Tuesday 18 December 2018

Lenard's POV

Poul Anderson, Vault Of The Ages, Chapter 17.

This chapter switches to the point of view of Lenard, Carl's enemy, in the camp of the Lann as they besiege Dalestown:

blazing fires;
warriors jeering and frolicking;
merry making with plundered beef and wine;
looted clothes and gold jewelry;
the rich smell of roast meat;
ruddy light;
rising smoke;
flushed faces;
laughing, roaring, shouting hubbub;
thumping drums;
twanging banjos;
sounds to terrify the Dalesmen -

- and a vivid description appealing to three of the senses.

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Very realistic, I agree! Altho Poul Anderson did "tone down" somewhat this description of what a siege by real barbarians would probably have been like. Which I don't object to, VAULT OF THE AGES being a juvenile, after all. Young readers don't need to know TOO soon the grimmer and more grisly things happening at such times and places.

Sean