Layers Of Narrative

(Re)reading Poul Anderson's The Earth Book Of Stormgate, we are embedded in centuries of fictional history beneath multiple layers of narrative.

See here.

Hloch also introduces:

AA Craig's accounts, in Tales Of The Great Frontier, first of Nicholas van Rijn's victory over Borthu and secondly of Jack Birnam's rescue of the Wyvan of Stormgate;

Judith Dalmady/Lundgren's accounts in the Avalonian periodical, Morgana, first of her father, Emil's, achievement on the planet Suleiman, secondly of a Christmas celebration on the planet Ivanhoe and thirdly of Nat Falkayn's rescue of a young Ythrian;

an unnamed historical novelist's account of van Rijn's struggle for survival on Diomedes;

Arinnian's retelling of Fluoch of Mistwood's account of events on the planets Paradox and Trillia;

Hloch's and Arinnian's accounts first of the trader team on Merseia and secondly of van Rijn at Mirkheim.

Also, Donvar Ayeghen introduces John Henry Reeves' account of Manuel Argos, Founder of the Terran Empire.

The novel about van Rijn was published under two different titles but Rennhi did not think that this matter warranted investigation. Indeed not. Poul Anderson disliked the publisher's title for The Man Who Counts: War Of The Wing-Men. Rennhi's dismissive attitude is a hint of metafiction.