tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post5042863632365737933..comments2024-03-29T07:50:15.957+00:00Comments on Poul Anderson Appreciation: WaylandKetlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588156788583883454noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-46619205520342435682012-05-25T16:17:12.081+01:002012-05-25T16:17:12.081+01:00Hi, Paul!
I read your revised comments about A C...Hi, Paul!<br /><br /> I read your revised comments about A CIRCUS OF HELLS. Yes, you made a good comment regretting that Anderson did not go into more detail about the ancient self aware computer.<br /><br /> One thing that struck me about A CIRCUS OF HELLS was how Flandry strove to do a good thing, strengthen the Empire, using somewhat questionable means--taking a million credits bribe from Leon Ammmon. Yes, I'm aware that was because, given the current mood for "retrenchment" inside the Empire, it was not likely the Imperium would have occupied the Mimir system if the Wayland moon had been reported to it in a legal, open, above board way. So, Flandry assisted a man he considered evil and contemptibl, Leon Ammon, because the wealth Wayland would give him also gave him the influence to force the Empire to not only stay on Irumclaw but also to occupy the Mimir system.<br /><br /> Flandry dreaded the Empire withdrawing from Irumclaw because the strategic location of that planet was what made it possible to defend an entire frontier of the Empire. Withdrawal would have forced the frontier to be pulled back whole parsecs and given room for further expansion by an eagerly waiting Merseia. To say nothing of the political consequences, even upheavals, inside the Empire as the implications of this strategic disaster sank in.<br /><br /> SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-51040738894978151052012-05-25T12:58:07.123+01:002012-05-25T12:58:07.123+01:00Sean,
Thank you for the information about that oth...Sean,<br />Thank you for the information about that other chess story. I am about to extend the above article a bit and you will see that there are more images on the blog.Paul Shackleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04180596532266581425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-13545743321425349702012-05-25T08:14:17.193+01:002012-05-25T08:14:17.193+01:00Hi, Paul!
But Anderson did incorporate exactly ...Hi, Paul! <br /><br /> But Anderson did incorporate exactly the moves of a famous chess game in one of his stories. Look up "The Immortal Game," MAGAZINE OF FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION, Feb. 1954. The moves of that game between Anderssen and Kieseritzky are copied in what I consider a very well done short story.<br /><br /> I'm aware you consider the chess aspect of A CIRCUS OF HELLS fairly weakly done. But, that might be because the ancient self aware computer deliberately introduced RANDOM factors into the game it was playing, to make it more interesting for a mind starved for fresh stimuli.<br /><br /> SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.com