Magnus Ridolph Quotes

“Commander Efrem grinned. “And now you want his hide too?” Magnus Ridolph tapped his fingers gently on the arm of his chair. “‘The wine of revenge tastes richest to the vain.’ Revenge is essentially a selfish gratification for which I have little taste. However, I agree with you that the criminal career of Acco May has proceeded to an intolerable length.” Commander Efrem nodded soberly, a hint of a smile on his thin mouth. “In other words, you want his hide.”
― Jack Vance, Magnus Ridolph

“May I interrupt?” asked Magnus Ridolph. “I think I may save time for everyone. As you know, Mr. Pascoglu, I spent a certain period this morning in research. I chanced on a description of the Cambygian sacrificial rites. In order for the rite to be valid, the victim must kneel, bow his head forward. Two skewers are driven into his ears, and the victim is left in this position, kneeling, face down, in a state of ritual composure. Bonfils was sprawled without regard for any sort of decency. I suggest that Fodor Impliega and Fodor Banzoso are guiltless, at least of this particular crime.”
― Jack Vance, Magnus Ridolph

“Magnus Ridolph inspected the paper with interest. Thirteen identities were listed: Lester Bonfils, with Abu Toko Homup Viamestris Diasporus Thorn 199 Fodor Impliega Fodor Banzoso Scriagl Hercules Starguard Fiamella of Thousand Candles Clan Kestrel, 14th Ward, 6th Family, 3rd Son (No name)”
― Jack Vance, Magnus Ridolph

“The lobby was full. Magnus Ridolph contemplated the other occupants of the room. Where did these various men and women, near-men and near-women, originate? What were their purposes, what had brought them to the Hub? That rotund moon-faced bonze in the stiff red robe, for instance. He was a native of the planet Padme, far across the galaxy: why had he ventured so far from home? And the tall angular man whose narrow shaved skull carried a fantastic set of tantalum ornaments: a Lord of the Dacca. Exiled? In pursuit of an enemy? On some mad crusade? And the anthrope from the planet Hecate sitting by himself: a walking argument to support the theory of parallel evolution. His outward semblance caricatured humanity; internally he was as far removed as a gastropod. His head was bleached bone and black shadow, his mouth a lipless slit. He was a Meth of Maetho, and Magnus Ridolph knew his race to be gentle and diffident, with so little mental contact with human beings as to seem ambiguous and secretive … Magnus Ridolph focused his gaze on a woman, and was taken aback by her miraculous beauty. She was dark and slight, with a complexion the color of clean desert sand; she carried herself with a self-awareness that was immensely provoking …”
― Jack Vance, Magnus Ridolph

“The Hub, a cluster of bubbles in a web of metal, hung in empty space, in that region known to Earthmen as Hither Sagittarius. The owner was Pan Pascoglu, a man short, dark and energetic, almost bald, with restless brown eyes and a thick mustache. A man of ambition, Pascoglu hoped to develop the Hub into a fashionable resort, a glamor-island among the stars — something more than a mere stopover depot and junction point. Working to this end, he added two dozen bright new bubbles — “cottages”, as he called them — around the outer meshes of the Hub, which already resembled the model of an extremely complex molecule.”
― Jack Vance, Magnus Ridolph

“Your quarters are this way,” said Thifer and led Magnus Ridolph down a hall walled with corrugated aluminum to a room overlooking the pool. The room was furnished with a narrow bed, a chest of drawers painted gray-green, a straight-back chair painted white. “You are very wise,” Magnus Ridolph observed sagely. “Very sensitive.” “How so?” inquired Thifer. “You have accurately grasped the personality of the planet and have carried the feeling in its most subtle nuances into the furnishings of your house. Quite correctly you decided that starkness and rigor was the only answer to the blank simplicity of the landscape.”
― Jack Vance, Magnus Ridolph

“Rogge wheeled. “What about this Magnus Ridolph? Who is he?” Captain Julic made an easy gesture. “Magnus Ridolph is an eminent mathematician.” “What’s that got to do with the T.C.I.?” demanded Rogge bitterly. “Or the present case? He won’t stop the killings with a slide-rule.” Captain Julic smiled. “I think he carries a slide-rule in his brain.” Rogge turned, stalked slowly from the Communications room. “How is it that the Corps commander sent him — a mathematician?” Julic shrugged. “I imagine that he’s an unofficial consultant, something of the sort.”
― Jack Vance, Magnus Ridolph