In the midst of my cynicism I would occasionally daydream of the future. My hopes? To excel in all that I had been doing in the past: to write widely acclaimed articles and books; to raise my children so they might avoid the mistakes I had made; to meet some technicolour woman with whom I would become soul mate for life. Unfortunately, the thought that these dreams might all be fulfilled plunged me into despair.

The Dice Man (Luke Rhinehart)