Ajax Penumbra 1969 (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #0.5)

by Robin Sloan

The scene is strange, but really no stranger than the basic premise of your roommate sitting here, using a computer. Using a computer is just not a thing that a person does.

Corvina interjects: “He’s looking for a very particular book, Mo.” “As are we all, Mr. Corvina, as are we all. Most don’t realize it yet. So on that count, our friend Ajax Penumbra is ahead.”

Traveling up and down the peninsula, Penumbra has come to the conclusion that San Francisco is not actually part of California.

Building a computer is just not a thing that a person does.

“The measure of a bookstore is not its receipts, but its friends,”

“You’re new here, aren’t you?” “New? Ah, no. In point of fact, I am not truly here.”

Did I ever tell you about the time Beacham got himself hired by the publisher in Hungary, just to get at their secret archives?” “No, sir.” “Well. We found him floating facedown in the Danube, but no matter.”

“Well, you know our saying: ‘It’s not over until you hold the book’s ashes in your hands, weeping at the years you’ve lost.’” “I did not know we had that saying, sir.”