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Tanya Huff, Valor's Trial

Die nette DHL-Botin brachte mir den vorbestellten vierten Valor-Band just als ich City of Bones durchhatte, so daß ich gleich damit anfangen konnte - und jetzt kann ich mich kaum davon losreißen. Meines Erachtens ist die Serie die beste von Tanya Huff - oder mindestens gleichauf mit der Quarter-Serie, mit der man sie ohnehin nicht vergleichen solllte, weil das eine SF ist und das andere Fantasy. Also gleichgut. Mindestens.

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Tanya Huff, The Heart of Valor

Die Valor-Bände gehören mit der "Quarter"-Serie zu meinen Lieblingsbüchern von Tanya Huff. Der dritte Band um inzwischen zum Gunnery Sergeant beförderten Torin Kerr lässt sich vielleicht ein bißchen gemählicher an als die ersten beiden, aber bei soviel Action in der letzten Zeit ist ihr auch eine Verschnaufspause zu gönnen - und für ein endgültiges Urteil ist es beim zweiten Kapitel vielleicht auch noch etwas früh.

Kürzlich hatte ich das Vergnügen, Bücher von zwei Autoren nacheinander zu lesen, welche - nicht nur in Bezug auf ihre Dialoge - absolut gegensätzlich sind, aber dennoch beide unfehlbar auf ihre Art ihre Leser zum schmunzeln, wenn nicht gar zum laut herauslachen bringen.

Tanya Huff schreibt in ihren Valor-Bänden (und nicht nur da) absolut beneidenswert knappe Dialoge:

Torin sighed. "Mr. Ryder, you blind jump out of Susumi space in a vessel smaller than the average SRM. You secure potentially hazardous salvage in vacuum, with no backup, leaving you essentially screwed if something goes wrong. I do not think you're a coward."
He cocked his head and she could see a glint in the blue eyes. "You think I'm a scavenger who makes his living off the misfortune of people you call friends."
"It's like you were reading my mind, Mr. Ryder .."
"Call me Craig."
"... but that doesn't make you a coward."
"Or a marine."
"What makes you think we'd have you?"
"Ouch again."
"Lick your wounds a little quieter, please, they're starting."
"Are you smiling?"
She was. "No."
"Okay."

-------------

"You know, for a cadmium-haired sex maniac, you're a decent shot."
"Thanks. For a .."
"Superior officer."
"... Human, you're a decent pilot."
"Was that an insult?"
"Up to you."
Starboard thrusters. Full topside. The bottom of the Jade skimmed the side of the pen.

"Fuk!" Dursinski twisted around in her strapping. "I could read 'made by the H'san coalition' on the bottom of that thing!"
"You can read?" Werst snorted.
"Up yours."
Morale seemed fine, Torin noted.

(Tanya Huff, "The Better Part of Valor", 2002)

In Steven Brusts Taltos-Bänden sind die Dialoge ähnlich knapp und spritzig, aber in den Khaavren Büchern macht er sich einen Spaß daraus, alle Konversationen so weit in die Länge zu ziehen, bis man um Gnade wimmern möchte:

..Tazendra suddenly announced to Khaavren and Pel, "I have been wondering again."
Pel shrugged. "I had thought you had given over such activities."
"Well, I seem unable to stop myself."
"It is a sign of intelligence," said Khaavren, "to be unable to stop wondering."
"Is it indeed?" said Tazendra, who was greatly pleased by this thought.
"Entirely."
"Well, that is good; I had suspected I was intelligent, now I know that I am, and because of it-"
"Well?"
"I will continue to wonder."
"That is right," said Khaavren.
"And yet, I should like an answer to the question that has been knocking about my head so insistently."
"I understand your annoyance," said Pel, "but I beg you to reconsider."
"Reconsider?"
"Exactly."
"Why?"
"Because, if you ask your question, it might be answered."
"Well, but that is what I want."
"No," said Pel, "it is not."
"How, it is not?"
"Not in the least in the world, I assure you."
"But, it seems to me that is just why I want to ask the question."
"And you are wrong to do so," said Pel promptly.
"But, will you tell me why?"
"I should be delighted to do so."
"Then I am listening."
"Well, here it is: if your question is answered, you will no longer wonder."

(Steven Brust, "The Phoenix Guards", 1991)

".. If you wanted to apply for officer's training, I'd support your application." He chuckled encouragingly. "After what you did today, half of Parliament would support your application."
"Officer's training?" Torin lifted her combat vest off the chair where the medic had placed it.
"That's right."
"Thank you, sir, but no." One by one, she slid the cylinders out of her vest and indicated that the general should hold out his hands. "There's two very good reasons that I'd make a lousy officer." She dropped the (ashes of the) thirteen Marines who'd paid for his place in history into his cupped palms. "First of all, I work for a living."
Stepping back, she gestured at his face. "You should have a doctor see to that, sir." The gesture snapped into a perfect salute, that he was unable to return, there were too many cylinders for him to hold with only one hand. Then she turned on her heel and walked toward the hatch.
"Staff Sergeant Kerr."
One hand on the hatch release, she paused.
"You said there were two reasons. What was the second?"
"The second reason, sir?"
"Yes."
"My parents were married."

(Tanya Huff, "Valor's Choice", 2000)

Ich liebe einfach Bücher mit einer Pointe am Schluß, und mag sie auch noch so bitter und/oder sarkastisch sein. Falls einer die Pointe hier nicht gleich versteht: ich hab auch ein bißchen gebraucht ...