"...the centuried treasures of static and fluid art which the palace housed..."
- Poul Anderson, Sir Dominic Flandry (New York, 2012), p. 384.
I thought that "fluid" meant moving pictures but maybe, as suggested in a comment, it means carvings and sculptures? Flandry decides to linger at the palace long enough to admire the art and enjoy the party because, about to embark on a dangerous mission:
"He might never get the chance again." (ibid.)
When I listed details about the palace extracted from two novels, page viewers might have spotted some changes between the earlier and the later novel. In Ensign Flandry, Flandry is an ensign and nowhere near the Coral Palace whereas Crown Prince Josip receives guests at the palace. In A Knight Of Ghosts And Shadows, Captain Sir Dominic Flandry is a guest at the palace; meanwhile, Josip has become Emperor and has then been succeeded by Hans whose reign is more austere. Hans has more guardsmen at the palace because he is a usurper. The Empire has moved from rule by legitimate succession to rule by force.
The two celebrations at the Coral Palace provide a good yardstick of how things have changed.
1 comment:
Hi, Paul!
Interesting thought, how seemingly small changes noticed in parties held at the Coral Palace also indicates changes in the Empire. Yes, I agree the party hosted by then Crown Prince Josip in ENSIGN FLANDRY was more "relaxed" than the one we see in A KNIGHT OF GHOSTS AND SHADOWS, where Emperor Hans felt the need to add more guards due to his lack of legitimacy. And we both know old Hans was a reluctant usurper, who took the throne only after the "legitimate order of succession dissolved in chaos and every rival claimant was a potential disaster" (quoting from memory).
I'm reminded of how your own Queen hosts receptions and parties, both formal and relatively informal. I'm aware guards are present, both those in uniform and a few circulating discreetly in plainclothes (or at least I hope so!). Now, if she and her children were displaced by a usurper (again, I hope not!) such a person would almost certainly have more guards of both kinds. And I strongly doubt such a usurper would be a fairly decent man as was old Hans.
Sean
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