Sunday 9 October 2016

Citizen Ammon

(Dig that cover.)

Regular blog correspondent, Sean M Brooks, has shared several interesting observations about Poul Anderson's minor criminal character, Leon Ammon:

Ammon is capable and has reasons to strengthen and stabilize the Empire;

he has some similarities to the Merseian criminal, Haguan Eluatz!;

it would have been good if Admiral Flandry had met and conversed with an older, ennobled Ammon - would age and social advancement have improved Leon's character?

Prompted by these observations, I propose to reread the passages in which young Flandry does converse with the ambitious Ammon. I expect one or two new posts to result. This is a diversion but we have all the time in the world.

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Correct,.Leon Ammmon interests me because he had it in him to be more and better than a thug and gang boss. We see him in A CIRCUS OF HELLS as having energy, forethought, actual courage,etc.

And I certainly hope Leon's ambition to become "big" thru developing the mineral wealth of Wayland led him to the conclusion had to include strengthening and stabilizing the Empire. And his comments to Dominic Flandry that coming out in the open about Wayland would include paying taxes from Wayland's wealth strengthens that idea.

It would have been very interesting if Admiral Flandry had met in A KNIGHT OF GHOSTS AND SHADOWS a reformed Ammon (perhaps by then EARL Leon?). Might Ammon had been one of Hans Molitor's supporters?

Sean