Terms get their nearest English equivalents, e.g., “chieftain” rather than hersir, “housecarles” rather than hird, “sheriff” rather than lencirrnadr, etc. In some cases this was not practical. Thus, jar, though cognate, does not really correspond to “earl.”

Nor does Svithjod to “Sweden.” The southern end of what is now that country, Scania, was then Danish. North of it seem to have been the people known in Beowulf and elsewhere as Geats; this is not certain, but I have assumed it. North of them in turn lay Svithjod, the realm of the Swedes proper. Borders were rather vague and changeable, and there were complications, including still other tribes, which I have ignored. Similarly for such areas as Wendland (roughly, maritime Prussia, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia) and Qardariki (roughly, northwestern Russia).

But these details are of no importance to any but enthusiasts, who already know about them. All that this book does is tell a story. May you enjoy it.

Author Bio

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Poul Anderson (1926–2001) grew up bilingual in a Danish American family. After discovering science fiction fandom and earning a physics degree at the University of Minnesota, he found writing science fiction more satisfactory. Admired for his “hard” science fiction, mysteries, historical novels, and “fantasy with rivets,” he also excelled in humor. He was the guest of honor at the 1959 World Science Fiction Convention and at many similar events, including the 1998 Contact Japan 3 and the 1999 Strannik Conference in Saint Petersburg, Russia. In addition to the Hugo and Nebula Awards, he has received the Gandalf, Seiun, and Strannik, or “Wanderer,” Awards. A founder of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, he became a Grand Master, and was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

In 1952 he met Karen Kruse; they married in Berkeley, California, where their daughter, Astrid, was born, and they later lived in Orinda, California. Astrid and her husband, science fiction author Greg Bear, now live with their family outside Seattle.

POUL ANDERSON

FROM OPEN ROAD MEDIA

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