AS QUOTED BY CASTILLO

Quotations and borrowed wisdom from George Castillo.

A reader’s companion

George Castillo has a habit of reaching for a familiar line when a moment becomes difficult or needs emphasis.

Sometimes it breaks the tension. Sometimes it gives someone a little courage. Sometimes it lets him acknowledge a fear, offer reassurance, or say something uncomfortable without turning the moment into a speech.

He's not trying to prove that he's seen the right films, listened to the right music, or read the right books. For Castillo, a shared reference is a way of connecting. Recognition can say something before an explanation ever begins...You remember that moment. You understand what I'm trying to tell you.

Why he reaches for familiar words

As the author of these stories, I write these moments out of affection for the works that have stayed with me. A memorable story, be it in song, print, or film, can become part of the language we use to understand our own experiences. Its words may return when we need to laugh, find our resolve, admit uncertainty, provide clarity, or remind someone that they're not alone.

Castillo carries that habit into the Ashen world. His references are an expression of appreciation for other storytellers and for the connections their work can create between people.

The words Castillo quotes belong to others. His reasons for choosing them are his own. Sometimes the important part is the reference itself. Sometimes it is what his choice of reference reveals about him. And sometimes those words acknowledge something in someone else, letting them know that their struggle, their strength, or simply their presence has not gone unnoticed. 

Return to the words that stayed with you

This companion is a place to explore those connections...the sources behind Castillo’s references, their place in the stories, and the reasons I feel a particular line belongs in a particular moment.

Choose a story below to explore its companion notes.

Select a book title to open its notes. Select it again to close.

Companion notes may discuss events from the selected story. I recommend reading that story first to avoid spoilers.

References to other works do not imply endorsement by, or affiliation with, their creators or rights holders. Any applicable third-party rights remain with their respective owners.