Sunday 9 August 2015

Ave Stella Maris

I am rereading some passages in Poul Anderson's "Star Of The Sea," which has already been much posted about. See here. The distinctive features of this work are:

some passages of mythological writing, culminating in a Marian maritime prayer;
a contemporary Amsterdam setting;
a subtle time travel paradox;
summarized history;
a quest back through time with the time travelers finding themselves at the end of their search;
an affair for Everard before he meets Wanda Tamberly;
a fictitious character based on the historical figure of Veleda;
parallels with Anderson's "The Sorrow Of Odin The Goth" but also a different treatment of the common theme;
descriptive passages evoking human life close to nature and the seasons in first century Northern Europe.

The Patrol meets not a man identified with a god but the prophetess of a goddess. I am not sure how much more I will find to post about this short novel but still enjoy rereading it.

No comments: