Books: Pavane By Keith Roberts

(Drivebycuriosity) - Some scientists think that there could be many alternate universes besides ours. In some of these universes history could have run a different way. Keith Roberts describes in his book "Pavane" an England where Queen Elizabeth I has been murdered and the Roman Catholic Church has taken control over the country (amazon). The novel is set in the 1960s, when the book was first published. Roberts` England  has still a medieval economy & technology thanks to the oppression by the Church. For instance "The Bull of 1910",  called "Petroleum Veto",  limited the use of combustion motors and supports instead steam engines. I had to look up the word "pavane", it mean a stately dance in slow duple time, popular in the 16th and 17th centuries and performed in elaborate clothing.

The book is divided in 6 separate chapters - called measures - which makes it a collection of short stories. We follow different persons: A hauler, who drives steam powered trains on streets, is on a dangerous journey; a young man is learning the art of messaging by semaphore, a girl encounters a mysterious boat, a monk has to witness the horrors of inquisition, a powerful lady becomes the enemy of the much more powerful Pope in Rome and more.

The book is more fantasy than science fiction. Roberts cares more about his characters than science and there are also some elements of fairy tales interwoven. But I got sucked into this strange & dark world thanks to Robert`s intense & atmospheric style. "Pavane" is still worth reading after all this years.