The Given Sacrifice, Part One, "The Harvest King," part of SM Stirling's Emberverse alternative history series, ends with the completion of a war and the death of a Prophet.
The Given Sacrifice, Part Two, "The Spring Queen," begins with point of view of a young girl travelling on a train with her father, the King.
Gallicenae, Volume II of Poul and Karen Anderson's The King Of Ys historical fiction tetralogy, begins with the point of view of a young girl travelling on a ship with her father, the King.
Discernible common themes are history, endings and beginnings.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Ah, you are alluding to the "Prophet" Sethaz, ruler of the Church Universal and Triumphant. I have more than once thought the CUT made fortunately bad strategic mistakes. Such as trying to expand too quickly and making too many enemies all at once. For example, Sethaz should have been content with destroying the Mormon theocracy in Deseret and installing friendly ruler beholden to him in Boise. AND to avoid enraging Iowa and the other Mid Western bossdoms. Pulling back in the west might well have given a chance for lingering mutual jealousies and suspicions to prevent a Kingdom of Montival from arising in the old states of Oregon and Washington.
In some ways the ghastly CUT reminds me of Stirling's Draka and their Domination. Except, happily, this time the bad guys lost!
Sean
The titles of the first and second parts of "The Given Sacrifice" also refer to parts of the life cycle, both individual and collective.
Rudi is the Harvest King because he's come to the harvest part of his life cycle, as a man and as a King: he's laid the groundwork, plowed and sown the field, and now he reaps the results of his labors for himself and for his people.
He lives with the woman he loves, and they work together to steer the realm with a steady hand after the thunder and blood of his youth, and raise their children together; this is the just reward he's earned, the golden harvest of his labors.
And for his people, he's helped them win through their own efforts the peace and growing prosperity they can now dwell in and enjoy. The High King's peace lets each reap what they've sown, with none to put them in fear.
But nothing lasts forever; winter comes after autumn, and then spring again. His daughter grows strong in the love and security his (and Mathilda's) effort and pain won, so that she as the Spring Queen can take up the challenges of a new cycle.
Dear Mr. Stirling,
The happiness enjoyed by the peoples of Montival during the reign of King Artos reminded me of this bit from Micah/Micheas 4.4: "And every man shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and there shall be none to make them afraid."
Sean
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