Aycharaych, who initiates the false Messiah, Jaan, pretends to come from a nonexistent planet called Jean-Baptiste.
When Gabriel Stewart (both names are significant) visits Tatiana Thane, he tells her that the Builders will make her son more than human.
Poul Anderson knew how to incorporate these religious symbols which affect the reader whether or not they are recognized. Gabriel's visit to Tatiana is preceded by this passage:
"In awe: 'I have heard about one seer who walks there now, who will call back the Old Shen from the stars. Will our dead then rise from the waters?'" (12, p. 169)
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I agree, we see Anderson showing Aycharaych skillfully manipulating religious ideas and symbols.
I hadn't thought of it before, but "Gabriel" and "Stewart" are significant names! The first was the name of the angel who appeared to Mary at the Annunciation and the second was the older form of the Stuart royal family's name. Albeit, by Flandry's time, not that many people would probably know about that bit of British history.
Ad astra! Sean
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