"In Nick Van Rijn, Poul Anderson created one of the most memorable and popular characters in science fiction, and now, for the first time, all the novels and stories of Van Rijn and the Polesotechnic League will be published in chronological order in three volumes."
-back cover blurb on Poul Anderson, The Van Rijn Method (Riverdale, NY, 2009).
Three? The Van Rijn Method is the first of the seven volumes of The Technic Civilization Saga, compiled by Hank Davis and published by Baen Books. However, it is correct to state that Volumes I-III collect the entire Polesotechnic League series as well as the encompassing The Earth Book Of Stormgate. Volumes IV-VII cover an entire later historical cycle of the Terran Empire and its aftermath. The link is that the founding and early period of the Terran Empire, occurring long after van Rijn's death, are described in the Saga, Volume III.
"To those who read, good flight.
"It is Hloch of the Stormgate Choth who writes, on the peak of Mount Anrovil in the Weathermother."
-Poul Anderson, INTRODUCTION WINGS OF VICTORY IN The Van Rijn Method, pp. 75-77 AT p. 75.
And I must add my good wishes to those of Hloch while going about other business in the Terran city of Lancaster.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And in the days of Old Nick, Lancaster might have been a canton within the Integrate of Great Britain or London!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
And, in Flandry's time, the Dukedom of Britain would incorporate the Dukedoms of Normandy and Lancaster and many other lesser titles.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
While a Dukedom of Britain during the Empire would have been vary appropriate, the title actually used by the peer representing Britain was "Mayor Palatine." But I can imagine the Mayors Palatine including Duke of Lancaster and Normandy, etc., as subsidiary titles.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
OK. Mayor Palatine. I googled "palatine" and it may be derived from "palatinus," palate!
"Mayor" suggests that Britain had become a single city but then most of Earth was.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
That urbanization of Terra during the Commonwealth and Empire should not be exaggerated. Mention was made of Earth still having huge open spaces. And that may have been true even of first the Integrate and then Palatinate of Britain.
The Mayor Palatine mentioned in A KNIGHT OF GHOSTS AND SHADOWS was described as being one of Flandry's friends. Regrettably, we never see him in person. And was he descended from the British royal family?
"Palatinate" also refers "palace."
Ad astra! Sean
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