Rereading Poul Anderson's
Orbit Unlimited, we (editorially speaking) find a reference to Ginnungagap. Before posting about this mythological reference, we search the blog to check whether we have posted about it before and find that we have done: see
Revelation And Ginnungagap. However, we also find so many other blog mentions of Ginnungagap that we think that it would be worthwhile to draw attention to them again: see
here. (Scroll down.)
The idea of a primordial, pre-cosmic, void connects mythology and science - and preeminently so in Poul Anderson's works, as the previous blog posts demonstrate.
In our current rereading, Svoboda and Coffin are still climbing down that Cleft but we will accompany them no further tonight. I will shortly switch on the TV to learn whether - in our timeline - World War III has started yet.
9 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Not at all surprising, Anderson was as familiar with Eddaic legends as he was with the Scriptures.
Ad astra! Sean
You can see that the Eddas were made up during long, cold nights in winter.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Plenty of time for spinning yarns and pondering ultimate questions during those long, cold, dark winter nights!
Ad astra! Sean
Yeah, but without central heating or fresh food, you'll get glum.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Very glum indeed! The Scandinavian gods were a dour lot.
Ad astra! Sean
Well, "glum" is a good way to describe an afterlife that consists of fighting all day long and drinking all night, in preparation for a battle which will annihilate the world...
Kaor, Stirling!
It sure does! It's no surprise the Scandinavians eventually converted to Christianity
I was reminded of Islam. Its ideal afterlife is that Muslims who die in jihad warring to expand Islam is to enjoy a harem of houris while drinking "non-intoxicating" wine. An ideal that does not impress me.
Ad astra! Sean
Re: Norse after life
Here is little story about an aging Viking trying to make sure he gets into Valhalla.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV5w262XvCU
:^)
Kaor, Jim!
I'll try looking up that link. Offhand it reminds me of Anderson's "The Tale of Hauk," about a Viking who feared and dreaded what was called a "straw death."
Ad astra! Sean
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