OK. Nornagest and Starkadh are two pre-Andersonian legendary figures. In Anderson's
The Boat Of A Million Years, they have heard of each other. Nornagest tracks down Starkadh and confirms that they are both immortals although Starkadh refuses to join forces. (His idea of cooperation would have been along the lines of: "I'll conquer one half of the world and you conquer the other half.") Both are introduced in Chapter
V of
Boat and both have died by the end of that chapter. They do not meet any other immortals. Thus, Chapter
V is independent of the rest of the novel. From
VI onward, we are back with continuing characters who will come together in the twentieth century and beyond.
Onward and upward.
7 comments:
It's not surprising Starkad doesn't last long. He's chosen a high-risk occupation.
Kaor, Paul!
I agree with Stirling, Starkadh made a bad choice. Far better to have joined forces with Nornagest.
Ad astra! Sean
Though if he'd become a king... how long would he last?
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Not very long, considering how violent, reckless, and thoughtless Starkadh was.
I think we see Hanno wondering somewhere if an immortal had ever been born in a royal family. Even if that had happened, he might have been one of those monarchs who were assassinated or fell in battle.
Or, whimsically, was Pepi II, the last strong king of the VI Dynasty of Egypt an immortal? The Egyptian king lists claims he reigned for 94 years!*
Ad astra! Sean
*The latest object from Pepi II's time was dated to Year 67 of his reign.
Of course, if the immortal royal was a very -competent- monarch, they might becme an immortal God-King. Harry Turtledove did a story along those lines, where an Earthly extrasolar expedition cures a local queen... only their understanding of local biochemistry wasn't as good as they thought, and they make her immortal instead. When they come back centuries later, she's still in charge!
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I remember that story, which I thought interesting. Such an immortal monarch would have to be very competent indeed if he wanted to make sure jealousy and impatience by would be successors didn't get him killed.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: at least at first, but after a while religious awe would take over. After all, if someone doesn't age, to most periods in history that would show the favor of the Gods. After a while, you'd -be- a God.
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