I've found myself rereading The Holy, not for the animist theme, but for the dialogue. I've noticed in several of your books, but especially in The Holy, the characters speak in very clear, direct, and honest ways, even when they are being ambiguous and dishonest (if that makes any sense). It's a refreshing sense of everybody knowing their own needs and agendas and putting it out on the table without apology, and I'm wondering where you learned to write characters that talk like this? Is it simply drawn from your own skill at communication. I'm envious. • Ishmael.org, the work & philosophy of Daniel Quinn