Jon is starting to read Poul Anderson with what I call "Star Time," i.e., The Star Fox and Fire Time. (See here and here.) Thus, he has still to read, among many other works:
the Time Patrol series;
the History of Technic Civilization;
The King Of Ys (with Karen Anderson);
the Harvest of Stars tetralogy;
Genesis (the sf novel by Anderson, not the Biblical book of the same name);
Anderson's heroic fantasies;
Tau Zero.
It is good to know of someone who is only just embarking on this epic cosmic reading experience.
17 comments:
Thanks for the shout out, Paul! :) I know a few of my other friends are just getting into Anderson's work as well. We're drawn in from Appendix N, which is in the back of the original Dungeons & Dragons game, and lists inspirations for the game. We found a lot of these works had gone forgotten, and as they influenced D&D, they shape culture far more than they're given credit for. As such, we want to rediscover a lost history of science fiction that doesn't get talked about much these days. I opted to start with Poul Anderson.
I read Fire Time because I thought it was listed in there (it's not, but I'm glad I started with that book as it hits on a lot of notes that I love in SF)
Poul's books that they listed as influences are: The High Crusade, Three Hearts and Three Lions and The Broken Sword -- all of which I intend on reading at some point this year. Hope to stay in touch with kindred spirits in SF/F! Are you on twitter per chance?
Jon,
I am on facebook but not twitter.
Paul.
Ahh. off FB for lent. I'll bug you when I return :) cheers!
Hi, Jon D.!
Again, welcome to this blog! I hope to see many comments from you or even articles written by you.
Paul wrote Anderson's Time Patrol series was his special favorite among PA's works. For me that would be Anderson's Technic Civilization stories.
This is not the fists time I've seen u online. I fist came across your work at John Wright's blog.
Sean
Awesome. Hi Sean! I actually started reading Three Hearts and Three Lions last night because I happened to already have it, it's in Appendix N and it's really short. I don't love it nearly as much as Fire Time (halfway through) but it's fun that he is cheeky with fantasy tropes for the time when this is written.
Jon,
You will find interesting connections between THREE HEARTS..., two OPERATION... volumes, A MIDSUMMER TEMPEST, "House Rule" amd "Losers' Night."
Paul.
Hi, Jon and Paul!
Jon: ah, I love THREE HEARTS AND THREE LIONS. I like how Holger Carlsen used his engineering/scientific knowledge to practical effect in a world where magic works.
Paul: even Old Nick makes an appearance in one of those stories!
Sean
Jon:
Indeed, welcome to the blog. *Three Hearts and Three Lions* is one of MY favorites. And at least part of its influence on *Dungeons and Dragons* was the troll Holger fights — it's my understanding that book CREATED the troll design *D&D* uses.
Jon,
Sean's reference to "Old Nick" means that there is also a slight connection with the Technic History!
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Indeed! And I've seriously wondered if the unnamed narrator of the Old Phoenix stories was Poul Anderson himself.
Sean
Kaor, Jon!
You wrote that your generation wasn't familiar with the great Poul Anderson. I tried giving Anderson books to my nephews, of whom I have three, but they didn't seem very enthusiastic. Ah, well, his books are in libraries and elsewhere, still there to be discovered by bright teenagers of each generation.
Best Regards,
Nicholas D. Rosen
Kaor, Nicholas!
I too regret how your nephews did not seem very interested in Poul Anderson's books. Perhaps they were not interested in any kind of SF? If so, I hope one or two of them eventually changes their minds and do become interested!
I think it would help if we had a standardized collection of all the works of Poul Anderson. As was done for the works of Kipling, Heinlein, and Vance, among others. E.g., a COMPLETE COLLECTED WORKS OF POUL ANDERSON.
Sean
Thank you, Nicholas and Sean. I hope that a publisher takes note of your comments.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I absolutely agree! And perhaps a wealthy philanthropist who likes Poul Anderson might advance the funds necessary for researching, collecting, organizing, editing, etc., the works of Anderson? And I would recommend YOU as one of the editors!
Sean
Interesting. I like interconnected things, I do gotta say, so I'll have to find those others. I read the book over the weekend, while I liked it, I didn't love it like I did Fire Time. http://delarroz.com/?p=640 full review here.
I see that some of Poul's work is available on ebook, but not all. I presume the Bears own the rights at this juncture? I could see a rebrand and reissue of this stuff being pretty worthwhile.
Hi, Jon!
I'm not sure WHO holds the copyrights to Poul Anderson's works. If you look at the publication pages of PA's last works you will see that copyright is vested in something called the "Trigonier Trust." I assume so that Anderson's family can control the rights for as long as it's allowed by law.
And I have wondered what "Trigonier" means or what it refers to!
Sean
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