- Carl Longbottom: By any chance, did you...
- A.E. Goldsmith: I read it.
- Carl Longbottom: Well, listen, I... I'm sure it comes off like a poor man's Asimov, but my idea was to get something published. Anything, really. This way I'll have more opportunities to publish work that's a bit more me. You see what I mean? Obviously it worked out a bit better than I expected, but...
- A.E. Goldsmith: Carl... "Tears of the Anaren" didn't read like a poor man's Asimov. It read exactly like Asimov.
- [long, loaded pause as A.E. and Carl stare each other down]
- Carl Longbottom: [smiles awkwardly] What a lovely compliment. Thank you. So kind of you to say.