, keeping our fears bottled up inside us. Airborne, nothing frightened me. But the idea of crash-landing on the sea, water filling us, made my stomach churn. The Aurora was my home, and I couldn't bear the thought of abandoning her to the waves.

I knew nothing of the matter, so said nothing. It made me feel rather downcast, all this knowledge locked away in books that I didn't know and likely never would. I loved books, but they were expensive and heavy and reading them took time I rarely had.

Her eyes skittered nervously across the people sharing the cabin with her. Captain Fowles and Lieutenant James, and Colonel Pearson himself. Weirdly, she felt comforted that he was here. Pearson was pretty badass when it came down to it, and even aliens might think twice about tangling with him.

Shade hoped this would be the last night he spent in the jungle. He hunted distractedly, paying more attention to the sky around him than to the insects he was trying to catch. With Chinook and Caliban—who had insisted on accompanying them—he stuck close to Statue Haven, warily snapping up any bugs that looked like they wouldn't snap back. Anything too big, with too many antennae, or weird markings, or strange odors, he stayed away from.

It indicates very poor breeding," Miss Simpkins informed me primly. "We are not dogs or horses," I insisted hotly. "None of us gets to choose how we're born, it's what we make of ourselves afterward.

A volte è meglio non essere quello che siamo davvero. Non ci fa bene. E alla gente non piace. Bisogna cambiare. Bisogna sforzarsi, e fare respiri profondi, e forse un giorno prendere pillole e imparare trucchi per far finta di essere più come le altre persone. Quelle normali. Ma forse Vanessa aveva ragione, e anche quelle persone, tutte quante, erano guaste a modo loro. Forse passiamo tutti quanti troppo tempo a fingere che non lo siamo.

Kate gave a disdainful wave of her hand. "I poo-poo the chit." The attendant looked stunned. "You cannot poo-poo the chit!" "I do," she said solemnly. "I do poo-poo.

The seed for my novel 'Half Brother' was planted in my mind over twenty years ago, but didn't germinate until late 2007 when I came across the obituary for Washoe, an extraordinary chimpanzee who had learned over 250 words of American Sign Language.

I'm cursed with this puritanical streak that makes me want everything to be about something. It's a terrible affliction.

It's somewhat disquieting that the same parents and educators who are horrified by the notion of child soldiers have bestowed upon 'The Hunger Games' a double mantle of critical praise and global bestsellerdom.

But chance runs like a river through all our lives, and being prepared for surprise is the best we can do.

We used to flock to watch gladiators, public torture and executions. In more recent times, our appetite for mortal violence has been sublimated in sports, photorealistic video games, film and literature.

I believe there is something on this earth that you desire more than anything, and it isn't me.