-Poul Anderson, A Knight Of Ghosts And Shadows IN Anderson, Sir Dominic Flandry: The Last Knight Of Terra (Riverdale, NY, 2012), pp. 339-606 AT III, p. 380.
It is stylistically appropriate that a two-word sentence introduces a paragraph about the curtest Emperor. I discussed the dramatic effect of two-word sentences here. (Scroll down.)
Much has happened between volumes:
there has been an Imperial civil war;
Flandry, who once prevented a usurpation, now serves a usurper;
indeed, Flandry is perhaps this new Emperor's closest confidante.
As to whether "High Emperor" is the highest possible title, John Carter, although Warlord of only a single planet, is styled, "Jeddak of Jeddaks, " which means "Emperor of Emperors." Higher than that can only be a deity imagined to have initiated the Imperial lineage.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, for as long as possible, we see Flandry defending "the legitimate of succession" to the throne. If he eventually supported Hans Molitor, it was because the Wang Dynasty had irretrievably collapsed and Hans was the best and most able of the Pretenders who claimed the throne soon after Josip died. And I always have to keep in mind that Hans was a RELUCTANT usurper, which must have been a factor in why Flandry came to support him.
Emperor Hans and Flandry were very different men, so much so I'm surprised they hit it off so well. And we see Flandry reflecting more than once on how much he liked Hans.
I have even wondered if, no, WHEN Mars is finally colonized, will fans of Edgar Rice Burroughs introducing words, titles, and names from his Barsoom books? Might there someday be a real "Jeddak of Mars"? (Smiles)
Sean
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