I would have gotten that one too - I’ve only just discovered Lord Peter, and I’ve read through most of the books over the past few months.
Here’s one:
“They didn’t say anything about this in the books, I thought, as the snow blew in through the gaping doorway and settled on my naked back.”
Damn. I *like *to think of myself as pretty well read, but this bunch definitely puts me to shame. Every item I’ve thus far been able to identify has already been named. I therefore submit the following:
Quote the first:
“In that pleasant district of merry England which is watered by the river Don, there extended in ancient times a large forest, covering the greater part of the beautiful hills and valleys which lie between Sheffield and the pleasant town of Doncaster.”
Quote the second:
“I am a rather elderly man.”
Quote the third:
“He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.”
I didn’t add a quote for either of my previous answers, so I’ll add one now:
“The Rue du Coq d’Or, Paris, seven in the morning.”
Yep!
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. One of my all-time favorite books.
This is probably a Steinbeck book, but I don’t know which one.
East of Eden, I’ll bet.
By Duran Duran?
There’s a single book to which I can recite the opening line from memory. It goes like this: Ite missa est. I’ll be sort of surprised if anyone knows the book in question.
Is this Robin Hood by Homer Pyke? If so, I love that book.
Scaramouche!
OK, an easy one, since I can’t remember too many
“In five years, the penis will be obsolete.”
Steel Beach by John Varley?
Nope. That’s not it.
Scaramouche. Do you do the Fandango?
Is this Orwell, Down and Out]?
All Creatures Great and Small? I’m pretty sure it’s one of the James Herriots, anyway.
No, right before you, Fretful Porpentine had guessed that it was Steinbeck, but didn’t recall the exact book.
Yes, that’s it.
Yes !
Sadly, the ones I knew were guessed while I was offline. I’ll toss in some more.
“And then, after walking all day through a golden haze of humid warmth that gathered about him like fine wet fleece, Valentine came to a great ridge of outcropping white stone overlooking the city of Pidruid.”
“As a young warrior, Nukurren had heard the demons come.”
“Death came quietly to The Row.”
Cannery Row?
Damn, nope.
I’m thinking Bukowski, then.
Gotta be Robert Silverberg, Lord Valentine’s Castle.
Not even close.
Yup !