A fictional text comes to an end but its characters' lives, usually, continue. A sequel might tell us what happened next although very few sequels begin immediately after the end of the first text. At the end of Poul Anderson's "The White King's War," Dominic Flandry explains his support for the criminal, Leon Ammon, and turns back to Djana. In Anderson's
A Circus Of Hells,
CHAPTER TEN, Djana does not respond because she needs to think about what Flandry has just said. Thus, on this occasion at least, we do read a seamless continuation of the narrative that had ended satisfactorily in the short story. Earlier scenes have been added in the novel to explain what happens next. Djana has really been working for someone else although, of course, there had been no hint of that in the short story. Any further plot developments were not even in their author's mind as yet. Captured by Merseians, the two human beings are taken to Talwin, a more interesting environment than Wayland with, like Starkad, two intelligent species.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
It would be interesting to know more about HOW Anderson came to write A CIRCUS OF HELLS and to revise and include "The White King's War" as part of that novel Perhaps this was discussed in correspondence he had with his agent and publishers?
Alas, Anderson was not in the habit of saving most letters! But some might survive in the files of his agents and publishers (more likely, the latter).
Ad astra! Sean
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