The Annals of the Deeds of the Æsir is the oldest compendium of general information concerning Æsguard in publication. It was first printed in 1901 from Victoria, funded by a society of gentlemen of the city, and was issued in three hard-bound volumes. Although it could not compete with the more comprehensive encyclopaedias published overseas, particularly the Encyclopædia Anglicana dispatched from Regnum Albion, the Annals provided far greater detail of Æsguardian affairs. It also offered a new system of referencing not seen in other Æsir-language documents. Contemporary encyclopaedias did not give systematic instruction on major subjects for two reasons: either they dealt with such subjects in a more general way or they filled their space primarily with technical definitions of their terminology. The Annals instead included treatises on its subjects in the same alphabetical series as short articles on technical terms and other topics. It also included plentiful cross references between entries. It was thus intended to offer two services: serious study, provided by the treatises; and quick references available under the alphabetical layout.
Source material included (and still includes) a combination of external essays and specially-written entries. The latter are requested by the editor-in-chief from a number of prominent academics or experts in the relevant fields. These contributions are compiled alongside the external sources by the editorial team to create the final product. The first editor of the Annals was William Macfarquar, the famous Æsir polymath who also wrote a number of the first edition's entries. His philosophy, which shaped the production of the first Annals, derived from the classical approach to knowledge. In order to think more deeply about the world, Macfarquar thought, it was necessary to know as much as possible. Although this approach was appreciated by contemporary academics, the majority of the Annal's initial readership subscribed to it because it allowed them to acquire more knowledge relevant to their pre-ordained tasks, improving their competence in these jobs. Despite the deviation in philosophical approaches between Macfarquar and the ordinary Æsir, both agreed that the straightforward and factual prose style of the Annals endeared the compendium to all.
It is worth noting that the alphabetical structure of the Annals and its use of prose was relatively new to Æsguard when the first edition was published in 1901. Prior to the Annals, Æsir were forced to rely upon dialectic works which gave priority to certain subjects over others. Some had a preference for the church, and so afforded more space to discussions of scripture. Others concentrated on fine arts and others still on arithmetic. The only alternatives were English-language encyclopaedias. While comprehensive, these texts included fewer entries concerning Æsguard itself and were only useful to English-speakers. At the time only around half of the country spoke English fluently. The creation of the Annals cannot, therefore, be understated in a pre-internet Æsguard.
Source material included (and still includes) a combination of external essays and specially-written entries. The latter are requested by the editor-in-chief from a number of prominent academics or experts in the relevant fields. These contributions are compiled alongside the external sources by the editorial team to create the final product. The first editor of the Annals was William Macfarquar, the famous Æsir polymath who also wrote a number of the first edition's entries. His philosophy, which shaped the production of the first Annals, derived from the classical approach to knowledge. In order to think more deeply about the world, Macfarquar thought, it was necessary to know as much as possible. Although this approach was appreciated by contemporary academics, the majority of the Annal's initial readership subscribed to it because it allowed them to acquire more knowledge relevant to their pre-ordained tasks, improving their competence in these jobs. Despite the deviation in philosophical approaches between Macfarquar and the ordinary Æsir, both agreed that the straightforward and factual prose style of the Annals endeared the compendium to all.
It is worth noting that the alphabetical structure of the Annals and its use of prose was relatively new to Æsguard when the first edition was published in 1901. Prior to the Annals, Æsir were forced to rely upon dialectic works which gave priority to certain subjects over others. Some had a preference for the church, and so afforded more space to discussions of scripture. Others concentrated on fine arts and others still on arithmetic. The only alternatives were English-language encyclopaedias. While comprehensive, these texts included fewer entries concerning Æsguard itself and were only useful to English-speakers. At the time only around half of the country spoke English fluently. The creation of the Annals cannot, therefore, be understated in a pre-internet Æsguard.
