It's been said that there are many and strange shadows, memories surviving from dim pasts, in this fantastic universe of ours. Here the great Poul Anderson turned to a legend from the Northern countries, countries where even today the pagan past seems only like yesterday, to tell the story of Cappen Varra, who came to Norren an age ago, in a time and place we really can't remember anymore.

Author Biography

Poul William Anderson (1926 - 2001) was an American science fiction author who began his career during the Golden Age of the genre and continued to write and remain popular into the 21st century. Anderson also authored several works of fantasy, historical novels and a prodigious number of short stories. Poul Anderson was one of the most popular authors in SF. He began his career in the 1950s and was a regular contributor to Astounding SF magazine (later Analog SF) edited by John W. Campbell. His work encompassed science fiction and fantasy, including the Polesotechnic League series and the Terran Empire series featuring Dominic Flandry and the fantasy Kingdoms of Ys series, written with his wife Karen. He received seven Hugo and three Nebula Awards and a SFWA Grandmaster Award among other honors.