Kalvan series
Encyclopedia
The Kalvan series is a fictional series started by H. Beam Piper
about a Pennsylvania
police officer who is transported to an alternate world. The series is part of Piper's Paratime series
and features many of the characters from that series. The police officer, Calvin Morrison
, is picked up by a "Cross-time flying saucer" (really a Paratime conveyor) and dropped off in an alternate Pennsylvania where Aryan
s migrated east across Asia
and the Pacific Ocean
and arrived in North America
. This is different than in the real world where the Aryans moved west into Europe
.
), one by John F. Carr
and Roland Green (Great Kings' War
), and three by John F. Carr alone (Kalvan Kingmaker
, Siege of Tarr-Hostigos
, and Fireseed War).
descendants who speak a language which belongs to a branch of Indo-European unattested in our timeline, but which has some superficial resemblances to ancient Greek
in sounds and word-endings (but not in grammar). The words for "father" and "mother" in Zarthani are phadros and mavra. The Zarthani are the inhabitants of the five Great Kingdoms.
) and near the Great River (the Mississippi River
).
The Urgothi created the Middle Kingdoms, including Grefftscharr.
. They are considered barbarians by the Zarthani, who virtually exterminated the Eastern Ruthani when they arrived in the area to become the Great Kingdoms.
, the new Great Kingdom of Hos-Hostigos is formed. Partway through the series, Kalvan also recognizes a seventh Great Kingdom, Hos-Rathon. Neither Hos-Hostigos nor Hos-Rathon are recognized by any of the other Great Kingdoms.
Another Zarthani political entity outside the framework of the Great Kingdoms is Trygath, in the Ohio valley. The Ohio river was not along the Zarthani eastwards migration routes, and Trygath is a semi-barbarous area known for its horse-breeding, and not considered Hos or "Great".
, who became its first king while dramatically improving the armies of Hos-Hostigos, attempting to eliminate pikemen altogether from the Royal Army (and replace them with musketeers). Kalvan also has started construction of the Great Kings' Highway, which is a two-lane stone road running through the kingdom.
The flag of Hos-Hostigos is decreed to be a red keystone
(i.e. the symbol of Calvin Morrison's native Pennsylvania
) on a dark green field.
Hostigos' capital (and the capital of Hos-Hostigos) is Hostigos Town (soon to become Hostigos City, built on the site of real-world Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
). Notable castles include Tarr-Hostigos, the home of Prince Ptosphes, which defends Hostigos Town.
), and its flag is a golden-rayed sun on a green field.
Soon after the formation of Hos-Hostigos, the civil war ended when Gormoth was killed and replaced by Prince Pheblon, who agreed to join Hos-Hostigos. Nostor's capital is Nostor Town (near real-world Hughesville, Pennsylvania
), and its flag is an orange lily on a black field.
Beshta was set to scavenge plunder from the Nostori and Saski invasion of Hostigos when Kalvan arrived, and Balthar send his brother Balthames to aid Sarrask at the Battle of Fyk. After Balthames' tactical blunder lead to victory for Hostigos, Balthar was forced to accept the lordship of King Kalvan and enter into the new kingdom of Hos-Hostigos.
After Balthar's betrayal at the Battle of Tenebra, Balthar was executed and replaced by Prince Phrames.
).
.
, North Carolina
and South Carolina
and is the site of the city of Balph, the headquarters of Styphon's House.
and Georgia
) and was originally a part of Hos-Ktemnos.
The Knights are divided up into Lances, which are then combined into Wedges.
between Great King Kalvan
and Styphon's House. The war also involves the pro-Styphon Great Kingdoms of Hos-Harphax and Hos-Ktemnos and the Pro-Kalvan/Anti-Styphon forces of Hos-Rathon and the Urgothi "barbarians" led by Warlord Ranjar Sargos. The war is to some extent a continuation of the Hostigos War of Unification (shown in Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen
). The war begins in the book Great Kings' War
.
H. Beam Piper
Henry Beam Piper was an American science fiction author. He wrote many short stories and several novels. He is best known for his extensive Terro-Human Future History series of stories and a shorter series of "Paratime" alternate history tales.He wrote under the name H. Beam Piper...
about a Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
police officer who is transported to an alternate world. The series is part of Piper's Paratime series
Paratime series
The Paratime series written by H. Beam Piper consists of several short stories, one novella, and one novel; they deal with an advanced civilization that is able to travel between parallel universes with alternate histories, and uses that ability to trade for goods and services their own, exhausted...
and features many of the characters from that series. The police officer, Calvin Morrison
Kalvan (Calvin Morrison)
Kalvan, formerly known as Calvin Morrison, is a character from the fictional Kalvan series started by H. Beam Piper. He was a former state trooper of the Pennsylvania state police, who was accidentally picked up by a cross-time flying saucer and carried to another timeline.-Life Before...
, is picked up by a "Cross-time flying saucer" (really a Paratime conveyor) and dropped off in an alternate Pennsylvania where Aryan
Aryan
Aryan is an English language loanword derived from Sanskrit ārya and denoting variously*In scholarly usage:**Indo-Iranian languages *in dated usage:**the Indo-European languages more generally and their speakers...
s migrated east across Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and arrived in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. This is different than in the real world where the Aryans moved west into Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Books
The Kalvan series currently consists of five books, one by Piper (Lord Kalvan of OtherwhenLord Kalvan of Otherwhen
Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen is a 1965 science fiction novel by H. Beam Piper and is part of his Kalvan series of stories, which is part of his larger Paratime series. It recounts the adventures of a Pennsylvania state trooper who is accidentally transported to a more backward parallel universe...
), one by John F. Carr
John F. Carr
John Francis Carr, was born December 25, 1944 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in San Diego, California. He is a science fiction editor and writer.-Career:John F...
and Roland Green (Great Kings' War
Great Kings' War
Great Kings' War is John F. Carr and Roland J. Green's sequel to H. Beam Piper's Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen and continues the story of Corporal Calvin Morrison after he is transported to another timeline by a Paratime conveyor...
), and three by John F. Carr alone (Kalvan Kingmaker
Kalvan Kingmaker
Kalvan Kingmaker is the third book in the Kalvan series and the sequel to Great Kings' War. It is written by John F. Carr .-Returning Characters:...
, Siege of Tarr-Hostigos
Siege of Tarr-Hostigos
Siege of Tarr-Hostigos by John F. Carr, 2003, is the fourth and most recent book in the Kalvan series.-Returning Characters:* Great King Kalvan* Queen Rylla* Prince Ptosphes* Prince Sarrask* Prince Balthames* Prince Phrames* General Harmakros...
, and Fireseed War).
Zarthani
The Zarthani are a group of Indo-EuropeanIndo-European
Indo-European may refer to:* Indo-European languages** Aryan race, a 19th century and early 20th century term for those peoples who are the native speakers of Indo-European languages...
descendants who speak a language which belongs to a branch of Indo-European unattested in our timeline, but which has some superficial resemblances to ancient Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
in sounds and word-endings (but not in grammar). The words for "father" and "mother" in Zarthani are phadros and mavra. The Zarthani are the inhabitants of the five Great Kingdoms.
Urgothi
The Urgothi are a race of proto-Germans. A thousand years after the arrival of the Ros-Zarthani, the Urgothi arrived from the Cold Lands. They found the coastal areas settled by the Ros-Zarthani and so they moved east and south into the Sea of Grass (the Great PlainsGreat Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
) and near the Great River (the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
).
The Urgothi created the Middle Kingdoms, including Grefftscharr.
Ruthani
The Ruthani are the real world Native AmericansIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
. They are considered barbarians by the Zarthani, who virtually exterminated the Eastern Ruthani when they arrived in the area to become the Great Kingdoms.
Great Kingdoms
The North American Atlantic coast is the location of the Great Kingdoms. These kingdoms are inhabited by the Zarthani and are the main location of the series. Originally there were five Great Kingdoms (Hos-Zygros, Hos-Agrys, Hos-Harphax, Hos-Ktemnos, and Hos-Bletha), but at the end of Lord Kalvan of OtherwhenLord Kalvan of Otherwhen
Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen is a 1965 science fiction novel by H. Beam Piper and is part of his Kalvan series of stories, which is part of his larger Paratime series. It recounts the adventures of a Pennsylvania state trooper who is accidentally transported to a more backward parallel universe...
, the new Great Kingdom of Hos-Hostigos is formed. Partway through the series, Kalvan also recognizes a seventh Great Kingdom, Hos-Rathon. Neither Hos-Hostigos nor Hos-Rathon are recognized by any of the other Great Kingdoms.
Another Zarthani political entity outside the framework of the Great Kingdoms is Trygath, in the Ohio valley. The Ohio river was not along the Zarthani eastwards migration routes, and Trygath is a semi-barbarous area known for its horse-breeding, and not considered Hos or "Great".
Hos-Hostigos
Hos-Hostigos was formed from the princedoms of Hostigos (also known as Old Hostigos), Nostor, Sask, Beshta, Nyklos, and Ulthor, which were all former princedoms of Hos-Harphax, as well as the new princedom of Sashta. Since Hos-Hostigos was formed out of the territory of the Great Kingdom of Hos-Harphax, it was therefore not recognised as a Great Kingdom by any of the other kingdoms. It was founded after the arrival of KalvanKalvan (Calvin Morrison)
Kalvan, formerly known as Calvin Morrison, is a character from the fictional Kalvan series started by H. Beam Piper. He was a former state trooper of the Pennsylvania state police, who was accidentally picked up by a cross-time flying saucer and carried to another timeline.-Life Before...
, who became its first king while dramatically improving the armies of Hos-Hostigos, attempting to eliminate pikemen altogether from the Royal Army (and replace them with musketeers). Kalvan also has started construction of the Great Kings' Highway, which is a two-lane stone road running through the kingdom.
The flag of Hos-Hostigos is decreed to be a red keystone
Keystone (architecture)
A keystone is the wedge-shaped stone piece at the apex of a masonry vault or arch, which is the final piece placed during construction and locks all the stones into position, allowing the arch to bear weight. This makes a keystone very important structurally...
(i.e. the symbol of Calvin Morrison's native Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
) on a dark green field.
Hostigos
The princedom of Hostigos, also known as Old Hostigos, is the first princedom of the kingdom of Hos-Hostigos founded by Kalvan. At the time of Kalvan's arrival, Hostigos consisted of all of Centre County, southern Clinton County, and Lycoming County, Pennsylvania south of the Bald Eagle Mountains and was ruled by Prince Ptosphes. Its flag is a blue halberd-head on a red field. After Kalvan married Ptosphes' daughter Rylla, Kalvan became heir to Old Hostigos.Hostigos' capital (and the capital of Hos-Hostigos) is Hostigos Town (soon to become Hostigos City, built on the site of real-world Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Bellefonte is a borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies about twelve miles northeast of State College and is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
). Notable castles include Tarr-Hostigos, the home of Prince Ptosphes, which defends Hostigos Town.
Sask
Sask, consisting of Blair and parts of Clearfield, Huntington, and Bedford Counties in Pennsylvania, is one of Old Hostigos' former enemies ruled by the gluttonous Prince Sarrask. After the extremely bloody Battle of Fyk and the capture of Sarrask, Sask becomes an important tool in Kalvan's war against Styphon's House. Sask's capital is Sask Town (on the site of real-world Hollidaysburg, PennsylvaniaHollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Hollidaysburg is a borough in Blair County, Pennsylvania, on the Juniata River, south of Altoona. It is the county seat of Blair County. It is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area and is one of the communities that comprises the Altoona Urban Area...
), and its flag is a golden-rayed sun on a green field.
Nostor
To the north-east of Hostigos, Nostor--consisting of Tioga and parts of Northumberland, Lycoming and Montour Counties to the forks of the Susquehanna--is another one of Old Hostigos' former enemies. At the time of Kalvan's arrival, Nostor was ruled by the cruel Prince Gormoth and was to be the main arm of the Styphon's House attack on Hostigos. After the defeats at the siege of Tarr-Dombra and the Battle of Fitra, Hostigi troops invaded and burned much of southern Nostor, leading to an free-for-all civil war in Nostor.Soon after the formation of Hos-Hostigos, the civil war ended when Gormoth was killed and replaced by Prince Pheblon, who agreed to join Hos-Hostigos. Nostor's capital is Nostor Town (near real-world Hughesville, Pennsylvania
Hughesville, Pennsylvania
Hughesville is a borough in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,220 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
), and its flag is an orange lily on a black field.
Beshta
Beshta is located in the Besh (Juniata) River Valley, south-east of Old Hostigos and was ruled by Prince Baltar when Kalvan arrived in Hostigos. Its colors are black and pale yellow.Beshta was set to scavenge plunder from the Nostori and Saski invasion of Hostigos when Kalvan arrived, and Balthar send his brother Balthames to aid Sarrask at the Battle of Fyk. After Balthames' tactical blunder lead to victory for Hostigos, Balthar was forced to accept the lordship of King Kalvan and enter into the new kingdom of Hos-Hostigos.
After Balthar's betrayal at the Battle of Tenebra, Balthar was executed and replaced by Prince Phrames.
Sashta
The princedom of Sashta was created out of eastern Sask, western Beshta, and southern Hostigos by order of King Kalvan as a means of keeping Balthar's brother, Balthames from causing any trouble or from wielding any real power.Nyklos
Nyklos is located north-west of Old Hostigos and consists of Potter and McKean County, Pennsylvania. Nyklos is ruled by Prince Armanes and a truly voluntarily princedom of the new kingdom of Hos-Hostigos.Ulthor
Ulthor is a voluntary princedom of Hos-Hostigos and is located in the north-western corner of Hos-Hostigos and contains the only port in the kingdom (real world ErieErie
Erie is a city in Pennsylvania, United States.Erie may also refer to:*Erie , a tribe of Native Americans-Places:*Lake Erie, one of the five Great Lakes of North America*Erie Canal, a canal running from the Hudson River to Lake Erie...
).
Hos-Harphax
Hos-Harphax is the original Great Kingdom of the princedoms that joined to form Hos-Hostigos. Hos-Harphax is one of the older Great Kingdoms and was created when the trading city of Harphax City at the mouth of the Susquehanna river began to exert its influence on the other cities, towns, and villages upstream from Harphax City. At the beginning of the Kalvan series, Hos-Harphax includes the territory of real-world Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and southern New Jersey, and is ruled by Great King Kaiphranos, who dies in Kalvan KingmakerKalvan Kingmaker
Kalvan Kingmaker is the third book in the Kalvan series and the sequel to Great Kings' War. It is written by John F. Carr .-Returning Characters:...
.
Hos-Ktemnos
Hos-Ktemnos has one of the best militaries in the Great Kingdoms, consisting of the Sacred Squares. Hos-Ktemnos is located in VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and is the site of the city of Balph, the headquarters of Styphon's House.
Hos-Bletha
Hos-Bletha is the southernmost Great Kingdom (consisting of real world FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
) and was originally a part of Hos-Ktemnos.
Hos-Agrys
Hos Agrys is based in New York state, northern New Jersey, and southwestern Quebec, with its capital at Agrys City (Manhattan Island).Hos-Zygros
Includes New England, most of Quebec, and part of eastern Ontario. The capital, Zygros City, is on the site of the real-world city of Quebec.Middle Kingdoms
The Middle Kingdoms are located in central North America. They include Grefftscharr, a major trading city, Rathon, and Dorg. Rathon was later recognized by Great King Kalvan as the seventh Great Kingdom of Hos-Rathon.Grefftscharr
Grefftscharr is a Kingdom centered around a major trading city in the location of our Chicago and strongest of the Middle Kingdoms. In the Kalvan series, Paratime Police Chief Verkan Vall establishes a cover of being from Grefftscharr when he helps Kalvan. Grefftscharr covers the area of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Western Ohio and Southern Ontario around the Great Lakes.Styphon's House
Styphon's House is the temple of the god Styphon, originally a minor healer god, but who rose to prominence when his priests gained a monopoly control on the manufacture of gunpowder, and began to actively intervene in politics and finance. The main temple of Styphon's House is in the city of Balph, located in the Great Kingdom of Hos-Ktemnos.Holy Order of the Zarthani Knights
The Holy Order of the Zarthani Knights is one of the two military arms of Styphon's House. The Knights defend the Great Kingdoms of Hos-Ktemnos and Hos-Bletha from the barbarians of the Sastragath. The Knights are similar to the real world's crusading orders.The Knights are divided up into Lances, which are then combined into Wedges.
Styphon's Own Guard
Styphon's Own Guard is the other military branch of Styphon's House. The soldiers in this military wear red armor and have been known to kill friendly soldiers who try to flee the battlefield.The Great Kings' War
The Great Kings' War is the warWar
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
between Great King Kalvan
Kalvan (Calvin Morrison)
Kalvan, formerly known as Calvin Morrison, is a character from the fictional Kalvan series started by H. Beam Piper. He was a former state trooper of the Pennsylvania state police, who was accidentally picked up by a cross-time flying saucer and carried to another timeline.-Life Before...
and Styphon's House. The war also involves the pro-Styphon Great Kingdoms of Hos-Harphax and Hos-Ktemnos and the Pro-Kalvan/Anti-Styphon forces of Hos-Rathon and the Urgothi "barbarians" led by Warlord Ranjar Sargos. The war is to some extent a continuation of the Hostigos War of Unification (shown in Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen
Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen
Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen is a 1965 science fiction novel by H. Beam Piper and is part of his Kalvan series of stories, which is part of his larger Paratime series. It recounts the adventures of a Pennsylvania state trooper who is accidentally transported to a more backward parallel universe...
). The war begins in the book Great Kings' War
Great Kings' War
Great Kings' War is John F. Carr and Roland J. Green's sequel to H. Beam Piper's Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen and continues the story of Corporal Calvin Morrison after he is transported to another timeline by a Paratime conveyor...
.
Great Kings' War
- The Battle of Chothros Heights (Kalvan victory) -- The battle where Kalvan utterly defeated the Harphaxi Royal Army and destroyed three lances of Zarthani Knights.
- The Battle of Tenebra (Styphon's House victory) -- The battle where the Styphoni (led by Grand Master Soton), defeated the Hostigi army led by Prince Ptosphes because of the treachery of Balthar of Beshta
- The Battle of Phyrax (Kalvan victory) -- The extremely bloody battle in which Kalvan repulsed the Styphoni Holy Host from Hostigos after the Battle of Tenebra.
See also
- Lord Kalvan of OtherwhenLord Kalvan of OtherwhenLord Kalvan of Otherwhen is a 1965 science fiction novel by H. Beam Piper and is part of his Kalvan series of stories, which is part of his larger Paratime series. It recounts the adventures of a Pennsylvania state trooper who is accidentally transported to a more backward parallel universe...
- Great Kings' WarGreat Kings' WarGreat Kings' War is John F. Carr and Roland J. Green's sequel to H. Beam Piper's Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen and continues the story of Corporal Calvin Morrison after he is transported to another timeline by a Paratime conveyor...
- Kalvan KingmakerKalvan KingmakerKalvan Kingmaker is the third book in the Kalvan series and the sequel to Great Kings' War. It is written by John F. Carr .-Returning Characters:...
- Siege at Tarr-Hostigos
- Minor Characters in the Kalvan seriesMinor Characters in the Kalvan series-Archpriest Anaxthenes:-Prince Balthames:-Prince Balthar:-Archpriest Cimon:-Knight Commander Geox:-Prince Gormoth:-Great King KaiphranosCommander Lestros:-Prince Pheblon:-Prince Ptosphes:-Archpriest Roxthar:-Warlord Ranjar Sargos:-Knight-Sergeant Sarmoth:...
- Kalvan (Calvin Morrison)Kalvan (Calvin Morrison)Kalvan, formerly known as Calvin Morrison, is a character from the fictional Kalvan series started by H. Beam Piper. He was a former state trooper of the Pennsylvania state police, who was accidentally picked up by a cross-time flying saucer and carried to another timeline.-Life Before...