Today is quote day, and we are taking submissions for best sci-fi fantasy movie and best sci-fi fantasy TV show. But for literary quotes, we decided to take a slightly different track. Rather than the best literary lines, we want to find the top opening line from novels.
The first line of any novel needs to immediately grab the reader's attention. It sets the tone for the rest of the book, and often can foreshadow things to come in only a few brief phrases.
Generally, a good opening line will take you by surprise, triggering your curiosity as to what's going on so that you will read the next line. Some authors will use the in medias res (in the middle of things) technique where the story is already going and you are forced to catch up. Others will set forth a statement that seems almost legitimate, but there's something slightly off… something unexpected. Some will make inflammatory statements. Others will simply state an obvious truth for you to agree with, but state it in a way that you probably never thought of before.
However a novel starts, the opening line can be the most important thing the author writes. The saying goes that a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. Well, the reading of a thousand pages starts with one sentence. With that single sentence, many readers will immediately decide whether they are going to keep reading or not, often while skulking about in a book store. If the opening line keeps the reader reading, then they might buy the book. If they buy the book, they might read it and recommend.
With that in mind, we ask you to nominate your top opening lines from science-fiction or fantasy novels. This is tricky, because we are only looking at the first sentence. No more, no less. For graphic novels, we'll stretch point and use the first bubble (as with the opening line to the Watchmen). Let us know your favorites in the comments below, and in a week, we'll let you then vote for your favorites to be presented in our end of the year GeekDad Reader's Choice awards.
To get things off to a flying start, here are my favorite literary opening lines:
- It can hardly be a coincidence that no language on earth has ever produced the expression "As pretty as an airport."
— The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul, Douglas Adams - The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.
—Neuromancer, William Gibson - The story so far: In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.
—The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Douglas Adams - It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.
—1984, George Orwell - All this happened, more or less.
— Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. - It was a pleasure to burn.
— Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradberry - You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings.
—Frankenstein, Mary Shelley - "I see…" said the vampire thoughtfully, and slowly walked across the room towards the window.
— Interview with the Vampire, Anne Rice - Rorschach's Journal. October 12th, 1985: Dog Carcass in the alley this morning, tire tread on burst stomach. This city is afraid of me. I have seen its true face.
— Watchmen, Alan Moore - A merry little surge of electricity piped by automatic alarm from the mood organ beside his bed awakened Rick Deckard.
— Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Phillip K. Dick
ADD YOUR FAVORITE SCIENCE-FICTION/FANTASY OPENING LINE QUOTES IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
Nominations will be open in this category for six days until December 21.
We are still accepting nominations for best fantasy TV-show, best sci-fi novel, best fantasy novel, best sci-fi movie, and best fantasy movie.
