Great Quote On The True Value of Damascus

stjames

stjames

Sebenzanista
Joined
Oct 26, 1998
Messages
6,465
I came across a great quote about a Damascus Steel blade in Neal Stephenson’s latest work of fiction, Quicksilver. After the siege of Vienna in 1683 and the defeat of the Turks, a vagabond named Jack Shaftoe heads north through Bohemia with his booty; a fine horse, some ostrich plumes, a harem girl and sword with a blade that he notices “ripples like a brook in the sun.” The girl explains that it is a Damascus blade, and likely worth more than the horse and plumes together at the right market. His response is pure poetry…

All the riches in the world are of no use if you can’t defend ‘em. This is wealth, and the means to defend it, combined into one – perfection.
Click to expand...
 
Neal Stephenson == The Man

What an incredible statement of a fundamental principle!

If you haven't read his earlier works go out and get them immediately. "Cryptonomicon" cemented his place as one of the 20th's greatest writers, and "Snow Crash" even has some cool knife content.

Joe
(for the geek impaired; "==" is the symbol for "exactly equal to". Not just "is", but more "is" than "is", if you will.)
 
"This is wealth, and the means to defend it, combined into one – perfection."

That's why we call knives "jewelry that works!" :D
 
Originally posted by VideoJoe
If you haven't read his earlier works go out and get them immediately. "Cryptonomicon" cemented his place as one of the 20th's greatest writers, and "Snow Crash" even has some cool knife content.
Click to expand...

I think I've read everything he has published, including In The Begining... was the Command Line, plenty of which went over my head but always interesting. Much of his work has good knife/sword content, and great charactors like China Marine Sgt. Bobby Shaftoe. He just keeps getting better and better...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top