Kenmuir's time in the violent Bramland serves to demonstrate that Terrestrial society is in serious decline but otherwise is not of great interest. More promising is the name of the next place on his itinerary, Prajnaloka, but first, having reached the end of Chapter 23, we must again visit the past of this future history in another "Mother of the Moon" flashback chapter.
3 comments:
Paul:
"Scientific fencing" saved David Falkayn as well, on Ikrananka. The local humans were sword-wielders from childhood, but not trained to do it in the systematic way his high-tech society employed.
David,
I honestly don't remember that one. Between us (maybe) we cover all the angles.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
And what I have been thinking is how you seemed surprised, even disapproving, of how the art of fencing could survive in a high technology society like Technic civilization.
I think it's only right to point out that Poul Anderson seems to have appreciated fencing, and well made swords, as arts. Not only when practiced by David Falkayn and Dominic Flandry, but in others of his works. For example, his fictional detective, Trygve Yamamura collected Japanese swords.
I would also point out that Poul Anderson was a founding member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, which included among its activities the skillful use of "archaic" weapons. Anderson was an active enough member that he had his own Society name, "Sir Bela of Eastmarch." We even see S.M. Stirling mentioning Anderson under his Society name in the Emberverse books.
I'm sure that if you looked, you could find fencing clubs in Lancaster. Or even an SCA chapter not far from your home!
Sean
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