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Quest (Anderson novelette)

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Short story by Poul Anderson
"Quest"
Short story by Poul Anderson
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre(s)Science fiction
Publication
PublisherAres
Media typeMagazine
Publication date1983
Pages8

"Quest" is a science fiction novelette by American writer Poul Anderson, about the consequences of an extraterrestrial scoutship landing in Medieval England. It is a sequel to Anderson's 1960 novel The High Crusade. Poul Anderson described the original as "one of the most popular things I've ever done, going through many book editions in several languages." "Quest", originally appeared in Ares magazine in the same issue that saw the original publication of The High Crusade wargame. The novelette was included in two collections of Anderson's short work, Space Folk and Going for Infinity, before being added to the Baen Books fiftieth anniversary edition of The High Crusade.

Plot summary

In 1375, in the English capital of Troynovaunt (on the conquered Wersgor planet), King Roger is recruiting a military force to seek out the Holy Grail. King Roger formulates a plan that with the mustered ship, which they come to call the Bonaventura, he can take the small army to the planet where the Holy Grail is held. The small army, with all of their belongings, board the ship at the king's instruction, and prepare to take off.

Characters

  • King Roger: Roger, the king of England is fictional. He was known as Baron de Tourneville in The High Crusade. His wife is Lady Catherine.
  • Lady Catherine
  • Brother Parvus, the narrator of Quest
  • Sir Owain Montbelle
  • Red John Hameward, a soldier under king Roger
  • Sir Brian Fitz-William, a knight under king Roger
  • Alfred Edgarson, a soldier under king Roger
  • Thomas Bullard, a soldier under king Roger
  • Branithar
  • Chief ("Grath") Huruga
  • Hubert the executioner
  • Tertiary Eggmaster of the Northwest Hive, aka "Ethelbert"

References

  1. Poul Anderson, Going For Infinity: A Literary Journey, Tor, c.IX
  2. Anderson, Poul (Winter 1983). "Quest". Ares. 16. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, Inc.: 17–24. ISSN 0737-6537.
  3. Cook, David (Winter 1983). "The High Crusade Game". Ares. 16. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, Inc.: 25–40. ISSN 0737-6537.
  4. Isfdb listing

External links

Works by Poul Anderson
Hoka!
The Psychotechnic League
  • Star Ways
  • The Snows of Ganymede
  • Virgin Planet
  • The Psychotechnic League
  • Cold Victory
  • Starship
Technic History
Polesotechnic League period
of Nicholas van Rijn
Terran Empire period
of Dominic Flandry
  • Ensign Flandry
  • A Circus of Hells
  • The Rebel Worlds
  • The Day of Their Return
  • Agent of the Terran Empire
  • Flandry of Terra
  • A Knight of Ghosts and Shadows
  • A Stone in Heaven
  • The Game of Empire
  • The Long Night
  • Let the Spacemen Beware
History of Rustum
Maurai
Other science fiction novels
Collections
  • Strangers from Earth
  • Un-Man and Other Novellas
  • Time and Stars
  • The Horn of Time
  • Beyond the Beyond
  • Seven Conquest
  • Tales of the Flying Mountains
  • The Queen of Air and Darkness and Other Stories
  • The Worlds of Poul Anderson
  • The Many Worlds of Poul Anderson
  • Homeward and Beyond
  • The Best of Poul Anderson
  • Homebrew
  • Winners
  • The Night Face & Other Stories
  • The Dark Between the Stars
  • Explorations
  • Fantasy
  • Winners
  • Cold Victory
  • The Gods Laughed
  • Starship
  • The Winter of the World / The Queen of Air and Darkness
  • Conflict
  • The Long Night
  • Past Times
  • The Unicorn Trade
  • Dialogue With Darkness
  • Space Folk
  • Alight in the Void
  • The Armies of Elfland
  • Inconstant Star
  • Kinship With the Stars
  • All One Universe
  • Going for Infinity
  • Swordsmen from the Stars
Operation Otherworld
Other fantasy novels
Historical novels
Novellas and short stories
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