A Midsummer Tempest

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A Midsummer Tempest is an alternate history fantasy novel by Poul Anderson. In 1975 , it was nominated for the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and Nebula Award for Best Novel and won the Mythopoeic Award.

The setting in a parallel world where William Shakespeare was not a dramatist but the Great Historian; the events in Shakespeare's plays were, in fact, historical in this world. The plays having depicting anachronistic technology, Anderson extrapolated that the world was, in general, more technologically advanced. The novel takes place after Shakespeare's death, in the era of Cromwell and Charles I, but as well as the English Civil War, the characters are also dealing with the Industrial Revolution.

Although various of the plays are aluded to, the plot is chiefly shaped by A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest.

[edit] Synopsis

Prince Rupert is taken by the Roundheads; held captive at a country house, he falls in love with his captor's niece, Jennifer. One of his troopers, Will Fairweather, followed him to the house where he was held captive; with the help of Jennifer, Will brings him to Oberon and Titania, who offer magical aid. Rupert and Jennifer exchange magic rings that will aid them as long as they are true to each other. Rupert sets out with Will to find the books that Prospero sank, in order to aid King Charles.

Rupert, fleeing Roundheads, finds refuge in a magical inn, The Old Phoenix, which proves to be a nexus between parallel worlds; there he meets Valeria Matucheck, a character from an alternate fantasy twentieth century America (Anderson's Operation Chaos), and Holger Carlsen, a character born in a world where the Matter of France is history, later trapped in twentieth century (non-fantasy) America (Anderson's Three Hearts and Three Lions). Valeria explains what happens in the English Civil War, including the king's execution, strengthening Rupert's determination. He finds a Spanish ship that will transport him; it is carrying an ambassador and his wife.

Jennifer's uncle discovers her on her return and resolves to use the ring to find Rupert. She is brought, captive, to a port, where the ring enables her to steal a boat and set sail. The ambassador's wife uses a magical potion to seduce Rupert, and the rings fail. Rupert can not find his way to the island, and Jennifer is stranded at sea. Despairing, Rupert takes to the library at Milan to try to work out where to find the island and so the books. Jennifer's plight becomes desperate from thrist, but Ariel finds her and brings her to the island. Rupert works out the location, and meets Jennifer; they are reconciled.

They retrieve the books and magically bear them back to England. Charles I has taken up a position near Glastonbury Tor for reasons he does not himself understand. Rupert attempts the magic; Will Fairweather is possessed by a spirit of England and stirs up the magic of the land. The Roundheads are defeated.

Rupert and Jennifer return the rings to Oberon and Titania, and retire to a peaceful married life.