Colorful history

Could the past
be a kaleidoscope,
a pattern of images
that shift with
each disturbance
of a sudden breeze,
a laugh, or
a thought?

— Alan Lightman, "Einstein's Dreams"

Cool-looking authors No. 32

Wil Wheaton, author of "Just a Geek" and "Dancing Barefoot"

(His first name is pronounced "Whil," according to Stewie from "Family Guy.")

And he portrayed a young author in the film "Stand By Me."

(Photographer unknown)

Shave

How important is facial hair
as an acting tool?

It's incredibly important.
It's like doing an accent
or speaking another language.

It's a great tool
for building a character.

— Gael Garcia Bernal, actor with goatee
featured in Gillette's "Masters of Style" ad

Office

In the dim light that seeps
through the room, the desks
appear shadowy and soft,
like large sleeping animals.

— Alan Lightman, "Einstein's Dreams"

Jawbone Phone

What's happened
to our civilization?

When did it become
okay for non-crazy
people to babble

their personal
nonsense in public?

— Daniel Clowes, "Mister Wonderful"

Cool-looking authors No. 31

Stephen King. Come on, it's Stephen King.

(Photo by Amy Guip)

Home

He felt
his usual

vertigo

as he entered
the house.

— Joyce Carol Oates, short story "Labryinth"
(McSweeney's 29)

Cool-looking authors No.30

Erik Estrada, author of "My Road From Harlem to Hollywood" (former star of NBC series "CHiPs")

Cool-looking authors No.29

Ray Bradbury, literary icon. Author of "The Martian Chronicles," "Farenheit 451," "Something Wicked This Way Comes," "Dandelion Wine" and "The Illustrated Man."

(Photo by Tom Victor, courtesy of Simon & Schuster)

Cool-looking authors No.28

Michael Chabon, author of "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh," "Wonder Boys," "The Yiddish Policemen's Union," "Maps and Legends" and "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay"

(Photo by Bridget Summers)

Reflection

On the bathroom floor

slivers of mirror

glittered like

a nightclub's promise.

— Robert McCarthy, short story "Stag"
(One Story #126)

Romance

When a man's passion
explodes into violence,
only a woman's desire
can turn it into love.
— Tagline on the cover of the novel "Tender Is the Storm" by Johanna Lindsey

Cool-looking authors No. 26 and 27

John Cheever (left) and John Updike
Both great short story writers. Cheever, author of "Wapshot" novels; Updike, author of "Rabbit" novels.
[Year, photographer unknown; source: this recording.com]

Cool-looking authors No. 25

Author of "Bart Simpson's Guide to Life" (subtitled "A Wee Handbook for the Perplexed")
(with writing help from Matt Groening; photo of the author by Matt Groening)

Haunted

They have become prone
to apocalyptic forebodings

about the fragility
of the nation’s
institutions
and traditions.

... a specter is haunting
progressivism,
the specter of abundance.

— George Will,
Washington Post column, 12-30-11