День триффидов
A Light in the Night
Thepublisherspersuadedmethatitwouldbesomuchbetterforpublicity.Fromtheirpointofviewtheywereright.Ibecamequitenotoriousforahit—itusedtomakemegiggleinsidewhenIsawpeoplelookingspeculativelyatmeinrestaurantsandplaces—theyseemedtofinditsohardtotieupwhattheysawwithwhattheythought.LotsofpeopleIdidn’tcarefortooktotinningupregularlyattheapartment,sotogetridofthem,andbecauseI’dprovedthatIdidn’thavetogohome,Iwenthomeagain.
"Thebookratherspoiledthings,though.Peoplewouldbesoliteral-mindedaboutthattitle.IseemtohavebeenkeepingupapermanentdefensiveeversinceagainstpeopleIdon’tlike—andthoseIwantedtolikewereeitherscaredorshocked.What’ssoannoyingisthatitwasn’tevenawickedbook—itwasjustsilly-shocking,andsensiblepeopleoughttohaveseenthat."
Shepausedcontemplatively.ItoccurredtoruethatthesensiblepeoplehadprobablydecidedthattheauthorofSexIsMyAdventurewouldbesilly-shockingtoo,butIforeboretosuggestit.Weallhaveouryouthfulfollies,embarrassingtorecall—butpeoplesomehowfindithardtodismissasayouthfulfollyanythingthathashappenedtobeafinancialsuccess.
"Itsortoftwistedeverything,"shecomplained."Iwaswritinganotherbooktotrytobalancethingsupagain.ButI’mgladI’llneverfinishit—itwasratherbitter."
"Withanequallyalarmingtitle?"Iasked.
Sheshookherhead."ItwastobecalledHeretheForsaken."
