Friday, 7 October 2022

Transitions

There are two major transitions in Poul Anderson's Technic History.

On p. 323 of The Technic Civilization Saga, Volume III, Rise Of The Terran Empire, Hloch closes The Earth Book Of Stormgate. P. 324 is blank. On p. 325, Donvar Ayeghen, President of the Galactic Archaeological Society, introduces an extract from the Memoirs of Rear Admiral John Henry Reeves, Imperial Solar Navy. The narrative has moved from the colonization of Avalon to the beginning of the Terran Empire.

On p. 453 of Volume VII, Flandry's Legacy, Fr. Axor blesses Dominic Flandry. P. 454 is blank. P. 455 is an internal title page for "A Tragedy of Errors." P. 456 is blank. On p. 457, "A Tragedy of Errors" begins with an italicized paragraph about Christopher Wren, then the opening sentence:

"Later ages wove a myth about Roan Tom."

The narrative has moved from the Terran Empire to the Long Night. This second transition is very abrupt but it can't be helped. A lot of time and history have passed in those blank pages.

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

So many gaps we would like to have CANONICALLY filled in! And not by fanfics.

Ad astra! Sean