a well-defined object of lurid coloration

“Switters turned from the misty void and was instantly confronted with
its opposite: namely, a well-defined object of lurid coloration. It was
the pumpkin, only its orangeness had become so intense it seemed to be
undergoing spontaneous combustion right there on the library table.
Switters didn’t know whether to reach for a fire extinguisher or fall
down and worship. The thing was blazing—and spinning, as well. At
least, it appeared to be, for minute or two. He blinked and rubbed his
eyes. Then he remembered.
    He had forgotten about ingesting the XTC. It was starting to come on, and come on strong.”

—Tom Robbins, Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates, 2000.

Hector Sumac’s drug of choice

“Hector Sumac’s drug of choice, at least for that October evening, was a clean, beige, relatively mild form of Andean cocaine.”

—Tom Robbins, Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates, 2000.

twinkle space

“The stars were as big and bright as brass doorknobs, and so numerous they jostled one another for twinkle space.”

—Tom Robbins, Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates, 2000.

Teal is an unfriendly color

“As the ambience, sky and water alike, gradually turned a single shade
of teal, Bobby slumped low in his patio chair, his battered boots
propped on the ice chest. He appeared lost in thought.
    Teal is an unfriendly color, and the air had an unfriendly feel.”

—Tom Robbins, Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates, 2000.

over the line

“The sun was low but the air was still balmy, and the sea was the shade
of blue that black could have been if it hadn’t stepped over the line.”

—Tom Robbins, Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates, 2000.

Why was C selected to symbolize the speed of light when Z is obviously the fastest letter in the alphabet?

“Other, seemingly more profound, thoughts took over his brain, thoughts such as, To what extent would a given quantity of catnip have affected quantum mechanics in Schrodinger’s theoretical catbox? and Why was C selected to symbolize the speed of light when Z is obviously the fastest letter in the alphabet?”

—Tom Robbins, Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates, 2000.

two sets of exquisite superscript signs

‘[L]et us reach into the inkwell jewel box and withdraw two sets of
exquisite superscript signs—” for the right ear, ” for the left—and
hang them from the lobes on either side of the word nuns. Like so:
“nuns.” This, of course, is not for purposes of ornamentation, although
these apostrophic clusters possess an understated, overlooked beauty
that transcends the merely chic. (Do they not resemble, say, the
widnblown teardrops of fairy fold, commas on a trampoline, tadpoles
with stomach cramps, or human fetuses in the first days folloiwng
conceptiion?)’

—Tom Robbins, Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates, 2000.

earrings

‘He was convinced that the Vatican attorney (perhaps earrings— “ ” —are needed here, perhaps not) was armed.’

—Tom Robbins, Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates, 2000.

A River Runs Through It: Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates

a problem

“Graphically, single letters are a problem.”