Poul Anderson
Poul Anderson
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Poul William Anderson was a renowned American science fiction and fantasy author. He is often referred to by his pen name, P.W. Long.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on November 25, 1926, in Bristol, Pennsylvania, Anderson passed away on April 31, 2001, at the age of 74.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Anderson was an American citizen and a full-time writer by profession. He wrote science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, mystery novels, and short stories.
Early Life and Background
Poul Anderson grew up in a family that valued literature and history. His father, Peter Anderson, was a Swedish immigrant who worked as a miner, while his mother, Maren Anderson, was of Norwegian descent. The young Anderson developed an interest in reading and writing at an early age, influenced by the mythological tales of Norse and Greek cultures.
Anderson attended Pennsylvania State University, where he studied English literature and minored in journalism. However, due to financial constraints, he dropped out of college after two years and joined the United States Navy during World War II. During his service, Anderson began writing short stories for naval publications.
Major Accomplishments
Poul Anderson's writing career spanned over five decades, with numerous notable accomplishments:
His first published story, "Freedom," appeared in 1947.
Anderson wrote over 90 novels and more than 1,000 short stories during his lifetime.
He won several awards for his work, including three Hugos, one Nebula Award, and the Grand Master award from the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA).
His novel "Three Hearts and Three Lions" is considered a classic in the fantasy genre.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Anderson's most notable works include:
The Broken Sword: A retelling of Norse mythology, which explores the conflict between the mortal world and the realm of the gods.
The Last Polity: A science fiction novel that examines the consequences of advanced technologies on human society.
* Daurion: A fantasy epic set in a world inspired by medieval Europe.
Impact and Legacy
Poul Anderson's impact on the science fiction and fantasy genres is undeniable. His work has influenced generations of writers, including notable authors such as Lois McMaster Bujold and Robert Silverberg. Anderson's exploration of complex themes like politics, morality, and human nature continues to resonate with readers today.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Anderson's quotes often reflect his deep understanding of the human condition:
> "The best time for planning a book was yesterday, but today is the second-best day."
>
> — Poul Anderson
This quote encapsulates Anderson's wit and perspective on the writing process. His words continue to inspire readers, writers, and thinkers alike, making him one of the most beloved and quoted authors in science fiction and fantasy.
With his remarkable body of work and enduring influence, Poul Anderson remains a cherished figure in the world of speculative fiction.
Quotes by Poul Anderson
Poul is gone, now, more’s the pity – he was a neighbor of mine out here in California, and a friend for more than forty years – but his books live on, and I’m happy to see his lovely High Crusade coming into a new incarnation now. – Robert Silverberg, April 2010.
Ill is it when good folk die.’ ‘Why, if they were good you need not mourn for them,’ said Skafloc glibly, ’for they are safe from this world’s sorrows, come home to Him above. I should think, in truth, that only the sound of your weeping could trouble their bliss.
What had he been fighting when he fought the Nazis but a resurgence of archaic horrors that civilized men had once believed were safely dead? In.
I am told that our chroniclers’ practice of inventing speeches for great persons whose lives they write is unscholarly.
Happier are all men than the beings of faerie – or the gods, for that matter,’ he said. ‘Better a life like a falling star, brief and bright across the dark, than the long, long waiting of the immortals, loveless and cheerlessly wise.
The same fight was being waged, here the Nazis and there the Middle World; but in both places, Chaos against Law, something old and wild and blind at war with man and the works of man.
Give me leave, lord, and I will be the best of your hounds – but if a dog be driven out, he will become a wolf and feed on his master’s flocks.
If nothing else, we today need a reminder that we must never take civilization for granted. I.
There is naught on which it does not bite, nor does it ever grow dull of edge. Venom is in the steel, and the wounds it gives cannot be healed by leechcraft or magic or prayer. Yet this is the curse on it: that every time it is drawn it must drink blood, and that in the end, somehow, it brings the bane of him who uses it’.
I’m only certain that nothing is forever. No matter how carefully you design a system, it will go bad and die.