Magnus

I read my first Magnus Ridolph story last November ("The Sub-Standard Sardines"). Here in this blog post, I comment on another story by Jack Vance that features Magnus Ridolph: "Sanatoris Short-Cut" which was first published in Startling Stories, September 1948.

Introductory blurb for "Sanatoris Short-Cut"

My theory is that any Sci Fi story including equations had a reasonable chance to be published by John Campbell in Astounding. However, see "The World-Thinker". Jack Vance liked to write stories about space pirates (see "Vandals of the Void"), and the "I could out-smart a space pirate" angle may have caused "Sanatoris Short-Cut" to be quickly rejected by Campbell.

Pallis Atwrode of the IPCC

TCI
In a recent blog post about Vance, I mentioned his penchant for imagining futuristic organizations such as the Historical Institute and Zodiac Control. For "Sanatoris Short-Cut", Vance has the Terrestrial Corps of Intelligence, which seems like an early precursor to the IPCC. In later stories, there was the Oikumene, but for "Sanatoris Short-Cut" we have a Commonwealth of planets spread among the stars.

At the start of "Sanatoris Short-Cut", Magnus Ridolph has been doing research on telepathy and now he is in need of ca$h, so what better destination than the "pleasure world" of Fan, where you can try to win a fortune at one of the casinos. Magnus visits the Hall of Doubtful Destiny, a casino owned by Acco May, a notorious criminal and pirate.

the Lorango gambling game inside the Hall of Doubtful Destiny

Handbook of Vance Space

Magnus quickly makes a study of the Lorango gambling game. After some quick calculations he finds a way to beat the game and wins a large amount of money. Acco May is not happy with his big financial loss.

Curved Space
An interesting question about space travel is this: if the speed of light can be exceeded by space travelers, what is the maximum possible rate of space travel? Vance shows his readers an equation that provides his answer to that question and we are informed that it is possible to cruise through the galaxy at the maximum rate of 42.4 light-years per day. Well, you know, it is Vance's fictional universe, so he can set the speed limit. 🚀
                                                                                The Kessel Run

curved space

However, just as Magnus was the first person able to beat the Lorango game, he can even beat the galactic speed limit. You'll have to read "Sanatoris Short-Cut" to learn Vance's explanation for how Magnus is able to travel faster than 42.4 light-years per day.

Not only does Magnus find the "Sanatoris Short-Cut", but in doing so he helps the TCI convict Acco May of murder. Magnus walks away with a large amount of Acco May's ca$h and presumably returns to his expensive research on telepathy.
Related Reading: more Vance for May 2020
Next: Vancian Garbage

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