Eifelheim - Michael Flynn [1]
I would also like to thank Stan Schmidt, editor of Analog Science Fiction magazine, for publishing the novella from which the “Now” portions of this book derive, and Eleanor Wood, my agent, for pestering me into writing the medieval portions of the book. Finally, also, to Tor editor David Hartwell, who helped me chop the unwieldy first draft into shape.
NOTE ON THE CALENDAR. Although the civil year III Caroli, rex germanorum, began on 1 January, the Year of the Lord (Anno Domini) did not begin in some places until 25 March, the Feast of the Incarnation. Thus the first three months of what we would call “1349” were still “1348” in some parts of Europe. Other regions counted the years of the Lord from the Nativity rather than the Incarnation, and still others used the civil year. The Greeks used a different system. A merchant caravan could thus travel from year to year as easily as from place to place!
CONTENTS
List of Characters
Map of Oberhochwald and Vicinity
Preface: Anton
I. August, 1348: At Matins, The Commemoration of Sixtus II and His Companions
1. Now: Sharon
II. August, 1348: At Primes, The Commemoration of Sixtus II and His Companions
III. August, 1348: At Compline, The Vigil of St. Laurence
IV. August, 1348: The Feast of St. Clare of Assisi
2. Now: Tom
V. August, 1348: The Feast of St. Joachim
VI. September, 1348: The Stigmata of St. Francis
VII. September, 1348: The Apparition of Our Lady of Ransom
VIII. October, 1348: Michaelmas to the Feriae Messis
3. Now: Sharon
IX. October, 1348: The Freiburg Markets
X. November, 1348: The Commemoration of Florentius of Strassburg
4. Now: Tom
XI. November, 1348: The Kermis
XII. January, 1348: Before Matins, The Epiphany of the Lord
XIII. January, 1348: Rock Monday
5. Now: Sharon
XIV. February, 1348: Candlemas to the Ember Days
XV. March, 1349: At Sext, Ember Wednesday
XVI. March, 1349: Lent
6. Now: Tom
XVII. April/May, 1349: Until Rogation Sunday
XVIII. June, 1349: At Tierce, The Commemoration of Ephraem of Syria
XIX. June, 1349: At Nones, The Commemoration of Bernard of Menthon
XX. June, 1349: From the Commemoration of St. Herve
XXI. June, 1349: The Nativity of St. John the Baptist
XXII. June, 1349: Until Nones, The Seven Holy Brothers
7. Now: Sharon
XXIII. July, 1349: The Feast of St. Margaret of Antioch
XXIV. July, 1349: At Primes, The Commemoration of St. Hilarinus
8. Now: Sharon
XXV. July, 1349: Ferial Days
9. Now: Tom
10. Now: Anton
Historical Notes
Physics Notes
A Note on Terms and Sources
LIST OF CHARACTERS
Sharon Nagy. A cosmologist and longtime domestic partner of Tom
Tom Schwoerin. A cliologist (mathematical historian) and longtime domestic partner of Sharon
Judy Cao. A librarian, later Tom’s research assistant
Jackson Welles. Sharon’s chairman
Hernando Kelly. Post-doc in nucleonic engineering; shares an office with Sharon
Anton Zaengle. An historian at the Albert-Louis University in Freiburg and colleague of Tom
Monsignor Heinrich Lurm. An official of the Diocese of Freiburg and an amateur archeologist
Gus Mauer and Sepp Fischer. Workmen from Freiburg
GEMEINDE OBERHOCHWALD
Pastor Dietrich. The doctor seclusus. Onetime student of Jean Buridan de Bethune, now pastor of St. Catherine’s Church in Oberhochwald
Brother Joachim von Herbholzheim. A Spiritual Franciscan waiting out a quarrel in the Strassburg friary
Theresia Gresch. Herb woman and healer; Dietrich’s onetime ward
Gregor Mauer. Stone mason in Oberhochwald
Lorenz and Wanda Schmidt. Blacksmith in Oberhochwald and his wife
Klaus Müller. Maier of the village. Operates the Herr’s mill
Hildegarde Müller. The miller’s wife
Volkmar Bauer. A strong farmer holding several manses
Seppl Bauer. Bauer’s son; betrothed to Ulrike Ackermann
Felix and Ilse Ackermann. A farmer in Oberhochwald and his wife
Maria Ackermann. Ackermann’s younger daughter
Ulrike Ackermann. Ackermann’s older daughter; betrothed to Seppl Bauer
Heinrich