Berserker Quotes

“…then death, destruction, failure.” The square body bent, but the alien eyes were still riveted on Karlsen. “He who wins everything … will die owning nothing…” The Carmpan bent down and his aircar moved away. In the lounge of the shuttle there was silence. The hurrahing outside sounded like mockery.”
― Fred Saberhagen, Berserker

“The dark metal thoughts are of victory, the dead things make their plan to kill us all. But in this man before me, there is life greater than any strength of metal. A power of  life, to resonate—in all of us. I see. with Karlsen, victory—” The strain on a Carmpan prophet in action was always immense, just as his accuracy was always high. Mitch had heard that the stresses involved were more topological than nervous or electrical. He had heard it, but like most Earth-descended, had never understood it. “Victory,” the ambassador repeated. “Victory … and then …” Something changed in the non-Solarian face. The cold-eyed Earthman was perhaps expert in reading alien expressions, or was perhaps just taking no chances. He whispered another command, and the amplification was taken from the Carmpan voice. A roar of approval mounted up past shuttle and aircar, from the great throng who thought the prophecy complete. But the ambassador had not finished, though now only those a few meters in front of him, inside the shuttle, could hear his faltering voice.”
― Fred Saberhagen, Berserker

“For at every stage of your civilizations there are numbers of you who put aside selfishness and dedicate their lives in service to something they see as being greater than themselves. I say you may prevail, I say not that you will. For in each of your generations there are men who choose to serve the gods of darkness.”
― Fred Saberhagen, Berserker

“It must be nice to declare yourself an emperor or whatever, and have people hurl themselves all over the galaxy to do everything for you.” “Can’t be nice to have someone bring you your brother’s corpse,”
― Fred Saberhagen, Berserker

“The universe is bad; and men are fools, never really all on the same side in any war.”
― Fred Saberhagen, Berserker