Quotes from book
Earth Made of Glass

Name: Earth Made of Glass
Author: John Barnes

Not to be confused with the 2010 documentary Earth Made of Glass about the Rwandan genocideEarth Made of Glass is a science fiction novel by American writer John Barnes, the second book of his Thousand Cultures series. The story is told from the perspective of a middle-aged special agent named Giraut. Earth Made of Glass examines religious extremism when two different cultures are forced into proximity.

“And just like this, all of a sudden, your people and mine will begin to talk?" "It only looks sudden from some places. Running off a cliff is sudden if you don't know it's there, even if you have been running toward it for days." "That's not a reassuring metaphor.”

John Barnes book Earth Made of Glass

"It isn't meant to be."
Earth Made of Glass (1998)

“There is a saying among those of us who have careers with the Council of Humanity that skiers, cooks, painters, and diplomats must work with what is in front of them.”

John Barnes book Earth Made of Glass

Earth Made of Glass (1998)

“In discussing the existence, or not, of the soul: "I am Caledon. Quite a few of my fellow Caledons still believe there is some essence to a human being, something that makes a person unique." "And you don't." "I don't. I see that people who believe in anything beyond plain physical reality are mainly engaged in making themselves or others miserable."”

John Barnes book Earth Made of Glass

Earth Made of Glass (1998)

“Shan had always said that in any multiple choice about human motivation, the real answer was always "all of the above."”

John Barnes book Earth Made of Glass

Earth Made of Glass (1998)