The Broken Sword
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| The Broken Sword | |
 Dust-jacket from the first edition. |
|
| Author | Poul Anderson |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Abelard-Schuman |
| Publication date | 1954 |
| Media type | print (hardback) |
| Pages | 274 pp |
| ISBN | 0-575-07425-6 |
The Broken Sword is a fantasy novel written by the American writer Poul Anderson in 1954. Its importance was recognized in its later revival in paperback by Ballantine Books as the twenty-fourth volume of the celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series in January, 1971.
The story is set into the Viking Age and develops the story of the son of Orm the Strong, Skafloc Half-elf; the story has many references to the Norse mythology and elements from the Viking age. It begins with Orm the Strong marrying Aelfrida of the English, and killing a witch's family on the land. He half-converts to a Christian, but quarrels with the local priest and sends him off the land. Meanwhile, an elf known as Imric seeks out the witch to capture the son of Orm, Valgard. In his place he leaves a changeling called Valgard. The real Valgard is taken away to elven lands and named Skafloc by the elves. He grows up among the fairies there. Later, he has a significant part in the war against the trolls.
[edit] References
- Tuck, Donald H. (1974). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Chicago: Advent. pp. 9.
