Paul Anderson was the strongest man in the world.
December 30, 2008 7:17 PM   Subscribe

 
Poul Anderson was the strongest science fiction writer in the world. He was also the founder of the Society for Creative Anachronism.
posted by KokuRyu at 7:25 PM on December 30, 2008 [1 favorite]


Paul Vs Poul! (vs Paul & Paul)
posted by Artw at 7:36 PM on December 30, 2008


This man would disagree.
posted by Bromius at 7:57 PM on December 30, 2008 [3 favorites]


I'd say The Royal Tannenbaums and Death Race both have their strengths.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:08 PM on December 30, 2008


But was he strong enough to..........
posted by longsleeves at 8:19 PM on December 30, 2008


I remember them both with respect and affection. I didn't know Mr. Anderson the writer but have been a member of the SCA almost since the days of freon can helms.

Mr. Anderson the strong man paid annual visits to the YMCA camp I attended during the summers I was there. At that camp (Athens Y in Tallulah Falls, GA; incredibly beautiful mountains but absolutely not a thing like Deliverance) the day was organized by the striking of an immense bell. It did not hang like a steeple bell; it sat in an iron frame on a low scaffold built of 4" x 6" timbers. This was low enough so that a camper could stand on the ground and sound the bell with a hammer--a privilege for those invited to do so and also of course a terrible temptation to the occasional bold midnight skulker who now and then treated us to a mighty BONG in the middle of the silent darkness. Heaven only knows what it weighed but for size comparison I have a snapshot of one of my cabin counsellors standing on the scaffold beside the bell holding a pot of paint and a paintbrush. He was an even six feet tall and the bell was roughly waist high on him.

The scaffold had been there many years and was becoming mossy and rotten and dangerous. A new one was built beside it, and one summer during Mr. Anderson's visit he picked up the bell in its iron frame and neatly transferred it from old scaffold to new. The word "awesome" was invented just for that moment.
posted by jfuller at 8:21 PM on December 30, 2008 [4 favorites]


Man that guy is built like an oak tree.
A really short, thick oak tree.
Nice friendly smile too.
posted by Iron Rat at 8:31 PM on December 30, 2008 [1 favorite]


As a football coach, we look for frontline guys who have legs like that. Watching that footage makes me lust. If he was on my line I would run behind him every play, or have him lead block, every play, or run a dive with him, every play. He would be busy, is what I am leading to. What a waste lifting weights, when someone could have had him crushing his enemies, seeing them driven before him, and hearing the lamentations of his coaches.
posted by Senator at 8:40 PM on December 30, 2008 [6 favorites]


Paul Anderson was the strongest man in the world.

But then he started dating Fiona Apple... Hopefully, by impregnating Maya Rudolph, he can get some of his strength back.
posted by jonp72 at 9:05 PM on December 30, 2008


What a waste lifting weights,

Given the average lifespan of an NFL line of scrimmage player is in the low 50s, I think he made the right choice. Got him a whole extra decade.
posted by rodgerd at 9:37 PM on December 30, 2008 [2 favorites]


His needs, his needs.
posted by Senator at 10:03 PM on December 30, 2008


As a football coach, we look for frontline guys who have legs like that.

I have a friend who used to be an NFL Strength Coach. One time we were driving down the road and saw a young lady jogging down the side of the street. I notice he has like a laser beam eye stare going on, which is unusual for him. As she passes he continues to stare, even cranes his neck around momentarily taking his eyes off the road. He turns back around and says matter of factly "Shin Splints." I realized immediately that all he had been doing was assessing her form and looking for the faults in her mechanics. He went on to explain that he had to warn his girlfriend (now wife) that he had a tendency to do that and not get the wrong idea.
So one day I was curious and I asked him if he didn't know anything previously about the teams involved in a game, what would he look for to pick the team he thinks would win?

He replied "The ones with the most junk in the trunk."

I've always thought it was a petty solid answer considering the majority of your power/explosiveness resides in your leg/gluteal muscles.
posted by P.o.B. at 10:05 PM on December 30, 2008 [1 favorite]




Joe Greenstein, The Mighty Atom.
(previously)
posted by cenoxo at 10:34 PM on December 30, 2008


Anderson's strength outstripped the capacity of barbells of the time, so he improvised using iron wheels, as shown here, and other equipment that he made himself.

And the look on his face in that photo. Completely nonchalant, like he's just tying on a scarf or putting on his coat.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 9:28 AM on December 31, 2008 [1 favorite]


So Poul Anderson, the writer of "On Thud and Blunder" was the founder of the Society for Creative Anachronism? That explains a LOT about the SCA, both good and bad.
posted by happyroach at 9:49 AM on December 31, 2008


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