three detective novels;
one fantasy novel;
one chapter in The Boat of A Million Years;
time travel from the twentieth century in several works (New York and Amsterdam in the Time Patrol series);
the setting of the outer narrator of Three Hearts And Three Lions;
several short stories.
Also, the narrator of the two Old Phoenix short stories is a contemporary of the author and the readers.
When we want to read more about the twentieth - or now the twenty first - century, we turn to other writers who, in this respect, complement Anderson. Obviously, there are many such. For me right now the main contender is Stieg Larsson. (Hence, the image of Stockholm.)
9 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Am I right thinking the fantasy novel by PA set in our then contemporary times you had in mind was THE DEVIL'S GAME? One reason I read that with such strong interest was because Anderson set it in historically recent times, rather than in the far past or future.
By now the Trygve Yamamura books and short stories can't really be said to have been set in "contemporary" times. Too much time and too much has happened for me to believe they are "contemporary."
Sean
Sean:
They were contemporary at the time they were written, so I believe we should accept them as contemporary on those terms. Would you call *The Maltese Falcon* "historical fiction"?
Kaor, Paul!
As you defined it, I have to agree the Yamamura books can still be called "contemporary" on those terms. No, THE MALTESE FALCON, while an even older novel, cannot be called historical fiction. Altho a century from now it might well be read like that, at least in part.
Sean
This is off topic and I mention it here only because I am unable to leave messages at his own blog, but John Wright won the Dragon Award for this year's best SF novel, SOMEWHITHER, vol. 1 of THE UNWITHERING REALM.
I could plead in extenuation that Mr. Wright is a fan admirer as well of Poul Anderson and was ESPECIALLY enthusiastic about PA's four HARVEST OF STARS books. Mr. Wright's THE GOLDEN AGE trilogy was inspired, in part, by the HARVEST books.
Sean
Sean,
Yes, I meant THE DEVIL'S GAME.
Paul.
I don't understand it! I have a persistent and unfortunate habit of mis-attributing David's comments to Paul. It's making me angry and disgusted with myself!
Sean
Sean,
David is the new Paul! Or something.
Paul.
Paul and Sean:
Well, I certainly don't find it INSULTING or anything like that!
Kaor, Paul and David!
Paul: ha, ha!!! That was amusing!
David: Thanks for not being offended! But I truly need to be more careful. I prefer to clearly state to whom I am addressing my comments (and hoping others will also contribute their own thoughts).
Sean
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