Aycharaych Revisited

For his last novel featuring the Intelligence agent Dominic Flandry, The Game Of Empire (IN Flandry's Legacy, New York, 2012), Poul Anderson revived Flandry's recurring opponent, Aycharaych of Chereion, neither by revealing that the latter had survived the bombardment of his home planet nor by writing a new story set earlier. Instead, a flashback reveals some of the Chereionite's much earlier activities. This was an appropriately understated way to re-use the character.

Like "A Knight of Ghosts and Shadows," Aycharaych influences events from off-stage. When the Magnussion rebellion begins, Tachwyr of Merseia reflects that the original plan had been Aycharaych's and that the latter had directly participated in the early preparations.

"But Aycharaych died...At least, he vanished; you could never be altogether sure of anything about the Chereionite." (p. 267)

Tachwyr invokes the "...ghost of Aycharaych..." when he resolves that the Race will fulfill its destiny (p. 268).

Flandry deliberately mentions Aycharaych twice when sounding out the rebel Magnusson, who clearly recognizes the name but denies ever having met him. Finally, we learn that Aycharaych did take charge of Magnusson's conditioning on Merseia:

"The Golden face, the uttered wisdom..." (p. 436)

Cynically, the Chereionite made this human being a loyal Merseian:

"...dedication to a God unknowable..." (ibid.)

(Again, no personal relationship with "the God," just a racial destiny.)

Thus, although they do not realize it, Targovi, Diana and Axor have foiled yet another plot of Aycharaych.