The high crusades - Kirjakasa

No cover — Poul Anderson: The high crusades (2010, Baen Books)

196 pages

English language

Published Jan. 5, 2010 by Baen Books.

ISBN:: 978-1-4391-3377-4

(1 review)

In the year of grace 1345, as Sir Roger Baron de Tourneville is gathering an army to join King Edward III in the war against France, a most astonishing event occurs: a huge silver ship descends through the sky and lands in a pasture beside the little village of Ansby in northeastern Lincolnshire. The Wersgorix, whose scouting ship it is, are quite expert at taking over planets, and having determined from orbit that this one was suitable, they initiate standard world-conquering procedure. Ah, but this time it's no mere primitives the Wersgorix seek to enslave—they've launched their invasion against free Englishmen! In the end, only one alien is left alive—and Sir Roger's grand vision is born. He intends for the creature to fly the ship first to France to aid his King, then on to the Holy Land to vanquish the infidel. Unfortunately, he has not allowed for the treachery …

In the year of grace 1345, as Sir Roger Baron de Tourneville is gathering an army to join King Edward III in the war against France, a most astonishing event occurs: a huge silver ship descends through the sky and lands in a pasture beside the little village of Ansby in northeastern Lincolnshire. The Wersgorix, whose scouting ship it is, are quite expert at taking over planets, and having determined from orbit that this one was suitable, they initiate standard world-conquering procedure. Ah, but this time it's no mere primitives the Wersgorix seek to enslave—they've launched their invasion against free Englishmen! In the end, only one alien is left alive—and Sir Roger's grand vision is born. He intends for the creature to fly the ship first to France to aid his King, then on to the Holy Land to vanquish the infidel. Unfortunately, he has not allowed for the treachery of the alien pilot, who instead takes the craft to his home planet, where, he thinks, these upstart barbarians will have no choice but to surrender. But that knavish alien little understands the indomitable will and clever resourcefulness of Englishmen, no matter how great the odds against them...

11 editions

Thom reviewed The High Crusade by Poul Anderson

Review of 'The High Crusade' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

The High Crusade is a riotous adventure story.

A spaceship arrives in a medieval kingdom. Instead of being paralyzed with surpris, the English Knights charge into the fray and take the battle to the aliens. From here, the story escalates to one of increasingly lucky conquest. Far more Pulp SF than Hard SF, I imagine a serialized audience becoming more incredulous with each weeks installment.

The characters are mostly static, encountering a small difficulty then resolving it fairly soon. The narrator is mostly sparse with his descriptions, in only a few cases spending more than a page to describe a scene. The first chunk of the book had a religious subtext - was God among the aliens? Do they have souls? - but this didn't show as much in the latter majority. The author could certainly make a point about the eventual outcome, but does not.

In short, this short …

The High Crusade is a riotous adventure story.

A spaceship arrives in a medieval kingdom. Instead of being paralyzed with surpris, the English Knights charge into the fray and take the battle to the aliens. From here, the story escalates to one of increasingly lucky conquest. Far more Pulp SF than Hard SF, I imagine a serialized audience becoming more incredulous with each weeks installment.

The characters are mostly static, encountering a small difficulty then resolving it fairly soon. The narrator is mostly sparse with his descriptions, in only a few cases spending more than a page to describe a scene. The first chunk of the book had a religious subtext - was God among the aliens? Do they have souls? - but this didn't show as much in the latter majority. The author could certainly make a point about the eventual outcome, but does not.

In short, this short pulp novel was a fun read, with a great topic. i didn't find it particularly well written, and didn't care about the characters afterward, I wouldn't seek out a sequel either. 2.5 stars - Poul Anderson has done better.