"...only the foolhardy fly a broomstick with the brush trailing, no matter what is shown to the contrary in conventional Halloween cartoons..."
-James Blish, The Day After Judgment IN Blish, After Such Knowledge (London, 1991), pp. 425-522 AT p. 477.
So there you have it. Flying with the brush up is advisable although not essential.
(Theron Ware, the most powerful black magician in the world, has caused Armageddon with a Last Conjuration in Italy and must now fly to North America because the demon fortress of Dis has risen to the Earth's surface in Death Valley.)
Comparisons with other fantasy authors enhance appreciation of Poul Anderson's ingenuity.
4 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
But I don't think Anderson had the brushes of his flying broomsticks FORWARD of their riders in his two OPERATION books.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I don't think he mentions whether there are brushes on the sticks.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I have a vague recollection of broomstick brushes being mentioned in either OPERATION CHAOS or LUNA.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I will get to it.
Paul.
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