The High Crusade by Poul Anderson
The Absolute Best And Funniest Poul Anderson Story!
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 its no mere primitives the Wersgorix seek to enslave-theyve launched
their invasion against Englishmen! In the end, only one alien is left alive-
and Sir Rogers 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!
There are far too few sf works that are humorous in nature, most choosing
instead the biting form of satire, often with very bleak outlooks. Not so this
book, that has to be one of the funniest romps ever conceived. For when
the blue-skinned aliens land in 14th century England, they are met by that
nastiest of creatures, humans, all dressed up in preparation for a war
against France, but more than happy to seize this opportunity to defeat
these obvious spawns of Satan.
`Tis a rollicking good adventure spun here, as our knights overwhelm by
force, guile, diplomacy, and threats of torture (as only good English knights
know how to administer). As the saying goes, the poor aliens never knew
what hit them. And there is just enough plausibility to the scenarios a nd
actions that your disbelief can easily be held in abeyance while reading
this, as your humor meter keeps itself pegged well into the laugh zone.
Theres even a message here that many military commanders should heed,
that decisiveness, surprise, and strength of will can often defeat an enemy
with far greater weaponry and numbers.
This work was nominated for the 1961 Hugo Award, where it had the
misfortune to be up against the great Walter M. Millers A Canticle for
Leibowitz, but certainly belonging in the august company of Hugo worthy
works.
---Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)
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