"Edmond Hamilton - A Yank at Valhalla" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Edmond)

Chapter XV
The Fire World
Chapter XVI
The Flame Creatures
Chapter XVII
Magic Science
Chapter XVIII
The Battle for Asgard
Chapter XIX
Swords Athirst
Chapter XX
Ragnarok
Epilogue
 INTRODUCTION

Edmond Hamilton (1904-1977) was one of the early grandmasters of epic
science-fantasy adventure. Whether it was galaxy-spanning space operas, with the
seeming impossibility of crashing suns for weapons, or world of magic and mystery
where the ancient Aztec Gods possessed seemingly supernatural powers, Hamilton,
like Dean Koontz, was always able to supply a plausible scientific premise for his
tales тАУ which is, perhaps, not surprising considering he received his degree in
physics. A poetic stylist and superb storyteller, in the vigorous, colorful Chretien de
Troyes tradition, whose tales never let down or became boring for a moment once
they begin, the consistent quality of Hamilton's work earned him a place in the top
ranks of science fantasy writers for more than four decades, beginning in the
mid-1920s. Most of his novels, and many of his shorter works, were recognized as
classics on publication. At the top of any list of his novels are The Star Kings, The
Valley of Creation, The Star of Life, Battle for the Stars, A Yank at Valhalla, The
Sun Smasher, The City at World's End, and The Haunted Stars. Memorable
shorter works include: What's It Like Out There?, The Man who Evolved, Exile,
Devolution, The Birthplace of Creation, The Cosmic Pantograph, He that Hath
Wings, Requiem, and Sunfire.
In A Yank at Valhalla, the author's euphonious protagonist, a war-weary aircraft
pilot on a scientific expedition in the Artic, helps discover a strangely shaped gold
cylinder covered with runic symbols. Flying it back to the mainland he soon finds
his plane is being drawn northward by an irresistible force. When he spots a vast
chasm in the earth spanned only by a shimmering bridge of rainbow hues, with a
noble castle rising on the far side, and a golden-haired Valkyrie on a flying horse
being pursued by hideous giants, our hero realizes he may have flown over the
rainbow, but he hasn't landed in Oz! When he is rescued by the Valkyrie, he
discovers her name is Freya, and although he wasn't planning to fall in love with a
warrior-maid and demigoddess, he does. Soon Odin, Thor, Baldur, and the other
Norse Gods welcome him into the fraternity of Valhalla, as a brother warrior and
reveal the super-scientific secrets that have kept them alive тАУ and hidden тАУ for tens
of thousands of years. But what he does not suspect is that he, and his love for
Freya, is part of Loki's long-brewed plan to free the sinister giants of Jotunheim,
trigger Ragnarok, and bring on the Twilight of the Gods! The Encyclopedia of
Science Fiction calls A Yank at Valhalla one Hamilton's most "formidably
composed" novels, "dark in texture," "one of the novels for which he will be
remembered.