Yesterday, November 25, was Poul Anderson’s 92nd birthday. I was traveling and didn’t get a chance to post anything.
This year I want to briefly mention to of his fantasy novels. The first is The Broken Sword. I read this one a few years ago, back when I was doing the posts on the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series over at Black Gate. For the most part, I was reading the series in order of publication, and The Broken Sword was the next on the list. For a number of reasons, not the least of which was time, I never wrote the post.
I’ve thought from time to time about restarting those posts here, but time constraints aside, it would just be too much like work.
I do intend to reread The Broken Sword next year and blog about it here. When exactly that will happen, I don’t know. Things should slow down, as the faculty members who have been out with health problems this semester will be back, meaning I won’t be teaching the load I’ve had this semester. On the other claw, I’ve just been added to two committees by the new department chair, so I hesitate to make any predictions or commitments I might not be able to keep.
I will say that I really enjoyed The Broken Sword, although I found it to be quite dark. Since it’s inspiration was Norse legend, that was quite fitting. It’s got that tragic tone to it that’s found in so much of the Northern folklore. I’m looking forward to reading it again.
The other work is one I don’t know a whole lot about and haven’t read. It’s Three Hearts and Three Lions. This is another fantasy, one in which, a modern man finds himself in medieval times or at least a medieval world in which the creatures of fantasy are real and magic works. What little I’ve heard about it has been positive. It’s another one I’m looking forward to reading.
Anderson also wrote some other novels and short stories set in the viking era. I’ll try to work those in as I can.
THE BROKEN SWORD is one of the all-time great fantasy novels. An influence on authors such as Karl Wagner, Michael Moorcock and Keith Taylor. I, along with Morgan Holmes, consider Poul’s revision to be superior to the original. I guess it comes down to whether one prefers slightly better prose (which is argued for the original) over much better coherence in the plot due to some very wise alterations, along with better combat scenes.
I don’t consider TH&TL to be up to the standards of TBS, but it’s still fun and also influential, especially with Moorcock.
You really should read HROLF KRAKI’S SAGA and WAR OF THE GODS. Both excellent.
I’ve only read the revised version, and I’m not sure I’ve even seen the original.
I read War of the Gods when it was first published but don’t remember much about it. Hrolf Kroki’s Saga is definitely on the radar. I’m hoping to work both of them in over the next year or so.
The Golden Slave is historical adventure, and for all you think its paint-by-numbers stuff, when you get to the end you realise that not only that its a lot better than it needs to be, but that’s its also a myth-creation story which is really well done. Its worth tracking down.
I have a copy, and I think I know exactly where it is. I’ll put it in the queue. Thanks for the tip.
Three Hearts and Three Lions is pretty good. The main character turns up again in A Midsummer Night’s Tempest which is set in a world where every word of Shakespeare’s plays is literally true.
I have that one. It’s actually in a bag of books next to my desk at work, only about a foot from my foot as it were. I’ll have to check that one out.
You should. Though the story can be read on its own it’s connected to Three Hearts & Three Lions and the books Operation: Chaos and Operation: Luna. All the books are set in alternate universe, the last two in a world where magic basically is technology so that people travel on broomsticks instead of cars and watch crystal balls instead of television.
Poul is the other half of the writer team that gave us the Hokas. (As I mentioned a few posts back when the subject was Gordie Dickson.) Poul wrote so much that was so good that I do not think I can pick a favorite. Flandry? Van Rijn? Any or all of the works mentioned above?
There is a lot of Anderson I haven’t read yet. As far as favorites go, I would have to say Flandry. Those stories appeal to the hopeless romantic in me. (For those who don’t get the sarcasm because you haven’t read them, they aren’t romantic. They’re tragic.)
‘Course, Romantic and Tragic are siblings. Holding back the Night for one more generation is what Romantic heroes do.