Quotes from book
City of Saints and Madmen

City of Saints and Madmen

City of Saints and Madmen: The Book of Ambergris is a collection of fantasy short stories by American writer Jeff VanderMeer, set in the fictional metropolis of Ambergris. The setting was further explored in the novels Shriek: An Afterword and Finch .


Jeff VanderMeer photo
Jeff VanderMeer photo

“A fresh river in a beautiful meadow
Imagined in his mind
The good Painter, who would some day paint it”

"The Transformation of Martin Lake", epigram, p. 130
City of Saints and Madmen (2001–2004)

Jeff VanderMeer photo
Jeff VanderMeer photo
Jeff VanderMeer photo

“An inordinate love of ritual can be harmful to the soul, unless, of course, in times of great crisis, when ritual can protect the soul from fracture.”

"The Hoegbotton Guide to the Early History of the City of Ambergris", Ch. 4, p. 122
City of Saints and Madmen (2001–2004)

Jeff VanderMeer photo

“I could not move or speak for several minutes, frozen in the belief that the book itself had changed and was now writing me.”

AppendiX, "A note from Dr. V to Dr. Simpkin"
City of Saints and Madmen (2001–2004)

Jeff VanderMeer photo

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