Sunday 15 May 2016

Distant Mirrors

See here.

I said in that post that we value imaginative fiction both because of its exotic, unfamiliar settings and because it reflects our reality in the mirror of fiction. Thus, I almost word for word reproduced Neil Gaiman's title, Distant Mirrors, without realizing that that was what I was doing.

Gaiman's Distant Mirrors tetralogy contains much of interest to readers of Poul Anderson -

"Thermidor" about Robespierre with a cameo appearance by Tom Paine;

"August" about Augustus with flashbacks to Julius;

"Three Septembers And A January" about Emperor Norton of the United States with cameos of Samuel Clemens;

"Ramadan" about Harun al-Rashid.

There is a particular parallel between Anderson and "August." See here.

7 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

And we see "Emperor Norton" mentioned in OPERATION CHAOS.

Sean

Paul Shackley said...

Sean,
Do we? Far out! I don't remember that.
Paul.

David Birr said...

Sean:
I, too, don't recall a reference to His Majesty, forever may he reign over these United States. But then, I haven't had the occasion to fully reread *Operation Chaos* since BEFORE I learned of Emperor Norton.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Hi, David!

In fact, I think I first saw mention of Emperor Norton when I first OPERATION CHAOS as a boy. I'll have to see if I can find the chapter where His Majesty is mentioned and tell you and Paul!

Sean

Sean M. Brooks said...

Hi, David and Paul!

Here it is, "Emperor Norton" is mentioned in Chapter XXI of OPERATION CHAOS: "I know," Barney said. "And I am the Emperor Norton." Using it to express skepticism.

Sean

Paul Shackley said...

Sean,
Thank you. Easily missed especially if not understood.
Paul.

David Birr said...

Sean:
What Paul said.