Teaser

In a galaxy filled with alien life, one species holds the fascination of all others. The mysterious Forerunners have left their legacy in the form of relics of unknown purpose. Yet not all relics are equal, and a newly discovered artefact may prove disastrous for those who found it . . .

Review

Back in January, I read a trio of anthology’s called Isaac’s Universe. In short, they featured a universe created by Isaac Asimov, but written in by other authors. Pretty well-known authors too. The stories themselves were of middling quality, but the idea stuck with me. I soon found out that there were novels written in the setting too. One by Janet Asimov, and one by Hal Clement. And then there was a piece of apocrypha. Poul Anderson, who had contributed two of the short stories, had also written a novel. Yet while it was originally planned to be a part of Isaac’s Universe, it ended up diverging from the canon, to the point that Anderson rewrote it as an independent novel. For those who don’t know, Poul Anderson is one of the unsung heroes of the genre, reliably putting out science fiction and fantasy stories throughout his life. Yet despite multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards to his name, he is is rarely recognised alongside the other greats. For Love and Glory would prove to be his final novel, not seeing print until two years after his death.

My impression of For Love and Glory is much the same as my take on the anthologies that preceded it. It’s a decent read, but not what I would expect given the pedigree of the author. There is a roughness to the whole text that makes me wonder if perhaps Anderson was unable to really complete the book before his death. It’s by no means a first draft, but it does feel as if there has been a lack of editing. Not in the sense that there are typos and other errors, but in the pacing. Everything is lightning-paced, with scenes skipping around all over the place. Despite the fact that the actual writing is very easy to digest, it was at times hard to follow the overall narrative. To be completely fair to For Love and Glory, though, I must admit that I was suffering from jet lag at the time of reading, so some of my confusion may stem from that rather than any failing on Anderson’s part.

What the book does well, however, is deliver a fun and pulpy adventure that feels like a throwback to earlier decades. It reminds me a lot of another Anderson, Kevin J. The chapters are short and punchy (there’s more than fifty in a three-hundred page book), and while there’s not much in the way of innovation, all the classic elements are there and delivered well. On a brief tangent, I also find it amusing that both Andersons have independently written books entitled The Dark Between the Stars. Returning to For Love and Glory, even when I couldn’t entirely follow it, it was a whole lot of fun. The characters are the big and bold archetypes you’d expect from a classic slice of space opera, the action comes thick and fast, and there are more alien worlds than you can shake a stick at.

All things considered, my first novel-length adventure with Poul Anderson wasn’t all I hoped it would be, but there is absolutely enough in here to convince me to come back for more. And if you’re a fan of all things Asimov-related, then this is an interesting little sidepiece that is worth a look if you have the time.

Book Stats

• A Standalone Novel
• Published by Tor
• First published in 2003
• Space Opera
• 300 pages