Book Beginning: Ellery Queen's Ten Days' Wonder

"In the beginning it was without form, a darkness that kept shifting like dancers."

...is the beginning of Ellery Queen's mystery of 1948, Ten Days' Wonder.

It sounds like it ought to be the beginning of some religious or philosophical text, but in fact it's the beginning of a description of a massive hangover on the part of the main character Howard van Horn. Or is it? Things that look like religion but aren't quite upon investigation is a trick Ellery Queen uses more than once.

Book Beginnings on Fridays is a bookish meme hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader. To play, quote the beginning of the book you're currently reading, give the author and title, and any thoughts if you like. This is my first time in, and it seems like a fun thing to do.