Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson
‘In olden time,’ said Hugi, ‘richt after the Fall, nigh everything were Chaos, see ye. But step by step ’tis been driven back. The longest step was when the Saviour lived on earth, for then naught o’ darkness could stand…’
Three Hearts and Three Lions is one of those classic heroic fantasy novels that satisfies on almost every level. Published originally in 1953 and expanded in 1961, it tells the story of Holger Carlsen, an engineer from Denmark who is suddenly transported from a World War II battlefield to a world of magic, myths, and monsters. He awakens in a forest without his clothes, where a fully equipped warhorse named Papillion grazes peacefully. Taking the armor, weapons and clothing from the horse’s back, Holger notices the shield that hangs from the saddle. Something familiar about the design stirs his memory: three hearts and three lions. But nothing more comes. And yet he can ride the horse and wield the sword skillfully.
As he struggles to make sense of why he is there and how to return, Holger finds himself deeply involved in the battle between Chaos and Law. He gains the friendship of Hugi the dwarf and Alianor the swan maiden, but he find himself at odds with the Elf-lord Duke Alfric and the sorceress Morgan Le Fey.
For fans of heroic fantasy, Three Hearts and Three Lions has nearly everything one could wish: dragons, magic swords, werewolves, the land of Faerie, quests, tragedy, romance, humor, adventure–all held together by an underlying theme and a fairytale atmosphere. While it does not have the sophistication or breadth of The Lord of the Rings, it has an unexpected depth and heart, especially for such a short work.
Three Heart and Three Lions is a true classic from the golden age of fantasy and is listed in Fantasy: The 100 Best Books.
Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson
First edition Garden City (NY): Doubleday, 1961
Kindle edition Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Print length: 191 pages
