Friday, 26 May 2017

Murder In Black Letter

Poul Anderson's Murder In Black Letter has retained Kintyre instead of Yamamura as viewpoint character as far as Chapter 12. That chapter refers to:

Kipling;
Gamow;
Russell;
Ley.

Which Russell? Is it Bertrand?

Earlier, when a medieval manuscript had been removed from his room, Kintyre imagined small demons flying out with it, then reminded himself that, in the twentieth century, we do not believe in demons. In Black Easter, James Blish made the point that, if demons do exist, then they continue to do so whether or not they are believed in. In fact (or, rather, in fiction!), a demon swallows a sceptic who denies its existence.

The other Yamamura novels hinted at the supernatural but did not confirm it. So far, this volume has not hinted. Kintyre's momentary imagining hardly counts.

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

And I disagree with what Professor Kintyre thought about demons. First, to define terms, what IS a demon? I answer: a fallen, spiritual, non corporeal rational being. While the good angels are simply those who did not rebel against God.

What puzzles me is why so many seem to have trouble with "angels," defined as immortal, spiritual, non corporeal beings. Esp. from those who claim to believe in God but then deny the angels are real. If you believe God is real then it should not be so hard to believe angels are real as well.

Sean