In the original book publication order of Poul Anderson's Technic History, the David Falkayn collection,
The Trouble Twisters, comes several volumes before
The Earth Book Of Stormgate which collects the first Nicholas van Rijn novel,
The Man Who Counts. In
The Technic Civilization Saga, Volume I, the first two Falkayn short stories appear earlier than
The Man Who Counts. Thus, either way, we read about Falkayn as a junior aristocrat from Hermes before we encounter Sandra Tamarin who is to become the Grand Duchess of Hermes. However, the Chronology informs us that
The Man Who Counts was published in 1958 whereas the first two Falkayn stories were published in 1963 and 1968, respectively. Thus, it was Sandra, not Falkayn, who was first introduced to Anderson's readers as a Hermetian. The chronological order of fictional events and the chronology of the creation of a future history series are two distinct narratives. James Blish's
Cities In Flight and
The Seedling Stars were both written from the centre outwards.
It's subtle, but the Hermetians seem less Euro-medieval (titles of nobility, etc.) in the later stories than in the original ones.
ReplyDeleteDeffo. I remarked on this somewhere. An old castle referred to in the first Falkayn story. A modern mansion in MIRKHEIM.
ReplyDeleteKaor, to Both!
ReplyDeleteHermetian barons were the presidents of their domains, rather than being called dukes, earls, counts, or barons. The domains of the Thousand Families evolved from what had once been ordinary private companies.
For that matter, the title "president" is also old, descending, after Diocletian's reorganization of the Roman Empire, from the officials who were the "praeses," governors of some of the new provinces he created.
And "dux" and "comes," from whence comes our "duke" and "count," were originally titles for high-ranking military officers of the Later Empire.
Happy New Year! Sean
Sean: Latin titles were prestigious as dim memories of the glory of Rome persisted.
ReplyDeleteKapr, Mr. Stirling!
ReplyDeleteI agree, after the Western Empire fell, people were clinging to remnants of past glories.
Happy New Year! Sean