--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a writer with a voice as good as…" description: "\"When a writer with a voice as good as Richard Christian Matheson's tells you something, you have no choice but to listen. In THE RITUAL OF ILLUSION the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/michael-marshall-smith-18266_choices_when-a-writer-with-a-voice-as-good-as-ri_1845387.jpg" --- # When a writer with a voice as good as Richard Christian… ![“When a writer with a voice as good as Richard Christian Matheson's tells you something, you have no choice but to listen. In THE RITUAL OF ILLUSION the voices are legion, and the gaps between their testimonies drag us closer to understanding the darkly beating heart of all our, ephemeral…” quote by Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/michael-marshall-smith-18266_choices_when-a-writer-with-a-voice-as-good-as-ri_1845387.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/michael-marshall-smith-18266_choices_when-a-writer-with-a-voice-as-good-as-ri_1845387.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/michael-marshall-smith-18266_choices_when-a-writer-with-a-voice-as-good-as-ri_1845387.jpg) > “When a writer with a voice as good as Richard Christian Matheson's tells you something, you have no choice but to listen. In THE RITUAL OF ILLUSION the voices are legion, and the gaps between their testimonies drag us closer to understanding the darkly beating heart of all our, ephemeral, transfixing dreams. Dark, subtle, horrifically funny.” [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A powerful writer’s voice commands attention, revealing hidden truths through many perspectives and unsettling humor. **In simple terms:** A great writer forces us to listen and see deeper truths. Key Takeaway Listen to strong voices for hidden insights. Themes literature voice perception humor Mood thoughtful intriguing Type literary analytical When to use this quote - book clubs - creative writing workshops - critical essays - media analysis Key Concepts narrative layering psychology existential dread Questions to Reflect On - What does the “legion” of voices represent? - How does humor affect confronting dark themes? A Different Perspective Overreliance on a single voice can limit diverse viewpoints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beating Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beating-heart/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Drag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drag/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Ephemeral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ephemeral/) [Gaps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaps/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Horrifically Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrifically-funny-2383728/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Illusion Voices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion-voices-2383725/) [Legion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legion/) [Ritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ritual/) [Ritual Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ritual-illusion-784481/) [Subtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subtle/) [Subtle Horrifically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subtle-horrifically-2383727/) [Testimony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testimony/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding Darkly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-darkly-2383726/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [A real stunner. 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"To get yourself killed? To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-am-praetor-of-the-legion-reyna-said-i-judge-this-to-be-in-the-best/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > ['The Stars are Legion' is part space opera, part thriller, about two warring families battling it out for control over a legion of organic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/the-stars-are-legion-is-part-space-opera-part-thriller-about-two/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [If you think for one second no one knows what you've been going through; be accepting of the fact that you are wrong, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-koyczan/if-you-think-for-one-second-no-one-knows-what-you-ve-been-going/) [Shane Koyczan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-koyczan/) > [The American Legion has been a cornerstone of American life from the local to the federal level since the beginning, and serves as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-braun/the-american-legion-has-been-a-cornerstone-of-american-life-from-the/) [Mike Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-braun/) ## More by Michael Marshall Smith > [“I wash with the can of water I set aside the night before, and eat whatever I put next to it. 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The water gets deeper, and looks so still: occasionally some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/the-mind-is-like-a-pool-of-water-and-rain-falls-as-you-age-the-water/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [When you meet someone you love, then you change for good. That’s why the other person will never know or understand the earlier you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/when-you-meet-someone-you-love-then-you-change-for-good-that-s-why/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [One of the most subtle and powerful writers of dark fiction - a unique voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/one-of-the-most-subtle-and-powerful-writers-of-dark-fiction-a-unique/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“Growing older, it appears, does not mean growing up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/growing-older-it-appears-does-not-mean-growing-up/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“I caught one last glimpse of her face, howling something at me. There were too many vowels in what she said, and they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/i-caught-one-last-glimpse-of-her-face-howling-something-at-me-there/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [Death is real. Death changes things. Everything else is filler, merely a message from our sponsor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/death-is-real-death-changes-things-everything-else-is-filler-merely-a/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [Nobody likes to see a body, but it's better than seeing a ghost. Bodies just make you doubt the world and the people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/nobody-likes-to-see-a-body-but-it-s-better-than-seeing-a-ghost-bodies/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“Everyone’s alone in their world, because everybody’s life is different. You can send people letters, and show them photos, but they can never come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/everyone-s-alone-in-their-world-because-everybody-s-life-is-different/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“If people knew that I really am what I say I am,' he said, 'you know they'd never forgive me.' 'Don't worry,' I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/if-people-knew-that-i-really-am-what-i-say-i-am-he-said-you-know-they/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [My limited experience of such things told me that you get closest to the truth by not giving it advance warning that you're coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/my-limited-experience-of-such-things-told-me-that-you-get-closest-to/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) [Explore all 34 Michael Marshall Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When a writer with a voice as good as Richard Christian Matheson's tells you something, you have no choice but to listen. 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