On the Moon, Dagny Beynac must travel as quickly as possible from Port Bowen to Tychopolis to investigate the assassination of the Governor. She tells the current mayor of Tychopolis (she was the first, I think) that she needs the fastest available jet, "'...nothing less than a Sleipnir.'" (p. 421)
How appropriate. Norse mythology is always close even in Poul Anderson's hard sf. Sleipnir is Odin's eight-legged horse. Hermodr, the messenger of the gods, rode Sleipnir when he descended to Hel to try to retrieve Balder. Norse mythology is unique in featuring a failed resurrection that brings the Ragnarok closer. Dagny, of course, will not revive the Governor but will solve his murder.
Onward, Earthlings - and Lunarians.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And the question of how the Governor was assassinated shows yet again how Poul Amderson was a fan of mystery stories. Short stories like "Dead Phone," science fictional mysteries like the Holmesian pastich such as "The Martian Crown Jewels," and the Trygvi Yamamura novels.
Ad astra! Sean
Remember that Odin is God of Death -- the eight legs of Slepnir were, among other things, a poetic "kenning" for the eight legs of the pallbearers who carry a man to his grave (or funeral pyre).
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
So that explains why Odin's horse had eight legs! I did wonder about that.
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment