The Stronger Spell--The Pusadian Tales, Part 3

Read/Watch 'em in Order #106

I'm visiting L. Sprague de Camp's Pusadian Tales in publication order, because the internal chronology of the short stories isn't set. de Camp himself, I believe, never provided such a chronology and I don't think he was concerned about that. And it is the sort of series in which the "real-life" order in which the stories take place doesn't make a great deal of difference.

At least one commentator, though, has placed "The Stronger Spell" (Fantasy Fiction, November 1953) chronologically last, because the story's Macguffin is a primitive musket and the introduction of that technology to this Bronze Age world would be a major game changer.

But, since the one guy who knows the ingrediants of gunpowder is dead by the end of the story, it can be argued that this new weapon does not have a chance to change the world. Also, the guy carrying the weapon refers to it as magic. It's likely that this simply how the character interprets the combustibility of gunpowder, its not impossible that it really was a magic substance.

Anyway, the story begins at the waterfront of a city when a poet/minstrel named Suer Peial rescues a man from bandits. This man was wielding a strange looking club during the fight, but is at first reluctant to explain what it is.

The man's name is Ghw Gleokh (Suer later quips that if you can't pronounce this name, just clear your throat and you'll come close), who is a druid from a far-away land. The two men end up sharing food and wine in a local tavern where Suer hopes to earn a few coins by singing. They are joined by a blacksmith friend of Suer's and a pair of local wizards.

After a few too many drinks, Gleokh's tongue is loosened enough to explain that his strange club is essentially a musket (though this word is not used in the story) and get into a "my magic is better than yours" contest with the wizards. It's established that only Gleokh knows the secret of gunpowder--the senoir druid who taught it to him having since died.

When the older wizard decides he wants the musket, the arguement turns violent. This brings up the question of who would win a fight between a man with a firearm and a giant, invisible snake.

The fate of the musket itself is sealed by the blacksmith, who dislikes the idea of a weapon that would make the shields and armor he sells obsolete. So the musket goes into the bay and it can be confidentally stated that "Yes, sir, armor is here to stay!"

The interior illustraton for the story is by Roy Krenkel.

The story is yet another delight, with de Camp's dry wit on display throughout. As is usual with his stories, little details, both in the setting and in the dialogue, gives the tale a feeling of authenticity.

For instance, there is a very human moment when Suer and Gloekh enter the tavern and trade gossip with the owner. It both feels real in character terms, while simultaneously helping to establish the fantasy setting:

Derende replied, "The Senate has hired a new wizard, a Tartassian named Barik.

"What happened to the old one?"

"They had him impaled because of that sandstorm."

"What is this?" ask Ghw with interest.

Derende explained. "He conjured up a sandstorm to overwhelm a camel-raid of desert-dwelling Lixitans, but by misdirection buried a score of our own warriors instead."

All this juicy gossip--and the rest of "The Stronger Spell"--can be found online HERE.