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BML 001 -- Best First Lines
Zulu One Started conversation Apr 23, 2000
The subject of this BML is the best first line of any book, novel, or short story. It could be humourous, or dramatic, or surreal, or just plain silly. Post entries as replies to this message by clicking the Reply button at the bottom of this message. Clean entries only please, and don't forget to come back at the beginning of June (or sooner if the idea takes off) to see how your entry did.
BML 001 -- Best First Lines
Blatherskite the Mugwump - Bandwidth Bandit Posted Apr 24, 2000
This posting here is just a bookmark, so I can find this thing later. When I get home (I'm browsing on company time 
) I'll post the opening lines to one of the Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan. They all open the same way, pretty much, and it's very poetic and slighly surreal.
BML 001 -- Best First Lines
Lear (the Unready) Posted Apr 24, 2000
I shall soon be quite dead at last in spite of all.
- Samuel Beckett, 'Malone Dies'.
A cheery little number to get things started off.
BML 001 -- Best First Lines
Chris Tonks Posted Apr 24, 2000
"Far out in the unchartered backwaters of the unfasionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun."
- We all know what from, we all know by whom 
BML 001 -- Best First Lines
Blatherskite the Mugwump - Bandwidth Bandit Posted Apr 25, 2000
This one comes from "A Crown of Swords", but the only thing that changes from book to book is the place mentioned:
"The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the great forest called Braem Wood. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was *a* beginning."
BML 001 -- Best First Lines
Magnolia Posted Apr 30, 2000
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderly again." -- the haunting open lines of REBECCA by Daphne du Maurier. (I had it in mind to include this famous first line on this list three days ago when I first saw the list. But I knew it would be difficult if not impossible to locate the book because I don't have a personal copy. I had vaguely considered the possibility of going out and buying one when ... fate came to my rescue: this morning's edition of my local paper reproduced a long article by Doris Lessing in which -- you guessed it! -- she quotes this opening line! This kind of event is becoming so common in my life that I find I am growing dependent on the idea that I only need to think of something in a concentrated fashion, before it floats into view. My brain is apparently cross-linked with some celestial data-base) 
BML 001 -- Best First Lines
Buff Posted May 1, 2000
It was a quiet morning, the town covered over with darkness and at ease in bed. Summer gathered in the weather, the wind had the proper touch, the breathing of the world was long and warm and slow. You had only to rise, lean from your window, and know that this indeed was the first real time of freedom and living, this was the first morning of summer.
Ray Bradbury, "Dandelion Wine"
A really good book.
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BML 001 -- Best First Lines
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