Sunday 2 January 2022

Conversation And History

A future history series has to alternate between fictional narratives, with characters and conversations, and fictional historiography. The concluding chapter of Poul Anderson's Mirkheim is an excellent send-off for four recurring characters:

David Falkayn is in conversation with Eric Tamarin-Asmundsen as night falls;

Nicholas van Rijn is in conversation with Lady Sandra Tamarin-Asmundsen beneath stars, Milky Way, nebula and sister galaxy;

Adzel and Chee Lan are in conversation with each other as a red sunrise begins.

Next, in Rise Of The Terran Empire, we read an explanatory passage by the Earth Book editor, Hloch, followed by Judith Lundgren's introductory passage at the beginning of her short story, "Wingless." Then we are back into dialogue, this time between Nat Falkayn, aged twelve Earth years, seventeen Avalonian, and Keshchyi and Thuriak of the Weathermaker Choth. And we can reread that tomorrow.

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

And I recall Old Nick suggesting to Lady Sandra that she abdicate as Grand Duchess of Hermes within five or ten years, and accompany him on that last long voyage of discovery and exploration he was contemplating.

It makes me wonder how FAR Old Nick went, at least 2000 light years from Sol? What did he discover? We don't know, alas.

Ad astra! Sean