Talk:The Killing Machine

Worthless Money
Once again Vance has not thought sufficiently about a plot element. The counterfeit money, that was paid to Interchange, would have been deposited at the bank, where it would have been certified via fake meter. Thus interchange would have made a good profit. When the money faded most or all would have remained at the bank, which would have notified all concerned that counterfeit technology had been perfected. The bank would simply exchange the blank counterfeit money for good money. A massive investigation would have commenced and Gersen would almost certainly been identified, arrested, his wealth confiscated, and sentenced to long imprisonment. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2604:2D80:882A:0:914E:B65:6E91:2975 (talk) 22:33, 1 October 2016 (UTC)


 * Arguable. However, since Interchange operates Beyond, it is unlikely that any bank would be interested in reimbursing them for a loss sustained outside the Oikumene - and if there were evidence that ten billion counterfeit SVU had just been introduced into the money supply, it would be just as well for all concerned if it disappeared again. Also, who's to say that Interchange would be in any hurry to deposit anything? Their own security was clearly adequate to the task of securing a huge volume of negotiable currency, which they could draw upon when needed. Captain Pedant (talk) 00:03, 25 December 2019 (UTC)

Additional Inconsistency: Koker Hekkus would not have paid Interchange any money until he got his hands on Iphy. Therefore Interchange could not have given Gersen a check, but would have simply returned the money that he was owed. Thus Gersen would have 9 Billion phoney SVU's, which will soon fade away. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2604:2D80:882A:0:90E3:78CF:6AB9:A57A (talk) 00:15, 11 August 2017 (UTC)


 * Why wouldn't he? Interchange was a well-known organisation that existed in order to facilitate the ransoming of kidnap victims, as secure as any legitimate banking house, and a lot more convenient for a criminal to visit. And for Alusz Iphegenia to be kept abreast of developments as Kokor Hekkus made yet another string of hundred-million-SVU deposits would just allow her to experience the full horror of her inescapable situation. Captain Pedant (talk) 00:03, 25 December 2019 (UTC)
 * Old thread, however I will posit that it is sensible for large amounts of money to be invested rather than lie fallow beneath Interchange's mattress. We are given strong reason to believe Interchange has a relationship with a large insurance firm, so they have the means to launder. Then again, the reliance on paper currency in a civilization that spans light-years likely presents a snag when it comes to volumes in excess of planetary treasuries. It is arguable either way. As to where Alusz's rescission payout might come from, it seems logical that Gersen's funny money would be closest at hand. However, it's possible that money is held up in some procedure that Interchange performs after the fakemeter swipe. Again, we can't really know. Finally, as to the notion that Hekkus wouldn't have paid Interchange any money until he had the full 10 billion, does it make sense for Hekkus to come withdraw billions in hard cash from the place he will inevitably bring it back to? He might think not. 2601:C0:8100:16:7165:6BC4:51A5:CABA (talk) 21:21, 29 June 2022 (UTC)