James Sallis Quotes

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In the darkness things always go away from you. Memory holds you down while regret and sorrow kick hell out of you. The only help you'll get is a few hard drinks and morning.

James Sallis

He existed a step or two to one side of the common world, largely out of sight, a shadow, all but invisible. Whatever he owned, either he could hoist it on his back and lug it along or he could walk away from it. Anonymity was the thing he loved most about the city, being a part of it and apart from it at the same time.

James Sallis

Bombs fall and wipe out civilization as we know it, two things come up out of the ashes: roaches and F-150s.

James Sallis

Mostly what you lose with time, in memory, is the specificity of things, their exact sequence. It all runs together, becomes a watery soup. Portmanteau days, imploded years. Like a bad actor, memory always goes for effect, abjuring motivation, consistency, good sense.

James Sallis

Life sends us messages all the time - then sits around laughing over how we're not gonna be able to figure them out.

James Sallis

James Sallis

James Sallis

Born: December 21, 1944

Died: January 27, 2026 (aged 81)

Bio: James Sallis was an American crime writer, poet, critic, musicologist and musician, best known for his series of novels featuring the detective character Lew Griffin and set in New Orleans, and for his 2005 novel Drive, which was adapted into a 2011 film of the same name.

Known for:

Drive (2011)
The long-legged fly (1992)
Willnot (2016)
The Killer Is Dying (2011)
Driven (2012)

James Sallis on Wikipedia

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