The Flandry Series: Introductions

As we know, Poul Anderson's Dominic Flandry series was written in the following order:

first, the Captain Flandry series, eventually filling two collections and one novel;

next, the Young Flandry Trilogy, written as a prequel, covering Flandry's early career as ensign, lieutenant and commander (that last was the rank that James Bond held throughout his series);

last, two novels featuring Admiral Flandry.

The Captain Flandry series begins with a short story which in turn, expectably, begins with Flandry himself:

"Captain Flandry opened his eyes and saw a metal ceiling."

-Poul Anderson, "Tiger By The Tail" IN Anderson, Agent Of The Terran Empire (London, 1977), pp. 9-36 AT I, P. 9.

 

"When Captain Flandry opened his eyes, he saw metal."

-Poul Anderson, "Tiger By The Tail" (revised) IN Anderson, Captain Flandry: Defender Of The Terran Empire (Riverdale, NY, 2010), pp. 241-276 AT p. 241.

 

After that, each ensuing Captain Flandry installment begins with its central character's point of view. By contrast, the first Young Flandry novel, Ensign Flandry, delays the introduction of its title character until the beginning of its fourth chapter. The narrative builds up to what, in fictional chronological terms, is Dominic Flandry's earliest appearance by first presenting for our attention:

 

not the Terran Emperor himself but the occasion of his Birthday with populations celebrating on and off Earth;

 

Lord and Lady Hauksberg;

 

Crown Prince Josip, receiving in the Coral Palace;

 

Lords Petroff, da Fonesca, Chardon and four others of the Policy Board;

 

Commander Max Abrams, Imperial Naval Intelligence Corps, chief of Intelligence in the Terran mission on Starkad;

 

a Merseian cyborg spy captured by Abrams;

 

Brechdan Ironrede, Hand of the Vach Ynvory, Protector of the Roidhun's Grand Council, on a terrace of Castle Dhangodhan on Merseia;

 

Brechdan's bailiff, Heir, wives and other relatives.

 

Then, after all that preparation, CHAPTER FOUR begins just like one of the short stories:

 

"Ensign Dominic Flandry, Imperial Naval Flight Corps..."

-Ensign Flandry, p. 29.

 

The message is that, although as yet a mere ensign, Flandry is one important guy if all those other characters have merely served as trumpet blasts for his first chronological appearance.