num_pages: 237
description: An ever-expanding subgenre of sf is devoted to "alternate worlds" or "alternate histories": fiction in which a crucial event goes differently than in the world we know, &amp; history is changed. Keith Roberts's Pavane ('68) is set in a backward 20th century molded by the assassination of Queen Elizabeth I &amp; the triumph of a militantly antiscience Catholic Church. This is a classic alternate history, in the same company as such highly regarded novels as L. Sprague De Camp's seminal Lest Darkness Fall ('41), in which a modern man slips back in time &amp; attempts to avert the Dark Ages; Ward Moore's Bring the Jubilee ('53), set after the South wins the US Civil War; &amp; Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle ('62), set after the Germans &amp; Japanese win WWII. Lest Darkness Fall &amp; The Man in the High Castle are justly famous; the other two classics, Bring the Jubilee &amp; Pavane , are less well known, &amp; that's a shame. One reason for Pavane 's relative obscurity among American SF readers might be its British setting &amp; author (the Moore &amp; Dick novels are both set in the US, &amp; De Camp, Moore &amp; Dick were all American). Another reason might be that Pavane is a novel created from interrelated but standalone stories (6 'measures,' or novelettes, &amp; a coda), &amp; the stories are of varying quality. Most are wise, beautifully written &amp; intensely visualized, especially the opener, "The Lady Margaret," &amp; the closer, "Corfe Gate"; but "Brother John," the story of the monk-artist who witnesses Inquisition tortures &amp; sparks an anti-Church rebellion, is far less detailed &amp; sometimes even unclear. Another reason for the novel's obscurity may be that some of the stories/chapters have more of a fantasy feel than is typical of more recent alternate history. Also, the nature of the coda's revelations may put off some readers. Nonetheless, Pavane is an intelligent, powerful &amp; moving work, deserving of a wide readership.--Cynthia WardPrologue (1968) storyThe Lady Margaret (1966) novelette (aka The Lady Anne)The Signaller (1966) noveletteBrother John (1966) noveletteLords &amp; Ladies (1966) noveletteThe White Boat (1966) noveletteCorfe Gate (1966) noveletteCoda (1968) story
language: English
title: Pavane
titlecomplete: Pavane
genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Historical, Short Stories, Science Fiction Fantasy, Alternate History, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook, Steampunk
ratings_count: 3333
places: United Kingdom
publisher: Penguin Books, London