CHAPTER ONE of this novel, originally published in 1985, displays Poul Anderson's confident mature writing and particularly his future historical writing:
a new viewpoint character whom we know initially only as Diana;
additions to the Technic History, the star Patricius and its planet Imhotep;
a blue sky with white clouds, two moons and a cool breeze;
historical references to the Troubles and to the arrival of the Terran Empire;
a busy crowded street scene;
a marine growling, "'Merseian bastards...'" (p. 198);
familiar nonhumans, Tigeries, a Donarrian, Irumclagians, Shalmuans - and a Wodenite.
A new team is about to be formed.
Kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteAnd THE GAME OF EMPIRE was also Anderson's homage to Kipling's novel KIM. Kipling was among Anderson's three or four most favorite writers.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
ReplyDeleteAnd Gaiman homaged Kipling so I have to have some respect for the latter.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised by the implication that, formerly at least, you did not care much for Kipling's works. Is that true?
I know GK Chesterton was another writer Anderson had a high regard for.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
ReplyDeleteAnd Gaiman has a character based on Chesterton.
No, the implication is that I was not very familiar with Kipling. Mind you, I read KIM relatively recently and was not very impressed.
Paul.
kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteThen you might like better others of Kipling's works, such as THE LIGHT THAT FAILED, or his two JUNGLE BOOKS. Or almost any collection of his short stories.
And I loved many of Kipling's poems!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
ReplyDeleteI like:
What of the hunting, hunter bold?
Brother, the watch was long and cold.
What of the quarry you went to kill?
Brother, he crops in the jungle still.
Where is the power that made your pride?
Brother, it ebbs from my flank and side.
Where is the haste that you hurry by?
Brother, I go to my lair to die.
- and:
What is woman that you forsake her
And the hearth fire and the home acre
To go with the old grey widow-maker?
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteGood ones I agree. I also thought of Kipling's amusing "Departmental Ditties," if you like satirical verses about the all too human foibles of the Indian Civil Service.
"Cold Iron" is another of Kipling's more philosophical poems.
Ad astra! Sean
My latest book starts with an excerpt from a Kipling poem, "Rimini":
ReplyDeleteWhen you go by the Via Aurelia,
As thousands have travelled before,
Remember the Luck of the Soldier
Who never saw Rome any more!
Oh dear was the lover that kissed him
And dear was the mother that bore,
But then they found his shield in the heather
And he never saw Rome any more!
When you go by the Via Aurelia
That runs from the City to Gaul,
Remember the Luck of the Soldier
Who rose to be master of all!
He carried the sword and the buckler,
He mounted his guard on the Wall,
Till the Legions hailed him as Cæsar,
And he rose to be master of all!
It’s twenty-five marches to Narbo,
It’s forty-five more up the Rhone,
And the end may be death in the heather
Or life on an Emperor’s throne...
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
ReplyDeleteThat too is a good one by Kipling. It reminds me of a poem you or Dave Drake wrote for THE GENERAL books. It too talked about fates of soldiers, including how that Luck of the soldier might raise one to the Governor's Chair and master of the Civil Government of Holy Federation.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: we stole it and modified itslightly.
ReplyDeleteKaor, Mr. Stirling!
ReplyDeleteI thought so!!!
Sean