Monday 18 July 2016

The Fourteenth Century And The Future

The Merman's Children.

(i) In historical fantasy set in the fourteenth century, as in hard sf set in the future, human beings interact with other intelligent species.

(ii) Magnates of the Hanseatic League (p. 126) become more powerful than kings like their successors in the Polesotechnic League which was modeled on the Hansa.

(iii) Catholics and Orthodox of different rites survive into the periods of the Polesotechnic League and of the Terran Empire.

Looking not forward but backward, a provincial ruler in the fourteenth century is protected from evil spirits by "'...a fingerbone of St Martin...'" (p. 132) Bishop Martinus was a prominent figure in the earlier period of Ys. The fingerbone is carried in a cross on which:

"A crystal covered a hollow theren." (ibid.)

The evil spirits include a vodianoi:

humanoid;
tailed;
as bulky as three war horses;
with moss and weeds growing on him;
long toed;
webbed;
taloned;
bristled;
flat face;
cavernous mouth;
glowing red eyes.

Explorers find similar beings on other planets in the future.

8 comments:

David Birr said...

Paul:
It occurs to me that "theren" makes a bit more sense in that sentence if it's another typographical error -- for "therein." That is, the crystal covered a hollow IN THE CROSS, rather than a "hollow theren" ON the cross.

Paul Shackley said...

David,
I thought that but then I did google and find "theren."
Paul.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Interesting, "theren" is real, not simply a misprint for "therein." Yet another example of Poul Anderson's willingness to do research and use interestingly obscure words.

Sean

Paul Shackley said...

Sean,
Unless this one really is a misprint!
Paul.

Paul Shackley said...

Looking more closely at that dictionary definition of "theren" as "hunter," it doesn't fit the context.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Darn! It seems "theren" really was a misprint for "therein". Which chapter of THE MERMAN'S CHILDREN is "theren" found? I would like to check my copy.

Sean

Paul Shackley said...

Book Three, Chapter III.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Thanks! I will check when I have more time.

Sean