flippant;
physically fit;
working tirelessly and ingeniously to subvert his enemies.
Flandry's enemies are external, Merseians and barbarians, whereas Templar's enemies are internal, criminals within British society. However, Flandry also comes into conflict with internals, appeasers like Lord Hauksberg, and the corrupt Governor of Sector Alpha Crucis, Aaron Snelund.
Having just read the first story in Enter The Saint, I wrote the above paragraphs before checking Hank Davis's Introduction to Captain Flandry: Defender Of The Terran Empire. Davis informs us that Anderson had thought of Flandry as an sf version of the Saint. I spotted the similarity before remembering that it had already been pointed out.
14 comments:
All fiction is in communication with previous fictions. I've yet to meet a writer of fiction who hasn't been a voracious reader from early on.
I've also yet to meet a fiction writer who doesn't have long, colorful, scripted daydreams, either.
I was surprised in my early teens to find out that some people -don't- have them.
Alan Watts told a story about a woman who had a vision of Christ every time she received Communion but she didn't tell anyone because she thought everyone else had it.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling and Paul!
Mr. Stirling: I think I too have been a reasonably voracious reader since boyhood. And, I've had some fairly colorful day dreams as well.
Alas, when I think of how so MANY don't read at all or seldom read, I'm not surprised by what you discovered. I have sometimes talked about some of the things I read, and the ideas to be found in either SF or F, and I've noticed long ago how disinterested many people are. And that can't all be due to bad teaching and example from parents and teachers.
Paul: The last time I went to Barnes and Noble (a book selling chain) I checked to see if any of Leslie Charteris' books were for sale. Unfortunately, no. It seems I will have to get some of The Saint stories from used book dealers.
I have heard of saints and mystics being granted visions of Christ at Communion. But Our Lord does not appear like that even to devout believers every time to everybody at Mass.
Merry Christmas! Sean
Sean,
The point of Watts' story, of course, was just that none of us knows what anyone else experiences.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Of course. We would have to be telepathic to "see" or experience other persons minds so intimately. It would be a lot like what Anderson depicted in "Journeys End."
Merry Christmas! Sean
Also it is a joke. If the woman told no one about her visions, then how is someone else able to tell us about them?
Kaor, Paul!
But I thought the woman mentioned by Alan Watts told him of her experience.
Merry Christmas! Sean
Sean,
No. I think the story is meant as a joke with a philosophical point. The punchline tells us that, if the story is true, then we cannot know that it is true.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
But did Alan Watts mean it as a joke? If not it still reads like something he was told.
Merry Christmas! Sean
Sean,
I think it was clearly a joke, not a personal anecdote. "She told NO ONE."
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
But I understood that as Watts meaning the lady told nobody else in her parish.
Merry Christmas! Sean
Sean,
The punch line is that she told no one so we suddenly realize that, if the story is true, we can't be hearing it.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Or we are INTERPRETING Watts differently.
Merry Christmas!
Sean,
But I think that, in the original context, I am interpreting him correctly.
Paul.
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