Pavane (novel)
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Pavane by Keith Roberts is an alternate history science fiction fix-up novel first published by Rupert Hart-Davis Ltd in 1968.
Comprising a cycle of linked stories set in Dorset, England, it depicts a 1968 in which the Roman Catholic Church still has supremacy; in its timeline, Protestantism was destroyed during wars triggered by the assassination of Queen Elizabeth in 1588.
Most of the original stories were published in Science Fantasy. An additional story, "The White Boat", was added in later editions.
The social effects include a continuing feudal system and bans on innovation, particularly electricity, leading to a roughly mid-19th century technology with steam traction engines and mechanical semaphore telegraphy. Outlying areas are dangerous, with wild animals and occasional manifestations of the 'Old Ones' or 'People of the Hills' (supposed fairies) who leave crab-symbol graffiti. The stories take place at a period when the possibility of revolution is rumoured.
The location and flavour, nostalgic yet tragic in outlook, resemble a science-fictional equivalent of the fictionalized Wessex of Thomas Hardy (as in the Hardy stories, there are place-name differences; for instance, in Pavane Dorchester retains its Roman name, Durnovaria). Real geographical locations play a major role: Golden Cap is the site of a semaphore station, and the castle at Corfe is a key presence in the book.
- "Over all, the long arm of the Popes reached out to punish and reward; the Church Militant remained supreme. But by the middle of the twentieth century widespread mutterings were making themselves heard. Rebellion was once more in the air . . ."
The title alludes to the stately and melancholy dance, the pavane, the book being divided thematically into measures and a coda. After a brief Prologue explaining the back-story, the stories are:
- "The Lady Margaret" — a lonely steam haulier meets a friend from his past;
- "The Signaller" — an apprentice semaphore operator is assigned to a remote station;
- "The White Boat" (not in all editions) — a discontented fisher girl is obsessed with a mysterious yacht;
- "Brother John" — a monk becomes disaffected by the practices of the Inquisition;
- "Lords and Ladies" — a woman's bitter memories are evoked at the deathbed of the haulier from the first story;
- "Corfe Gate" — an aristocrat is involved in a regional rebellion.
- The "Coda" is set some years after the events of the stories.
[edit] Possible influence
The notion of using a sophisticated semaphore system to communicate over long distances was later used by Terry Pratchett in his Discworld novels, particularly Going Postal, in which it is called 'clacks'. The technology described is not very similar, Pavane having been written before general use of digital computers, or even facsimile transmission, and using two arms like the Napoleonic War coastal semaphores, whereas the clacks indicates the keen awareness of digital computing that also informs "Hex", the amusing central computer at the unseen University. The term 'steampunk' could have a root or two in these seminal stories.
