You know Tolkien, Sanderson, Rowling, George R. R. Martin and Jordan. Tolkien and Poul Anderson defined today’s fantasy with their two novels: Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” and Poul Anderson’s “Three Hearts and Three Lions.” Together, the two authors forged the foundation of what people expect to see in epic fantasy. Both directly and indirectly they influenced the D&D roleplaying game.
Let’s look at Poul Anderson and his works.
Poul Anderson
Poul Anderson was a giant of both science fiction and fantasy, receiving seven Hugo Awards and three Nebulas over his fifty-year career. He continued writing until his death in 2001, leaving behind over 100 novels and short stories. Born in Pennsylvania to Danish immigrants, his knowledge of Danish folklore influenced his fantasy works, including “The Broken Sword“, “The High Crusade“, and the book we’re reviewing today “Three Hearts and Three Lions“.
Plot of “Three Hearts and Three Lions“
We’re introduced to the hero of the story, Holger Carlson, in mid-battle. Holger is a Danish-American fighting with the Danish Resistance to Nazi occupation. While providing cover for the escape of a key scientist, a bullet pierces him. He awakens to find himself transported to a mythical world. It’s an alternate reality to Earth where legends are real. Holger is a medieval knight, a paladin, with a warhorse. He bears a shield with his family crest: three hearts and three lions.
He immediately tries to return to his home world, worrying about the important battle he left behind. He seeks help from an old woman, Mother Gerd, who he suspects is a witch. She confirms his suspicions when she brings out a wand and starts speaking with demons. The witch directs him to the land of Faerie to seek an elf with powerful magic, Duke Alfric.
Mother Gerd introduces Hugi, a dwarf, as his guide to this magical land. Along the way, they meet Alianora, a swan-may, a beautiful young girl with a cloak that lets her shape shift into a swan. Hugi explains that there are two factions in this mythical world; law and chaos. Humans are the primary agents of Law, with some wizards and witches being traitors. The non-human beings are agents of Chaos, with some exceptions.
When they arrive in the land of Faerie, he meets Morgan La Fey. From her, he learns he was a champion for Law in this Middle World. Some unknown curse has stolen his memory and exiled him to Earth. Duke Alfric and Morgan La Fey conspire to trap him forever in the land of Faerie. With the aid of Alianora and Hugi, they escape. Duke Alfric’s force pursues Holger and his companions. Holger encounters dragons, giants, nixies and werewolves in a series of epic adventures.
When they reach human lands, they find a human, Carahue, a Saracen that has been searching for his alter ego. Holger along the way has fallen in love with Alianora, but is reluctant to commit to her given that he intends to depart her world. This leaves her open to the affections of Carahue.
The book concludes with a quest for the mythical sword Cortana. With Cortana in his grasp, he can defeat the forces of Chaos and save the world.
Influencing Dungeons and Dragons and the Fantasy Genre
Poul Anderson had a significant influence on Dungeons and Dragons. The first edition of Dungeons Master’s Guide acknowledged the fact by including “Three Hearts and Three Lions” on a recommended reading list. The original “Monster Manual” includes all the creatures listed below.
- Elves
- Dwarves
- Giants
- Goblins
- Trolls
- Unicorns
- Werewolves
- Nixie
One of the most iconic D&D monsters came straight out of the pages of this book; the lanky, green-skinned troll. In a horrifying scene, Holger chops a troll to pieces only to watch it knit itself together. Finally, he destroys it with fire.
Holger Carlson is the quintessential Paladin, deeply concerned about morals, he even uses “lay on hands” and seeks the holy sword Cortana. Alianora seems a good fit for a prototype for a shape changing druid.
The conflict between Law and Chaos influenced the Dungeons and Dragons alignment system. The Basic Set having three alignments: Lawful, Chaotic and Neutral. Advanced Dungeons and Dragons extended that into the “nine alignment system” of Lawful, Chaotic, Neutral and Good, Neutral and Evil.
Influencing Michael Moorcock’s Eternal Champions
Michael Moorcock, in his dedication for his seminal work “Elric of Melniboné,” wrote
To the Poul Anderson for ‘The Broken Sword’ and ‘Three Hearts and Three Lions‘. To the late Fletcher Pratt for The Well of the Unicorn. To the late Bertolt Brecht for The Threepenny Opera which, for obscure reasons, I like with the other books as being one of the chief influences on the first Elric stories.
Dedication in Elric of Melniboné“
His Eternal Champion series also features gods of Chaos in conflict with gods of Law. Holger’s, man out of time and place, parallels his novel the “Eternal Champion.” John Daker, an ordinary man of the 20th century, is displaced in time and space to the tomb of Erekosë. There he takes up the mantle of the long dead hero and his deadly sword. Though both, mayhap, took inspiration from “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” or John Carter’s translocation in “A Princess of Mars.”
Moorcock didn’t just have one alternate Earth but a multitude. In fact, he invented the word multiverse in his 1963 novel “The Sundered World”. Both the Holger and the Moorcock’s Eternal Champions wield mythical swords of great power: Cortana in Holger’s case, Stormbringer, among others in the Eternal Champions series. Moorcock’s heros are far more flawed than the noble Holger.
Summary
“Three Hearts and Three Lions” is a short and fast paced novel. At 242 pages, its brevity was one thing not influencing subsequent fantasy epics.
I wish Poul Anderson had written a whole series of books and resolved the story of Holger and Alianora. Luckily, Harry Turtledove in Multiverse: Exploring Poul Anderson’s Worlds has a story called “The Man who Came Late” which provides a bittersweet resolution.
If I had to criticize, which is the point of a review, it would be the use of eye dialect for the character of Hugi. For example, “I gave’s guid as I got”, which slowed down my reading speed a bit.
It is currently available to read on Kindle Unlimited for free if you have that service. It is well worth reading on its own merits as well as to honor its influence.
If you’d like to learn more about past influencers of fantasy and Dungeons and Dragons in particular, try reading our article on Jack Vance and his connection to “Stranger Things.”
