Quotes from Janet Kagan

so who's more adult- somebody who works like mad to avoid a problem or somebody who works like mad to solve it?

Kagan's law of first contact,'You'll surprise you more than they will.

That year the Ribeiro's daffodils seeded early and they seeded cockroaches. Now, ecologically speaking, even a cockroach has its place -- but these suckers bit. That didn't sound Earth-authentic to me. Not that I care, mind you, all I ask is useful. I wasn't betting on that either.

You have no tail!" said Brightspot. her own whipped suddenly forward; she stared, first at it, then at Wilson."How do you manage?

Spock," (Kirk) said, "you're a sight for sore eyes!" "I fail to understand, Captain, what bearing my presence could possibly have on the condition of your vision... but I am pleased to see you.

Blew it up his nose. That woman should have cards printed: 'Dr. Evan Wilson, Imaginative Medicine a Specialty.

Never underestimate small things, Captain, they have to be meaner than larger ones to survive.

medicine I know. you tell me what a pulsar is and I'll tell you whatever you need to know about the organ of Zucker-kandl." Sulu made a polite scoffing noise and explained anyway,...

I think people ought to be called what they want to be called.

Friends are friends," Brightspot said, "whether I've known them for a long time or a short time.

there is very little 'of course' when it comes to custom

All in all, Maggy concluded, she had done right. Tocohol knew that she could not see the ship from here, so Maggy had not lied to a friend. She had told a pleasing story, and she was very proud of her new ability.

Spock stared hard at his tricorder, as if by sheer will he might force it to tell him the answer to his questions.

The crested sprookje let her hand drop. From its own vibrantly colored yoke it tugged a feather and gave it to her. Feathers are good, it told her silently, try them.

I give her a lot of credit. She's one of the few humans I've met who could resist saying 'I told you so.' " "Such a statement would be quite unnecessary, Captain." "Spock, you've worked with humans long enough to know that simply because something is unnecessary doesn't mean it isn't done.

It is impossible to work up a satisfactory anger at someone who so steadfastly refuses to reciprocate. You win, Mr. Spock; I give up.

It must be difficult to treat Mr. Spock when he's ill." "You're right. The combination of human and Vulcan makes it tricky. You should hear Dr. McCoy on the subject; you'd think Mr. Spock's physiology was devised simply to torment him.

All right, Spock, I'll bite: why would she take up saber, quarterstaff and eating with chopsticks?" "To extend her reach.

Foot," she said in a matching torrent of Jannisetti curses, "Heel. Sole. Toes, with green toenail polish!

Between gasping breaths, she said earnestly, "I could... almost hear the captain give the command: 'Eyebrows on stun, Mr. Spock...

The dance is sweeter than the song.' "Let

They may be volunteers, but they are professionals. We've had to reinvent almost every skill locally. Ships' records contained detailed instructions for doing just about anything they knew how to do back on Earth, but that doesn't give the first generation any practical experience at the matter. You don't get practice fighting forest fires aboard a generation ship.

Tocohl frowned, and saw Kejesli suddenly for what he was. He was a man trying not to be Sheveschkem, without conscious knowledge of what being Sheveschkem actually entailed. He spoke GalLing' but danced Sheveschkem; he wore worlds' motley, but lowered his ceiling.

Why do they never volunteer a word? Tocohl wondered. Maggy volunteers information to the point of distraction. She smiled to herself at the thought. New definition of sapient: that which gives unsought advice.