The sentient sword, which has adopted the ridiculous name of Fotherwick-Botts, was at Stamford Bridge, where Harald Hardrada died. Later, Fotherwick-Botts' then wielder joined the Varangian Guard, as Hardrada had done. Sometimes, it is hard to avoid the impression that all of Poul Anderson's works, or even indeed all works of fiction, comprise a single indefinitely extended series. Novels assume knowledge of their most prominent predecessors but I have made this point before and it is getting too late to think of anything new to say. It is past midnight. We began yesterday morning with Two Train Journeys. Good night.
4 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I've seen some fairly odd English names, so there MIGHT be a family somewhere in the UK actually bearing the name "Fotherwick-Botts."
And Fotherwick-Botts, the sword, adopted that name because of how he had often listened to a Victorian/Edwardian soldier named Gen. Fotherwick-Botts, while languishing sheathed in the crypt of St. Oswald's church in York after Awaking.
Ad astra! Sean
The headmaster of the school I attended in Kenya was an ex-Major in the British-Indian army named H.P. (Howard Percival) Massey-Blomfield. About 90 when I was there in the 60's, older than God to me, of course.
He used to tell us stories about fighting the Afridis on the North-West Frontier in pre-1914 times -- he was in the Third Afghan War too, just before he moved to Kenya.
So Poul was exaggerating, but not all that much.
I particularly liked it when the sword said nothing could stop a regiment of Norse berserkers...
"With white officers, of course."
One thing is certain about a guy who was 90 in the 60s. He is dead now. If he wasn't, we would all know about it. When my mother stayed in a nursing home years ago, the then oldest man in In Britain was just down the corridor from her. But who is the oldest person anywhere must be changing all the time. Very recently in Britain, a man and a woman, unrelated, each celebrated their 112th birthday on the same day. I would like to make it to 110+. What else is there?
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree, from what you said about Major Blassey-Blomfield, Anderson was hardly exaggerating at all. Altho the gentleman you knew was probably not as garrulous as the sword! (Smiles)
Ad astra! Sean
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