Sunday, 30 May 2021

Notes On Gotterdamerung

See the combox here where Sean has asked an interesting question about an article called "Notes on Gotterdamerung" attributed to Poul Anderson. Let me highlight Sean's question by drawing attention to it here. Any information from blog readers would be appreciated.

Here and now it is not Gotterdamerung but a sunny Sunday morning so it looks as if a long walk will be in order. Back home, posting about Poul Anderson's Psychotechnic History competes with rereading Susan Howatch's Church of England novels.

Onwards and upwards.

6 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Thanks for highlighting my request about the alleged essay by Anderson. I hope somebody knows whether or not what I have is genuine.

If genuine, I suspect "Notes on Gotterdamerung" was first pub. in a now long forgotten fanzine. Which means it may end up never being authentically verified as one of Anderson's works.

Ad astra! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Sean,

But, on the face of it, there is no reason why anyone should have attributed it wrongly. And you say the style seems right.

Paul.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Yes, the way the author wrote, the "typical" wording and phrasing, etc., of "Notes" is very Andersonian. But it still bothers me that no clearly identifiable dating and source was given, something that could be looked up. Frauds, plagiarisms, counterfeits, etc., are not unheard of!

Ad astra! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Sean,

A story proposal by Alan Moore was published on the Internet. If it wasn't written by him, then it was written by a genius who exactly reproduced his style and should be paid to continue to do so!

Paul.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Ha! Preferably such a genius should write under his own name! He should have no need to falsely use another writer's name.

Ad astra! Sean

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

If he had not already been deceased in 2009, Forrest J Ackerman might have been the person to consult about the provenance of "Notes on Gotterdamerung." Because of the width and depth of his knowledge of science fiction and SF fanzines. I have been wondering if anyone now alive has a similarly in depth knowledge of SF.

Ad astra! Sean