In the end Navidson is left with one page and one match. For a long time he waits in darkness and cold, postponing this final bit of illumination. At last though, he grips the match by the neck and after locating the friction strip sparks to life a final ball of light. First, he reads a few lines by match light and then as the heat bites his fingertips he applies the flame to the page. Here then is one end: a final act of reading, a final act of consumption. And as the fire rapidly devours the paper, Navidson's eyes frantically sweep down over the text, keeping just ahead of the necessary immolation, until as he reaches the last few words, flames lick around his hands, ash peels off into the surrounding emptiness, and then as the fire retreats, dimming, its light suddenly spent, the book is gone leaving nothing behind but invisible traces already dismantled in the dark.
Mark Z. Danielewski
Prometheus, thief of light, giver of light, bound by the gods, must have been a book.
light book gods bound books thief
Make no mistake, those who write long books have nothing to say. Of course those who write short books have even less to say.
writing writers write mistake books short
reading life time light leaving book dark darkness fire words end eyes sparks hands emptiness act cold invisible paper left text books consumption ash heat
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