tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post8989019346250537948..comments2024-03-28T07:57:49.338+00:00Comments on Poul Anderson Appreciation: RoidhunKetlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588156788583883454noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-55108298209390730262016-09-21T15:23:52.025+01:002016-09-21T15:23:52.025+01:00Kaor, Paul!
I suggest that by choosing to make th...Kaor, Paul!<br /><br />I suggest that by choosing to make the office of Roidhun elective from among the members of the Vach Urdiolch, the beings who unified Merseia did intend that as a check on his powers. Because a strictly hereditary succession would make the Roidhun more independent of the Hands and heads of other Merseian states.<br /><br />And while the reigning Roidhun in A CIRCUS OF HELLS might or might not be a figurehead, even '...the harshest, most dictatorial Protector regarded his Roidhun with something of the same awe and pride that inspired the lowliest "foot" or "tail" ' (A CIRCUS OF HELLS, Chapter XII).<br /><br />And your last paragraph reminded me of what we see in Poul Anderson's TAU ZERO, when a war and strife weary Earth decided to entrust control of nuclear weapons to SWEDEN, because none of the other powers thought Sweden would aspire to dominate them. Altho, of course, that still led, inevitably, to a rise in Swedish power.<br /><br />SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.com