[ethbro]

You laugh, but that's exactly how jarring it was.

It sticks in my memory because I remember being somewhat annoyed at the writing level hitherto, reading through that sentence, realizing what I'd just read a few sentences later, going back to double-check, then chucking the book.

And don't get me wrong, I've got space for some crappy writing in my sci-fi (looking at you, Foundation).