Introducing van Rijn

We become very familiar with a series character but completely forget, until we reread them, the details of the first time he appeared. This is the first mention of Nicholas van Rijn in a story by Poul Anderson:

 

"'Good day, sir,' she smiled. 'One moment, please, I'll see if Freeman van Rijn is ready for you.'"

-Poul Anderson, "Margin of Profit" IN Anderson, Un-Man And Other Novellas (New York, 1962), pp. 105-129 AT p. 105.

And, when the text of the story had been revised:

"'Good day, sir,' she smiled. 'I'll see if Freeman Rijn is ready for you.'"

-Poul Anderson, "Margin of Profit" IN Anderson, The Earth Book Of Stormgate (New York, 1979), pp. 70-100 AT p. 70.

 

The first that we hear from van Rijn:

 

"She switched on the intercom and a three-megavolt oath bounced out. 'No, he's still conferring on the vid. Won't you be seated?'"

-Un-Man..., ibid.

 

"She switched on the intercom. A three-megavolt oath bounced out. 'No, he's still in conference on the audivid. Won't you be seated?'"

-The Earth Book..., ibid.

 

In both versions, the viewpoint character, Captain Torres, overhears van Rijn threatening to blockade the territory ruled by an emperor before the receptionist has switched off the intercom. Also in both versions, when Torres finally sees his employer:

 

"Van Rijn grunted. He was a huge man..."

-Un-Man..., p. 107;

-The Earth Book..., p. 72.

 

Thereafter, van Rijn is described in slightly different words and his eyes change from gray to black.

In the Earth Book, he has already been mentioned in the newly written introduction to this story:

"[David Falkayn's] biographers tell how he became a protege of Nicholas van Rijn, but say little about that merchant lord." (p. 69)

- which is why this story is included in the collection.

If we have started to read the Technic History with what was originally its opening volume, then our first sight of van Rijn is as follows:

"Nicholas van Rijn hoisted the two-liter tankard which had been brought him. His several chins quivered under the stiff goatee..."

-Poul Anderson, "Hiding Place" IN Anderson, Trader To The Stars (Frogmore, St Albans, Herts, 1975), pp. 7-47 AT p. 10.

In both stories, the viewpoint character in the opening scene is a spaceship captain employed by van Rijn.