Names

Names encapsulate history. Pope John Paul II was named after his predecessor who was named after his two predecessors who were named after two authors of the New Testament. One was named after the first King of Israel. The other bore a Biblical "J -" name, incorporating the Mosaic divine name.

In Poul Anderson's Technic History, two surnames and one inherited Christian name conduct the narrative through a series of historical transitions:

in "Wingless," Nicholas Falkayn speaks to his son, Nathaniel;

in "Rescue on Avalon," Ivar Holm speaks to Jack Birnam;

in The People Of The Wind, Daniel Holm converses with his son, Christopher, who marries Tabitha Falkayn;

in The Earth Book Of Stormgate, Hloch informs his readers about Nicholas van Rijn and David and Coya Falkayn and presents narratives written or co-written by Christopher Holm.

After these transitions, there are no more Falkayns or Holms and our attention shifts to one Flandry.