Nicholas van Rijn (2376 to c. 2500 A. D. ) is a fictional character who plays the central role in the first half of Poul Anderson's Technic History. Poul William Anderson ( November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001) was an American Science fiction author who wrote during a Golden Poul William Anderson ( November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001) was an American Science fiction author who wrote during a Golden He is a flamboyant capitalist adventurer, and is Dutch, apparently a resident of Djakarta. Capitalism is the Economic system in which the Means of production are owned by private Persons and operated for Profit and where The Dutch people ( Dutch:) are the dominant Ethnic group of the Netherlands. Jakarta (also DKI Jakarta) is the Capital and largest city of Indonesia. His speech is bombastic and heavily laced with unconventional constructs, puns, oaths, and words from various Northern European languages, in particular Dutch, German, and possibly Danish. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Danish ( d̥ænsɡ̊ is one of the North Germanic languages (also called Scandinavian languages a sub-group of the Germanic branch of the Although he frequently employs malapropisms such as "Angular-Saxon" or "hunky-dinghy," they are often so devious or apropos that it is difficult to believe they are unintentional. A malapropism (also called a Dogberryism) is the substitution of an incorrect word for a word with a similar sound usually to comic effect Anderson seems to have enjoyed writing this sort of dialog, and some of his more minor characters have used a similar patois.
He is obviously very well-educated in earth literature and history and also displays considerable cunning and capacity for bullying armed aliens into doing his bidding. A formidable individual in a tight spot (his battle cries have included "God send the Right!", "Kristmenn, Krossmenn, Kongsmenn!", and "Heineken Bier!") he prefers indulging in material luxuries to personal heroism, which is why he has employees. He routinely describes himself as an old, weak, sinful man, but this appears to be false modesty, since he usually follows it by lamenting that his subordinates (or humanity in general) would be unable to accomplish anything without his input. Indeed, this is usually borne out, for van Rijn's great intellect usually proves crucial to solving crises and mysteries that stymie all other characters. In this regard, he is similar to the character of Mycroft Holmes. Mycroft Holmes is a Fictional character in the stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle.
Van Rijn is president of the Solar Spice and Liquors Company - an obvious reference to the spice trade with the East Indies which was a prominent feature of the Netherlands' Golden Age in the Seventeenth Century. Spice trade is a commercial activity of ancient origin which involves the merchandising of Spices and Herbs. The Indies or East Indies (or East India) is a term often used to refer to the islands of SE Asia, especially the Malay Archipelago This article focuses on social and cultural history For political events see History of the Netherlands and Dutch Revolt (1568–1648 As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar Clearly, the character is meant to suggest a kind of throwback to the Dutch merchant adventurers of that time, and is far closer to them than to the more civilised and sedate Twentieth Century Dutch. He is capitalist and libertarian in his philosophy, expressing contempt for government and believing that unfettered free commerce is the only path to peace and prosperity. Libertarianism is a term used by a broad spectrum of political philosophies which prioritize individual Liberty and seek to minimize or even abolish the
He describes commerce as "swindling each other", enjoys watching yacht races, is two metres tall and "globular" in shape, has a goatee beard, dresses in colourful and anachronistic fashions, wears numerous rings, and is known as "Old Nick" by his employees for reasons too obvious to mention. He routinely speaks in a loud, basso voice which Anderson often likens to the sound of a hurricane or avalanche, much as his physical bulk is often compared to a mountain or a Jovian planet. He is apparently impervious to personal abuse but is angered by stupidity, incompetence, prevarication and anything else that slows him down. He is rarely a viewpoint character. He has never married but has taken many mistresses and has at least two natural children: Eric Tamarin-Asmundsen, son of the Grand Duchess of the planet Hermes, and the unnamed mother of Coya Conyon, eventual wife of David Falkayn, van Rijn's most trusted employee and the other central character of the Polesotechnic League series.
He swears by a number of saints including Saint Dismas (the Good Thief, appropriately), and has expressed the intention of burning candles in offering (to which another character responded "Saint Nicholas had best get it in writing"). Saint Dismas (sometimes spelled Dysmas or only Dimas, or even Dumas) also known as the Good Thief or the Penitent Thief Saint Nicholas (Άγιος Νικόλαος, Agios Nikolaos, "victory of the people" is the common name for Nicholas of Myra, a Christian Saint In times of stress, he has been known to shout "This I have not deserved! Do you hear me!" at the sky, presumably at God. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. It seems possible he is Catholic. Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete".
Anderson may have derived the name from the famous painter Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (July 15 1606 &ndash October 4 1669 was a Dutch painter and etcher. Other famous van Rijns, however, have existed. The prefix van, unlike the German von, is not an indicator of minor nobility. Van is a Preposition in the Dutch language as well as in its daughter the Afrikaans language, meaning 'of' or 'from' In German, von is a Preposition which approximately means of or from.
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