I have now reread as a continuous narrative the Hivernian passages in Poul and Karen Anderson's
The King of Ys, Volumes I-III. Maybe the impact of these passages is diluted when they are read - although this is how their co-authors present them - as occasional interruptions to the principal narrative about events in Ys and Armorica? Much of this secondary Hivernian narrative summarizes Irish legends and prehistory and I do not propose to summarize it even further here. However, regarding the plot of this novel: Rufinus has adventures in Hivernia/Eriu; Niall of the Nine Hostages prepares. Niall gathers intelligence, settles accounts in Eriu before returning his attention to the Continent, suffers further dishonour at the hands of Ys as represented by Rufinus, learns the Ysan language, seeks a prophetic dream - and at last is ready to undertake a one-man mission to Ys. We know the outcome.
Niall's descendants bear the surname, "O'Neill," so other outcomes of his are still with us.
6 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
As I recall Niall needed to complete and consolidate his conquests in Eriu before turning to seek vengeance on Ys.
Ad astra! Sean
Kaor, Paul!
He would have done far better by seeking to found a stable state in Eriu which could have led to the unifying and civilizing of all Ireland. Instead the island sank into a congeries of small, quarrelsome, short lived kingdoms.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: "stable State" and "early Ireland" are really not compatible concepts... this was a country where blood feuds were a cherished fun pastime.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree, and collecting the heads of one's enemies was a favorite hobby!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: and nailing them up over the lintel of the house, or putting them on racks -- which has been confirmed by archaeology, by the way.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I remember that, from THE KING OF YS! Yes, the pre-Christian Irish were barbarians, and sometimes savage barbarians.
Ad astra! Sean
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