tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post9193344437579034042..comments2024-03-29T15:56:27.319+00:00Comments on Poul Anderson Appreciation: The High SierraKetlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588156788583883454noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-55474812972362888752013-03-10T15:54:21.074+00:002013-03-10T15:54:21.074+00:00Hi, Paul!
Yes, Mary O'Meara most likely died... Hi, Paul!<br /><br /> Yes, Mary O'Meara most likely died either in the High Sierra or very soon after the trip she and Hugh Valland took there.<br /><br /> I still remember what a surprise, even a shock, the end of WORLD WITHOUT STARS was to me the first time I read it. Poul Anderson was very skilled in writing unexpected, even shocking endings to his stories and novels. A few examples being "The Martyr," "Eutopia," and the NIGHT FACE.<br /><br /> I think some commentators have even wondered about the SANITY of Hugh Valland. I mean was it SANE of Valland to remain as celibate as a Catholic priest for nearly 3000 years when he must have met many fine and good women and was free to marry one of them? There were a few hints earlier in the book when Felipe Argens was puzzled by Valland's seemingly extreme devotion to Mary.<br /><br /> There was a time when I regretted how SHORT some of Anderson's best novels were. That is, he wrote so well that I wished those books had been longer. Examples being THE HIGH CRUSADE, A CIRCUS OF HELLS, THE REBEL WORLDS, etc. But I later realized Anderson packed so much into his books that they did not NEED to be long.<br /><br /> Not that Anderson could not write long books. He certainly could! Examples being the four volume KING OF YS and the "Harvest of Stars" books.<br /><br /> SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-54550405974576762212013-03-10T09:07:19.485+00:002013-03-10T09:07:19.485+00:00Mary died very young so, if it wasn't in the S...Mary died very young so, if it wasn't in the Sierra, then it must have been very soon afterwards.Paul Shackleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04180596532266581425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-12122140437630439272013-03-10T02:16:37.405+00:002013-03-10T02:16:37.405+00:00Hi, Paul!
I remember the passage you've been... Hi, Paul!<br /><br /> I remember the passage you've been quoting and commenting on. And I agree that just being careful is not the right way to live out an indefinitely extended life span. <br /><br /> Also, I've wondered exactly how Mary O'Meara died. Was it because of an accident during the trip she and Hugh Valland took to the High Sierras? We don't know!<br /><br /> Got my copy of NESFA Press' DOOR TO ANYWHERE, Vol. 5 of THE COLLECTED SHORT WORKS OF POUL ANDERSON. I'm esp. curious about "The White King's War," the core of what became A CIRCUS OF HELLS.<br /><br /> SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.com