John Scalzi - Boutin Quotes

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Speaking of secrets, how are your negotiations with the Obin going?
Both Mattson and Robbins looked at Szilard warily. There are no negotiations with the Obin, Robbins said.
Of course not, Szilard said. You're not negotiating with the Obin to continue Boutin's consciousness program for them. And the Obin are not negotiating with us to knock down whichever of the Rraey or Eneshans is still left standing after their upcoming little war. No one's negotiating with anyone about anything. And how are these non-negotiations not going?
Robbins looked at Mattson, who nodded. They're not going surprisingly well, Robbins said. We probably won't reach an agreement in the next couple of days.
How not wonderful, Szilard said.

John Scalzi

Harry! Boutin said. Nice guy. Didn't know he was that smart. He hid it well.

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It's Charlie's soul, he repeated. Or more accurately, it's a holographic representation of the dynamic electrical system that embodies the consciousness of Charles Boutin.

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Every creature has fear, Jared said. Even the non-conscious ones.
No, Boutin said. Every creature has a survival instinct. It looks like fear but it's not the same thing. Fear isn't the desire to avoid death or pain. Fear is rooted in the knowledge that what you recognize as yourself can cease to exist. Fear is existential.

John Scalzi