Book Review: The High Crusade is good fun, an adventure story, moderately frivolous science fiction, a blast from the (distant) past. Poul Anderson has done the research to create the requisite verisimilitude and sets a reasonable pace in telling the unlikely tale contained in this short novel. There's even a smattering of romance thrown in for a subplot. Twists and turns aplenty. If the reader wants more than the light entertainment promised and delivered, The High Crusade can be read as a fine example of the typical American sci-fi novel of its time. Although the constant refrain throughout is of the unconquerable fortitude of Englishmen, the tale is actually emblematic of the 1950's American "can-do" attitude, that any challenge can be overcome with technology and frontier spirit. Cloaking this mid-century trope in olde Englishisms makes it even more palatable and enjoyable. Adding additional levels of scrutiny is more weight than this slender reed of a novel can bear, but it's easily susceptible to historicism and post-colonial study for those of a more serious bent. I ain't gonna go there. In short, The High Crusade is a fun quick read with more surprises than expected (which is the purpose of surprises, right?). [3.5★]
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