We are about to set out on a long walk. However, before we depart:
"Wish I could show some of those noble-Nordic enthusiasts this, Artorius thought..." (p. 186)
- as he surveys corpses of women raped and men and animals blinded and crucified by barbarians, also burned buildings that had had people or animals in them.
Artorius' phrase about noble-Nordic enthusiasts seems familiar. Is it or something like it in Poul Anderson's Time Patrol? Blog readers can do some of the research?
Laterz.
Appendix, just before setting off: OK, folks. I have found the "'Noble Nordic' enthusiasts" in the Time Patrol in the first place I looked but I will leave the question with you all out there for a while longer.
9 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
The slaughter, rape, and devastation described in Chapter Twelve of TO TURN THE TIDE is what always is to be expected of barbarians invading civilized lands, or lands which has collapsed into barbarism (like Haiti). Civilization is always going to be fragile/precarious, which was a big reason why Artorius was so eager to strengthen the Empire.
The Terran Empire in Anderson's Technic stories had to always be on its guard against barbarians who had gotten spaceships and nuclear weapons far too soon (e.g., "Tiger by the Tail"). I was also reminded of how, after the Empire fell, the "friends" who came "to do business" destroyed the last cities on Nike ("A Tragedy of Errors").
I've tried to recall which of Anderson's Time Patrol stories mentions "noble Nordic enthusiasts" but failed. High time I reread them--and was this a subtle Andersonian allusion by Stirling? I rather hope so!
Alternately, Stirling had in mind some of the neo-pagans worshiping the Norse gods. I can see some of them getting starry--eyed about the virtues of pre-Christian Scandinavians. Notions Anderson had no patience with, as he made plain in his introduction to HROLF KRAKI'S SAGA.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
It is not just an illusion but almost a direct quote.
Paul.
Allusion, rather.
Kaor, Paul!
Then I'm vexed! If I could immediately recall the "friends" who came "to do business" on Nike, then I wish I could remember where Anderson had "noble Nordic enthusiasts."
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I can enlighten you if you cannot find it.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I found it! That "noble Nordics" bit came Anderson's "Time Patrol" (THE TIME PATROL, T or Books, 1991, p. 19): "A girl who was sitting outside milking a scrubby little cow let out a small shriek; a thick-built, low-browed farmhand swilling the pigs grabbed for a spear. Wrinkling his nose, Everard wished that some of the "Noble Nordic" enthusiasts of his century could visit this one."
The point being that real life in the past was so often squalid and grubby.
Ad astra! Sean
That's it.
Yup, that's what suggested it to me!
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Amusing that we guessed right! I like to look out for SFnal or Andersonian allusions in your stories.
Now I'm wondering, did Artorius and his grad students also read Tolkien? That seems a pretty safe bet!
Ad astra! Sean
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