"The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge."
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County (1865) Mark Twain
"You never see a frog so modest and straightforward as he was, for all he was so gifted. And when it come to fair and square jumping on a dead level, he could get over more ground at one straddle than any animal of his breed you ever see. Jumping on a dead level was his strong suit, you understand; and when it come to that, Smiley would ante up money on him as long as he had a red."
Metamorphasis (1915) Franz Kafka
"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect."
The Sound of Thunder (1952) Ray Bradbury
" 'We guarantee nothing,' said the official, 'except the dinosaurs.' He turned. 'This is Mr. Travis, your Safari Guide in the Past. He'll tell you what and where to shoot.' "
