This blog is based not on reading but on rereading. See A DEFENSE OF REREADING BOOKS by Sean M. Brooks,
here. We have amply demonstrated not simply that Poul Anderson's works are worth rereading but that someone who has merely read, e.g., the Time Patrol series once years ago has missed almost the entire experience. Can s/he remember the generations in "The Sorrow of Odin the Goth," the divergent timelines in
The Shield Of Time, Part Six, the mythological, historical and science fictional narratives in "Star of the Sea," the ingenuity of "Ivory, and Apes, and Peacocks" etc?
Occasionally, a previously read work has been forgotten in its entirety, as I am currently discovering with
The Summons by John Grisham. Not only do I not remember the solution, I had not remembered what the mystery was, let alone characters, plot, settings etc. It really is like reading it for the first time. Those who read Anderson's
The Avatar or
Orion Shall Rise just once
decades ago might well find that this is the case with those novels as well in which case it is highly advisable to begin rereading without delay. The enjoyment is bound to be greater the second time.
2 comments:
Entirely true. Poul's work almost always repays rereading, and the larger works especially; the depth of the worldbuilding and the plots are exceptional.
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Exactly! The works of Anderson and all other good writers deserve and need to be reread to be properly appreciated. And I include Mr. Stirling's stories as well.
Paul: Thanks for citing my own article in defense of rereading books!
Sean
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