Monday, 27 June 2022

Angels And Gods



The Shield Of Time, PART SIX, 1146 A. D., pp. 414-429.


"Tamberly had proposed taking Lorenzo back in time and making him decline the proffered marriage at the outset." (p. 426)

If they took Lorenzo back in time, then he would coexist with his younger self so what would they do with the younger Lorenzo? Kill or kidnap him?

Everard as an angel:

"'Sinner, beware!... Hell gapes for you!'" (p. 424)

He continues:

"'Lorenzo de Conti, most wicked among men...'" (p. 425)

That inverts:

“Blessed are you among women, (Luke 1: 42)

Everard tells Lorenzo that he will damn more than himself. His words recall Keith Denison's act as an angel:

"'O infamous vessel of iniquity, heaven's anger is upon you!
"'...this child Cyrus is favored of heaven...
"'...if you stain your soul with his innocent blood, the sin can never be washed away.'"
-Poul Anderson, "Brave To Be A King" IN Anderson, Time Patrol (Riverdale, NY, 2010), pp. 55-112 AT 9, p. 109.

- and similar Patrol performances:

"'You have seen the wrath of Poseidon.'"
-The Shield of Time, PART TWO, 209 B. C., p. 114.

"'Know that thou has guested Woden and Thunor, who will hereafter guard thy folk from harm.'"
-Poul Anderson, "Time Patrol" IN Time Patrol, pp. 1-53 AT 5, pp. 33-34.

And, of course, Carl Farness appears as Odin and Janne Floris as Niaerdh. How many apparitions are Time Patrol agents? Apparently the Middle Mohenjodaro office often uses angelic disguises.

4 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

What struck me with special force about that incident was of how quickly saw thru Everard's "apparition." He physically FELT Manse and immediately realized he was no angel but a disguised man. Angels, in Catholic teaching are INCORPOREAL, have no physical bodies.

Ad astra! Sean

Sean M. Brooks said...

Drat. I meant to write "...of how quickly LORENZO saw thru..."

Sean

S.M. Stirling said...

Though angels can affect the physical world.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Mr. Stirling!

I agree! And Catholic teaching is that angels, including both the good and bad ones, have powers and abilities beyond those of mankind. It is also Catholic belief that God imposed RESTRAINTS on the fallen angels, forbidding them to intervene beyond certain limits in the world and how far they can tempt human beings.

Ad astra! Sean