The Four Mythological Passages In "Star Of The Sea"

"Star of the Sea."

I, a divine betrothal.

II, a divine war.

III, a divine intervention.

IV, a prayer.

To expand slightly:

I, betrothal between a god and a goddess.

II, war between two pantheons.

III, a merchant who thanks a goddess for her help.

IV, sailors who pray to the Mother of God.

Three narrative layers:

people who live in a historical period and invoke the gods;

time travellers who intervene in different historical periods and sometimes impersonate gods;

gods, who are projected into ahistorical mythic time.

Poul Anderson always conveys a sense of comprehensiveness.