Sanatoris Short-Cut-Jack Vance short story
Sanatoris Short-Cut - Jack Vance short story Sanatoris Short-Cut is a 10/17 page short story that was first published in the magazine Startling Stories in September, 1948. It features the interplanetary private investigator, and eccentric Magnus Ridolph who is a white haired old man with a goat like beard who is totally underwhelming in appearance and manner of presentation. (Think the complete opposite of an attractive, dashing James Bond.) But Ridolph is a math wizard and amazingly analytical and down to earth and is able to solve baffling problems and outwit others, often using humor, innovation, math, unusual ideas and eccentric behavior. In this story Ridolph goes to Fan, The "Pleasure-Planet," where the Terrestrial Corps of Intelligence lacks authority. He decided to visit because his research on telepathy had exhausted his funds. Ridolph enters the "Hall of Doubtful Destiny" to try his hand at roulette wheels , but only after carefully exam...