Harald Hardrada (and here), King of Norway, is the title character of Anderson's The Last Viking Trilogy.
Brechdan Ironrede is the Hand of the Vach Ynvory and the Protector of the Roidhun's Grand Council in Anderson's Ensign Flandry.
"Rede" means "counsel or advice." Thus, these three characters -
a large, green, humanoid troll;
a white European man;
a large, green, humanoid Merseian -
- are respectively "ill," "hard" and "iron-like" (although not ironic!) in their counsel or advice.
Three similar, if not almost identical, names in works of heroic fantasy, historical fiction and science fiction, respectively, although readers recognize one creator.
Trolls come from legend, men are us, hostile green aliens were a space opera cliche before Anderson made much more of them with his Merseians.
All one multiverse.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
While the "rede" in Illrede's name is part of the troll king's name, Harald Hardrada (or Hardrede) and Brechdan Ironrede had nicknames added to their names.
I never underrstood Brechdan's nickname as meaning "ironic." I understood "Ironrede" as meaning "iron hard," "iron hard counsel," etc.\
Ad astra! Sean
Sure. That is the obvious meaning.
Kaor, Paul!
It would also be correct to say that Brechdan had an iron determination to do as much harm as possible to the Terran Empire.
Ad astra! Sean
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