Question about Poul Anderson's "The Broken Sword"

[CrusaderX]

This book was published in 1954, and a revised edition was published in 1971.

Does anyone know what was changed? I picked up the 1971 version from a used bookstore, and I'm curious about how different it is from the original release.

 

[James Heard]

Here is a review of the book in question that might be informative. Also, here is a forum that seems to be discussing the book, where I got the link for the other review as well. Generally shorthand consensus: Something was done with the 1971 revision that made it not as good as the first version.

Can't help anymore than that without digging in boxes in the attic. I've probably got both versions somewhere, but honestly I can't remember anything about this one.

 

[replicant2]

Huh, this is news to me. I own only the 1971 version, and if the 1954 edition is better than I have to track it down. I consider The Broken Sword among the top 10 fantasy novels ever written.

 

[Aus_Snow]

I consider The Broken Sword among the top 10 fantasy novels ever written.

Hope you don't mind me asking, but what gives it that position among whichever others? (I haven't read it - not loking to dispute, just curious).

 

[replicant2]

Hope you don't mind me asking, but what gives it that position among whichever others? (I haven't read it - not loking to dispute, just curious).

The Broken Sword is a kick in the pants of modern fantasy. It does more in 250-300 pages than other, bloated trilogies and septologies do in 5,000 or more.

It combines norse mythology, inexorable tragic fate, faerie races vs. encroaching humanity, and Christianity vs. paganism in a fast-paced, bloodthirsty saga. It revolves around the conflict between Skafloc, son of Orm, and a false half-troll changeling named Valgard that looks like Skafloc's twin and usurps the throne. It's a great story with some memorable battle-scenes.

Not only is it a cracking good tale, but it has literary merit too--the reforged sword can be viewed as a symbol of technology, a powerful blessing but also a curse. There's a lot in here about the nature of man.

I'd put it up there with The Lord of the Rings, The Once and Future King, A Song of Ice and Fire, Bernard Cornwell's Arthur trilogy, etc. It's really that good. Poul Anderson, the author, is really one of the all-time greats in the field, even though he's better known for sci-fi. Seriously, check out his bio--he's probably written 100 or 150 novels.

 

[CrusaderX]

Anderson is indeed great. His novel Three Hearts and Three Lions is my favorite single stand-alone fantasy novel ever.

 

[mmadsen]

The Broken Sword is a kick in the pants of modern fantasy.

Well said.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Thanks, replicant2 - very informative. It sounds excellent, and much to my taste at the moment actually (I go through phases of favouring subgenre or style, often).

Cheers.

 

[Particle_Man]

I honestly don't know which version of the book I read, now. I got it in a second hand store, I know that.

Anyhow, aside from the 1971 version being "weaker" than the 1954 version, what were the specific changes? Did the hero live in one and not the other?