Frank Beddor Quotes & Sayings

She had heard it was easy to blame others for one's own failures. But that wasn't exactly accurate. It was easy to blame herself for what had happened
hard to live with it. — Frank Beddor

For most of the universe's life is not all gummy wads and tarty tarts; is a struggle against hardship, unfairness, corruption, abuse, and adversity in all its guises, where even to survive - let alone survive with dignity - is heroic. To soldier through the days in the wake of failure is the courageous act of many. — Frank Beddor

Here kitty, kitty. Here, kitty, kitty, kitty.
Dodge — Frank Beddor

Redd's face contorted with a sudden realization. "How could I have been so stupid?"
The Cat was trying to decide if this was a rhetorical question when she roared, "It's a construct!"
With a dismiissive swing of Redd's arm, Alyss and her army began to shimmer, the billon points of engery that formed them monentarily visible before exploding apart into nothing. Redd scoped the queendom with her imagination's eye. "Where are you, Alyss? Where is my dear little niece? — Frank Beddor

Off with their heads!" the woman screamed. "Off with their stinking, boring heads!""
Redd, The Looking Class Wars — Frank Beddor

But I killed you," said Alyss.
Did you?" Redd turned to The Cat. "Why wasn't I informed?"
The Looking Glass Wars — Frank Beddor

I'd say she's ready, wouldn't you?
The Rook, The Looking Glass Wars — Frank Beddor

It is sometimes braver to run. She who runs from her enemies until she has the strength to do otherwise is both brave and wise. — Frank Beddor

It's all in your head," Genevieve said.
I know," said Alyss, and despite the traumas of the past , the uncertainty of the future, she wouldn't have given up this moment for anything.
"Isn't it wonderful? — Frank Beddor

It's didn't take a genis tactician to see that failure was imminent, Alyss more powerful that Arch had supposed. He would have to focus on his contingency plan and let the Glass Eyes attack on Wonderland fizzle out
a circunstance mildly disapointing, but not worrisome. Such a strategist was the king that he had a contingency plan for his contingency plan, and even, if circunstances required, a contingency plan for his contingency plan's contingency plan.
— Frank Beddor

I think I speak for all of us when I say, "Huh? — Frank Beddor

Redd stared at the bald head bent down before her. How refreshing Vollrath's sacrifice was. He didn't beg for his life. He didn't embarrasss himself with groveling or sniveling, or appeals to her nomexistent mercy. — Frank Beddor

The sudden loss of her father was like living with a wound that would never heal, yet her memories of him were fading more and more every day. — Frank Beddor

I'd had a cold that day and wasn't as powerful as usual, otherwise Alyss would never have done so well," Redd said as, in the alcove, the final image dissolved. She blew at the cloud and it drifted out into the crypt. "Has a malicious ruler ever suffered more? I think not. — Frank Beddor

Whatever power I have is nothing if I can't use it to keep safe those who mean the most to me. — Frank Beddor

Having been away from you offical duties," Arch said as the Miller's hand lowered to his side, "you might not have hearc, but I've developed a weapon capable of destroying all of Boaderland, Wonderland, Morgavia, Unterlan and who knows what else. I call it WILMA, which stands for Weapon of Inconceivable Loss and Massive Annihilation. It also happens to be the name of one of my former wives, who had to be put down on account of her feisty temper. — Frank Beddor

What. Are. Thooooooose?" the walrus moaned.
On the holo-screen airing the happenings in Genevieve Square, a swarm of scorpspitters released by the Glass Eyes was scuttling toward Alyss and the other. Never before had a Wonderlander seen these scorpion-like contraptions that could bullets of deadly poison from their "tails"
not even Bibwit, who assumed they were the latest in a long line of armaments invented by Redd. But before a single scorpspitter curled its tail into a C to take aim at the queen, she imagined into existance a horde of disembodied boots with steel-plated soles, which hovered monetarily in the air, then
With a slight nod, she brought them down hard, stomping the scorpspitters flat, squishing their armor-crapaces and making absract art of their wiry guts.
Ooh, now why can't Queen Alyss do that to the Glass Eyes?" the walrus-bulter cried. — Frank Beddor

Silence is hereby outlawed. Silence breeds independent thought, which in turn breeds dissent. — Frank Beddor

Hatter, my love, we never got a chance to say good-bye.
Weaver — Frank Beddor

A person's voice can have such a powerful experience on the listener, very different from looking at the words on the page. — Frank Beddor

Redd's lact of knowledge astounded the tutor. Did she really understand so little about how a Wonderland princess became queen?
She doesn't know what she doesn't know," he mumbled, and then: "Your Imperial Viciousness, perhpas we should speak face-to-face, without this velvet barrier between us. Are you decent?"
I'm never decent! — Frank Beddor

Well now," the scholar went on, "I'm just an old fuddy-duddy who could use a tan, so you needn't grant my opinion any authority, but I consider the queendom lucky that a handful of Milliners and their children lived incognito among the population during Redd's tyranny. — Frank Beddor

Suffering the nasty twisting of body parts that should never be twisted, the card soldiers fell, lifeless, and Arch's bodyguards were soon pushing through the tangles of Outerwilderbeastie, cruching twigs and leaves underfoot.
Visit the labs?" Blister said, refurring the squate network of building in Wondertropolies' warehouse district, where a consortium of Alyss' scientists and engineers had tried to transform a host of captured Glass Eyes into a benign force. On the lab grounds were the incinerator baths
large pits into which the Glass Eyes were being herded and melted down, sorched into ash. There would be lots of Glasss Eyes to choose from at the labs, bbut Ripkins shook his head.
To much security," he said.
Find one that roaming?"
It'll be easier for us to avoid notcie," Ripkins said.
Yeah, but it'd be more fun to hit the labs. — Frank Beddor

I miss tarty tarts. — Frank Beddor

For no matter what the world, men who deal in headwear are men to be trusted above any other. — Frank Beddor

What do you want to do with me?" she asked.
You had an unpleasant tumble." He nodded toward the unfamiliar creatures. "My Ganmede friends and I are nursing you back to health, that's all."
By drugging me?"
(Molly and Arch) — Frank Beddor

Redd laughed. "The lovely thing about being here," she said, gesturing at the maze, "is that I'm able to immagine your imagination powerless. Ah, if only that were the case on the outside. But enough chitchat. If you're going to die
which you are
I'm sure you'd like to get it over with."
The Looking Glass Wars — Frank Beddor

Homburg Molly is my daughter, Homburg Molly is my daughter. — Frank Beddor

Do you know what they call themselves, all these people?"
Alyss shook her head. How could she know?
"Alyssians." Bibwit spelled it out.
Her heart gave a little jump. Alyssians? No, they ask too much of me. "I don't think I'm ready for all of this," she said. — Frank Beddor

Is your father's hat useful? — Frank Beddor

After the temper subsides and one has a moment to calmly reflect, it isn't uncommon for declarations shouted in a fit of rage to strike one as untrue, and because they may have been hurtful to family, friends, lovers, husbands, or wives, one wishes them unsaid. — Frank Beddor

The only reason I don't kill him," he remember the woman saying, her voice sounding like the scrape of iron against iron, a corrosion of vocal cords, "is because he's not important enough. — Frank Beddor

A Glass Eye leaped out from behind a parcked smail-trasport, blocked thier way. "Did you drop something?" Dodge asked the assassian. "Caus I think I see you ... " he unheathed his sword and swung, decapitating the Glass Eye in one blow, " ... head over there. — Frank Beddor

That's your problem, isn't it, Madigan? Too much feeling. — Frank Beddor

Dodge, Alyss said, putting a hand to the parrallel scars on his cheek, that brand left so long ago by The Cat. She pressed her lips against each of them
four delicate kisses.
When she pulled away, he was smiling. — Frank Beddor

Are you Lewis Carroll? Redd asked him. — Frank Beddor

Alice of Wonderland was stranded on Earth. — Frank Beddor

You say halfer as if it's a terrible thing," he said. "But everyone I've ever known has been a halfer; if old enough t-to be called an adult, then ch-childish in their prejudices. All of us in the world really, I take to be h-halfers- half human, half divine, halfers of the best sort. I'd think the s-same must be true for the people of Wonderland, that there's ... there is no such thing as s-someone who is not a halfer, or even a quarter-er, if you'll allow me the inelegant term. — Frank Beddor

Boaderland: Where women could be given away by their husbands to pay debts, and young, rowdy gallants from Wonderland, fresh from the rigors of formal education, came to indulge themselvs in roving pleasure tents; where maps were useless because the nation consisted wholly of nomadic camps, settlements, towns and cities, and a visitor might find the country's capital, Boarderton, situated in the cool sgadows of the Glyph Cliffs one day but spread out along Fortune Bay the next. — Frank Beddor

Ah, ah, no buts. You've just returned to us and it is too soon to express whatever doubts you undoubtedly have with that most cowardly of words, that qualifier of qualifiers, but. — Frank Beddor

You don't like my dress?"
The vines of Reed's couture streched toward the tutor, the rose's petal-mouths chomping.
It isn't that, Your Imperial Viciousness. The earthlings will not understand you. Not understanding you, they will be frightened and send their petty authorities to apprehend you."
Ha!"
Of course they'll fail. That isn't the point. But you'll have to wast engery dealing with them instead of concentrating on your niece's destruction. I doubt that the way to achive your aim is to spread your strength across many fronts so that, when it's time to battle Alyss, you many not be at the peak of your powers. Your niece, I gather, shouldn't be underestimated."
Vollrath hadn't graduated from the Tutor Corps for nothing. "I don't like when sound reasoning counters my wishes," Redd hissed. — Frank Beddor

But I killed you," Alyss said. "Did you?" Red turned to The Cat. "Why wasn't I informed? — Frank Beddor

You see, I'm not above helping an unfortunate soul find new purpose in life ... so long as it benefits me — Frank Beddor

Redd shed caution like an outgrown skin. — Frank Beddor

You can't spend so much time in a place and not carry a bit of it inside you. — Frank Beddor

Being a Milliner's about standing up for what's right, for those who can't stand up for themselves. — Frank Beddor

Ooh, the staring at threads class. My favorite. — Frank Beddor

Off with their heads! — Frank Beddor

Only the previous day, Arch had found him in a spirit-dance corral, blistering the creatures to the point of death, such was his need to touch and destroy. — Frank Beddor

Hatter!" She would have hugged him if she hadn't thought he'd be bothered by the dislay of affection.
Pterry good timing." Dodge smiled. "A litte sooner and you would've been perfect. — Frank Beddor

I am more powerful than that disgustingly well-intenioned niece of mine!
Redd Heart — Frank Beddor

After a long silence, Dodge cleared his throat. "I think I speak for all of us when I say, 'Huh?'"
-Dodge(obviously) — Frank Beddor

One hat, one hatter. - Millinery Code — Frank Beddor

One hat, one hatter. — Frank Beddor

Redd Towers Apartments, whose advertising slogan, 'If you lived here, you'd be home by now,' did little to fill vacancies. — Frank Beddor

What am I to do with you?" Redd asked.
"M-maybe you could-" Jack began.
The Cat raised a paw. "I know."
"It was a rhetorical question, fools! You don't answer it! Since when do I need help making anyone suffer? — Frank Beddor

Speeches are for politicians. We are Milliners, Wonderlanders of action. — Frank Beddor

I've finished running from you, Redd. It's time for you to run.
Alyss — Frank Beddor

THe Gnobi, when not roused to violence, were a sluggish clan, the least nomadic of Boarderland's tribes. Not sensing any immediate threat to their freedoms in the person of Jack Diamond, they had responded to his urgency with characteristic listessness.
"Myrval's tent is somewhere that way," one of them had said with a vauge wave of the hand.
"Follow the sound of the snoring and you'll find it," another had suggested. — Frank Beddor

Be the best. There is no second place. — Frank Beddor

Something stiffened, moved. Just as Alyss realized who it was, standing with bowed head at Sir Justice's grave
Dodge.
He whirled around, the point of his sword aimed at her throat.
Not the warmest way to great your ... " She was about tosay "queen" but changed her mind. " ... friend. — Frank Beddor

If wearing this rag will in any way speed the process of gathering my furture soldiers, then I will waer it. But if it doesn't ... "
Vollrath bowed. "I will subject myself to your temper."
You'll have no choice. — Frank Beddor

I'm stronger than you are, Redd. — Frank Beddor

How's our young guest?" he asked.
As docile as any child could be, wearing a drug-delivery system as she is," said one of the ministers.
She constantly demands to see her mother," said another, "and somewhat less constantly demands that we return her homburg to her. — Frank Beddor

He talked to himself because there weren't many people as learned as he, and he liked to talk to learned people. — Frank Beddor

If I lived by some code, my actions would become predictable. The enemy would take advantage of this and I'd be killed. An honorable death doesn't exist. Death is death. But it's funny that survival and revenge require the same thing: no honor codes, no supposed higher principles to aspire to, no mercy — Frank Beddor

I'm feeling generous today. You get to live. — Frank Beddor

My ministers have informed me that Alyss is ridding her land of Glass Eyes."
Overriding the imperative that Redd embedded in them is harder than she thought," added Ripkins.
In other words, they're designed to kill and nothing more."
The bodygaurds bowed that this was so.
Perhaps the trick is not the override their imperative," Arch mused, "but the reprogram them to acknowledge a differnent master. Everyone in Woderland
even the otherwise rebellious Redd Heart
is, was, or always has been occupied with inventing things. But what good are things if there no clever schemes in which to use them? I putthings to unexpected and imaginative use."
Seeing Redd — Frank Beddor

Redd turned to her assassins. "What is it I always say?"
The Cat, Sacrenoir, and the others bandied uncertain glances about.
"Don't be stupid?" ventured Alistaire.
"I should kill you now?" offered The Cat.
"Do I have to murder everyone myself?" tried Siren.
"No, idiots! When in doubt, go for the head. That's what I always say. — Frank Beddor

Most of life is unbearable. It's unbearable but we bear it — Frank Beddor

I would find no value in the allegiance of a fool ready to give himself up to any old hag of Black Imagination who presented herself. I will accept your allegiance. For now. But if I ever decide you're useless, you are a dead man."
To be killed by you is to be desired more than a life excluded from your service."
(Redd and Sacrenoir) — Frank Beddor

I tell you to think black thoughts and you come up with that?!" the lieutenant had screamed. "Is a guinea pig bad? Do you consider a guinea pig the representation of all that is evil?"
Maybe ... if it's an evil guinea pig. — Frank Beddor

Molly wants to know her father's name," Arch said to them. "Why don't you give her a hint?"
His first name with 'splatter,'" said Ripkins.
And 'matter'," said Blister.
Also 'fatter,'" said Ripkins.
Likewise 'chatter'," added Blister.
And his surname?" Arch asked.
It rhymes with 'that again'," said Ripkins.
And 'Flanagan," put in Blister.
Also, um ... 'pad a fin'?" offered Ripkins.
Arch and Blister looked at him.
'Pannikin!'" he said proudly.
Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Molly screamed. "You don't know what you're talking about! — Frank Beddor

Lesson number 1b in Bibwit's carefully planned curriculum: For most of the universe's inhabitants, life is not all gummy wads and tarty tarts; it is a struggle against hardship, unfairness, corruption, abuse, and adversity in all its guises, where even to survive - let alone survive with dignity- is heroic. To soldier through the days in a wake of failure is the corageous act of many. To rule benevolently, a queen should be able to enter into the feelings of those less fortunate than herself. — Frank Beddor

She didn't bother to understand it all; it was history
boring boring boring. — Frank Beddor

As members of my cabinet," Alyss calmly explained, "you share in the responsibilty of ensuring a safe furture for Wonderland. I'm sure the four of you will agree that we're in a crisis and that trying times bring out the best in you. What queen wouldn't want such helpful cabinet members by her side in an hour of need? Forgive me for calling you here. I was thinking only of myself and others when I did it. But for the love of your rank if nothing else, advise me. How do you think we should conter this invasion?"
Uh," said the Lady of Clubes.
I know exactly how we should counter it! said her husband. "First and foremost, a decree must be at once ... decreed! All ranking families are to remain indoors and well-protected until it can be guaranteed that every threat is violence is past! It's imperative that nothing inconvenient happen to us, for the population would then have no one to look up to! — Frank Beddor

It had been an annoyingly peacful time in Boarderland, Blister cranky and despressed because he hadn't filled anyone with pus for nearly an enitre lunar cycle. — Frank Beddor

The queen is head. Long live the queen ... me."
The platoon of renegade soldiers cheered. Redd kicked The Cat where he lay on the floor, tongue lolling in his mouth, the picture of death. "Get up! You still have seven more lives."
The Cat's eyes fluttered open.
Find Alyss and kill her."
With a wave of her hand, the looking glass was once again whole. The Cate jumped through, in prosuit of the only living Heart besides Redd. — Frank Beddor

Without a twich of exertion, Redd sealed his lips with glue. "Who wants to kill him?"
The Cat raised a paw. Siren and Alistare raised their hands.
"Mmmmmm mmm mmm," protested Jack. — Frank Beddor

For now. But if I ever decide you're useless, you are a dead man."
To be killed by you is to be desired more than a life excluded from your service."
Bravo." Her Imperial Viciousness laughed with genuine feeling. "Bra-vo! — Frank Beddor

The black, hungry roses that Redd sent snaking towards the princess were easily squashed, the orbs and and unmanned, airborne blades of effortlessly waved off, and the spears of black energy (Alyss was flattered, her aunt borrowing this idea from her) pinned motionless to the air by Alyss's own white spears with no trouble. — Frank Beddor

It is supposed that power corrupts,' the caterpillar said in a voice as untroubled as time itself. yet the powerful are often corrupt before they are powerful. In fact, I find that they too often become powerful by being corrupt. Whether real or perceived, a lack of power can also corrupt. — Frank Beddor

Queen Alyss, my guards have discovered something you should see."
Her face had relaxed at the sight of him, but her brow at once contracted, her lips thinned with tension.
We've found evidence of suspicious activity in the palace," he said.
What sort of activity?"
You might want to step this way and see for youself. I apologize in advance for you having to set foot in a gaurdsman's quaters."
He led her into his rooms. The boyish portrait of Sir Justice, the fire crystals in the hearth, the elegantly arrayed table: Alyss blinked in puzzlement.
What is all this?"
My best guess, You Majesty, is that it's breakfast, but I can't be sure until we taste it. — Frank Beddor

When I give the go ahead, go ahead, Alyss said, the jungle gym having come to a stop less than a gwormmy-length from her face.
What? the four General Doppels cried at once.
Run when I say so. — Frank Beddor

I'm having the weirdest sense of deja vu right now," said the green caterpiller.
Duh!" said the blue caterpiller. "Do you think, just maybe, that's because you predicted this?"
Oh, yeah."
The Looking Glass Wars — Frank Beddor

We're family," Alyss said.
Redd snorted. "Is that supposed to mean something?"
Family," Alyss said again, trying to convince herself more than Redd.
Don't talk to me about family! You were never disowned by your parents!"
I'd rather have been disowned by them then see them murdered. — Frank Beddor

I miss you, dad. — Frank Beddor

Should is my all time least favorite word. It's this sort of guilt inducing, finger wagging word that we use to beat up others and ourselves. — Frank Beddor

Off with...Wonderland's head! — Frank Beddor