One Internal Structure

We appreciate the elaborate structures of Poul Anderson's Technic History and his Time Patrol series and also the intricate internal structures of some individual instalments of both of these series. Thus, in the Time Patrol instalment, "Star of the Sea," narrative passages are headed not by dates but by either Roman or Arabic numerals as follows:

I

1 

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10 A.D. 60.

II

11 A.D. 49.

12 A.D. 43.

13

14 A.D. 43.

15 A.D. 70.

16

17

18

19

III

20

IV

To summarize:

I is followed by 1-10;

II is followed by 11-19;

III is followed by 20;

IV is followed by the next story in the series.

We probably do not notice this sequence of numerals while reading.

In I, an earth god and a sea goddess marry and establish the seasons.

In 1, Roman Old Camp is besieged by barbarians inspired by the sibyl, Veleda, whose goddess has told her that Rome is doomed.

In 2 and in twentieth century Amsterdam, Manse Everard of the Time Patrol prepares to come to the rescue!

The narrative has morphed from mythological fantasy to historical fiction to sf.

In James Blish's The Triumph Of Time, some of the characters "go with God." Over here, we go with Anderson.