How many fictional immortal characters live through history, moving around, changing their identities and covering their tracks in order to conceal their immortality?
Poul Anderson, of course, has one: Hanno (plus his fellow "immortals") in The Boat Of A Million Years. Less obviously, Anderson's Time Patrol agents are in the same boat, not only because they are time travelers concealing the fact of time travel but also because they too live through indefinitely extended lifespans.
Others
any vampires
Orlando
Hob Gadling
The Phantom Stranger
the Wandering Jew
I have found one more. A while back, I heard part of a strange radio drama in which the characters referred to the mysterious "Grey Folk." This week, I heard some more of the same series and tracked it down. See here. (Canterbury is relevant.)
8 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I finally tracked this down myself! William Palmer, the Pilgrim, is 900 years old and was cursed by the Lord of Faerie not to die while on a pilgrimage to Canterbury.
Sean
Sean,
That is it.
Paul.
The Lord of Faerie is called the King of the Grey Folk.
Kaor, Paul!
Kinda like King Oberon in Anderson's A MIDSUMMER TEMPEST.
Sean
Neither Lazarus Long nor Milo Morai? Or the Eternal Champion?
Hi, raito.
If you search the blog, you will find references to Lazarus Long and one to the Eternal Champion but I have not heard of Milo Morai.
Paul.
Horseclans, right.
Hi, raito!
I'm glad to see comments by a new combox contributor!
Sean
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