"This word, devoid of context, could mean almost anything"

"This word, devoid of context, could mean almost anything" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"The rhythm of the conversation is abruptly lost"

"The rhythm of the conversation is abruptly lost" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"There was perfect silence from the other men"

"There was perfect silence from the other men" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"A woman is standing behind him"

"A woman is standing behind him" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"Ask questions that will be exceedingly difficult to answer"

"Ask questions that will be exceedingly difficult to answer" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"A spark pops across the contacts like a firecracker"

"A spark pops across the contacts like a firecracker" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"Everything is silent except for the surf"

"Everything is silent except for the surf" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"Any thought that this was just a joke evaporated"

"Any thought that this was just a joke evaporated" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"A night train from Birmingham blows through"

"A night train from Birmingham blows through" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"My family's done a lot of traveling around"

"My family's done a lot of traveling around" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"On the walls, diverse oil paintings"

"On the walls, diverse oil paintings" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"A massive, blocky modern sculpture sits over the door"

"A massive, blocky modern sculpture sits over the door" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"Turing figured out something entirely different"

"Turing figured out something entirely different" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"Later they emerge from the clouds again"

"Later they emerge from the clouds again" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"Riemann Zeta function again. That thing pops up everywhere"

"Riemann Zeta function again. That thing pops up everywhere" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"Don't talk to the Dentist. Ever. Not about anything"

"Don't talk to the Dentist. Ever. Not about anything" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"I guess I am just shy, or something"

"I guess I am just shy, or something" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"The people come awake and begin to burn coal"

"The people come awake and begin to burn coal" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"Now he is thinking of shaving his beard off"

"Now he is thinking of shaving his beard off" - Cryptonomicon by Neil Stephenson

"How far are we from Manila?"

"How far are we from Manila?" - Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

"But he didn't know who Kafka was"

"But he didn't know who Kafka was" - Cryptonomicon by Neil Stephenson

"A bamboo grove, all chopped down"

"A bamboo grove, all chopped down" - Cryptonomicon by Neil Stephenson

"I said that in my youth I had been a rebel"

"I said that in my youth I had been a rebel" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"I have a mission of immense importance"

"I have a misson of immense importance" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"I am an artist of the unobserved life"

"I am an artist of the unobserved life" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"Better to be a salamander and live in the flames"

"Better to be a salamander and live in the flames" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"Hotel rooms are not sanctuaries"

"Hote rooms are not sanctuaries" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"Why don't you tell me all about it?"

"Why don't you tell me all about it?" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"His fine hands have found each other"

"His fine hands have found each other" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"Yes, tonight it is arranged that I will be morose"

"Yes, tonight it is arranged that I will be morose" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"I steal the bicycles, you bring the whisky"

"I steal the bicycles, you bring the whisky" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"He likes his monthly pay cheque and ..."

"He likes his monthly pay cheque and ..." - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"... pottering down the corridor for a coffee ..."

"... pottering down the corridor for a coffee ..." - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"... and a natter in the canteen"

"... and a natter in the canteen" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"He even likes the suit he has to wear"

"He even likes the suit he has to wear" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"One day a letter reaches him"

"One day a letter reaches him" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"Relationships must deepen or die"

"Relationships must deepen or die" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"He has a home ..."

"He has a home ..." - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"... he has a friend ..."

"... he has a friend ..." - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"... both new concepts to him"

"... both new concepts to him" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"Strips of dew hover over the palace lawns"

"Strips of dew hover over the palace lawns" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"Few possessions survive so many moves"

"Few possessions survive so many moves" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré

"All boys were bad crooks"

"All boys were bad crooks" - Absolute Friends by John le Carré