of the Scandinavian connection;
both are endlessly rereadable;
both present clandestine organizations operating in contemporary settings, the Time Patrol and a fictional covert Section within Swedish Internal Security;
Larsson's cutting edge fiction about the Internet and hacking reads like sf;
both write good endings - see Endings.
We last see Dominic Flandry reflecting on the game of empire or life with his daughter and her companions, potential new series characters... We last see Nicholas van Rijn and the trader team reflecting on the beginning of the end of their Polesotechnic League.
"Blomkvist left Vanger when he started to doze off. He packed his belongings into two suitcases. As he closed the door to the cottage for the last time, he paused and then went over to Cecilia's house and knocked. She was not at home."
-Stieg Larsson, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (London, 2008), EPILOGUE: FINAL AUDIT, p. 532.
Blomkvist has worked intensively for Vanger for exactly twelve months and, during that time, has had an affair with Cecilia so this passage is more significant than it might appear.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I think you showed a picture of Larsson in this blog, and I noticed a DISTINCT resemblance heh had to Poul Anderson!
Your very unusual friend Andrea lives above a bookstore his brother runs. May I suggest, since we had some discussion of Russell Kirk, that you look up some of his own stories? Such as the list below. Only if you wish too, of course!
THE OLD HOUSE OF FEAR
A CREATURE OF THE TWILIGHT
LORD OF THE HOLLOW DARK
THE SURLY SULLEN BELL
THE PRINCESS OF ALL LANDS
WATCHERS AT THE STRAIT GATE
The first three are novels, the others being collections of Kirk's short stories. Most of which had been pub. in THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION. Which means Poul Anderson very likely read some of them. Kirk's fictions would also be a good introduction to how he wrote and thought.
Btw, I hope Andrea is doing better.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I could look at short stories. On the one hand, I am due to visit Andrea. On the other hand, the bookshop, like all non-essential shops, will close tomorrow for a 4 week lockdown. I will look into getting hold of a Kirk collection.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I hope Andrea is better! And I forgot about that shut down. I have to think small business owners like Andrea's brother must be dismayed at a shutdown which might drive them out of business.
If nothing else, maybe Andrea's brother could sell you a Kirk collection by mail? If so, I hope you have fun with it!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I rang Andrea who was better than sometimes and will ask his brother about the books. Andrea recognized the name, Russell Kirk, and had read some of his works when investigating libertarianism.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Good, that Andrea seems to be feeling better! I'm a bit surprised he recognized Russell Kirk's name. I assume it was some of his non-fictional works Andrea read. Btw, Kirk was not a libertarian, altho he favored a free enterprise economy.
I have read some of Kirk's non fictional works:
THE CONSERVATIVE MIND
JOHN RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE
RECLAIMING A PATRIMONY: A COLLECTION OF LECTURES BY RUSSELL KIRK
The first title is an esp. important work, covering as it does the rise conservative THOUGHT, which is not always congruent the tactical maneuvers and inglorious compromises of politics. The last volume might interest you,covering as it does a wide range of topics.
Ad astra! Sean
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