The Merrypark

A Knight Of Ghosts And Shadows.

I remembered that, when Kossara Vymezal anticipates married life with Dominic Flandry, one of the many activities that she envisages is taking:

"...their children to the zoo and the merrypark." (XVI, p. 544)

"Merrypark" stuck in my memory as a distinctively Dennitzan word for a fairground, children's play area or something of that sort. On rereading we learn that Gospodar Bodin Miyatovich had taken his niece, the young Kossara:

"...to the zoo and the merrypark." (II, p. 366)

I had not noticed this first use of the term but, of course, Poul Anderson was carefully building a consistent picture of life on Dennitza whether or not his readers noticed every detail. Dennitza might be my favourite planet in the Technic History although I think that of Avalon when rereading The People Of The Wind. I would certainly welcome the opportunity to meditate in the Cathedral of St. Clement, Zorkagrad. Kossara was christened and confirmed and would have been married by Father Smed but instead she lay in state:

"...St. Kossara." (XX, p. 605)