The Pathetic Fallacy On Merseia

Poul Anderson, Flandry's Legacy (New York, 2012).

The pathetic fallacy is the literary pretense that nature mirrors human feelings although, in science fiction, we must say "human or alien feelings."

When Tachwyr the Dark, Hand of the Vach Rueth and Protector of the Roidhun's Grand Council, told his fellow Council members, "'The hour is upon us...'" (p. 264):

"The sun Korych cast brilliance on forested mountainside..." (ibid.)

and:

"A fangryf winged on high, hunting." (ibid.)

When the Merseians think that their triumph is at hand, their sun shines brilliantly and what they see as their Racial hunt is symbolized by a "...fangryf...on high..."

Later, when Tachwyr had to tell them, "'...I have as yet no word of what went wrong...'" (p. 445):

"Winter night lay over the South Wilwidh Ocean. Waves ran black before a harrying wind...
"Seas crashed, winds shrilled around the islet stronghold from which Tachwyr the Dark spoke with his Grand Council." (p. 445)

The Merseians are benighted, unable to see what has upset their plans. They are harried by clever opponents and adverse circumstances. The universe that they try to control crashes and shrills, uncontrolled. We notice that the winter night is appropriate even if we do not reread and analyze every detail of this elaborate pathetic fallacy.