A Diversion

While reading a long series, like SM Stirling's Emberverse, there are bound to be diversions. I had begun to read Lord Of Mountains when Nygel (see Nygel G Harrot, also here and here), who had borrowed the first James Bond novel, returned it and asked for the second. Retrieving Live And Let Die from our cellar and intending to lend it to Nygel later this week, I have meanwhile reread it from cover to cover, in the process making some comparisons with Poul Anderson. See recent posts.

It is now time to return to the complexities of the Emberverse where we are entertained by an army of characters ranging from pages, squires and knights to the High King who incorporates those who want to be incorporated, makes alliances with those who want to make alliances and fights only those who attempt to conquer. Our political leaders might learn something by reading about the High Kingdom of Montival or even about Anderson's Technic Civilization before that interstellar culture and economy began its long decline towards the Long Night.