"Quest" is a science fiction novelette by American writer Poul Anderson, about the consequences of an extraterrestrial scoutship landing in Medieval England. It is a sequel to Anderson's 1960 novel The High Crusade. Poul Anderson described the original as "one of the most popular things I've ever done, going through many book editions in several languages."^[1] "Quest", originally appeared in Ares magazine^[2] in the same issue that saw the original publication of The High Crusade wargame.^[3] The novelette was included in two collections of Anderson's short work, Space Folk and Going for Infinity, before being added to the Baen Books fiftieth anniversary edition of The High Crusade.^[4]

Plot summary

In 1375, in the English capital of Troynovaunt (on the conquered Wersgor planet), King Roger is recruiting a military force to seek out the Holy Grail. King Roger formulates a plan that with the mustered ship, which they come to call the Bonaventura, he can take the small army to the planet where the Holy Grail is held. The small army, with all of their belongings, board the ship at the king's instruction, and prepare to take off.

Characters

• King Roger: Roger, the king of England is fictional. He was known as Baron de Tourneville in The High Crusade. His wife is Lady Catherine.
• Lady Catherine
• Brother Parvus, the narrator of Quest
• Sir Owain Montbelle
• Red John Hameward, a soldier under king Roger
• Sir Brian Fitz-William, a knight under king Roger
• Alfred Edgarson, a soldier under king Roger
• Thomas Bullard, a soldier under king Roger
• Branithar
• Chief ("Grath") Huruga
• Hubert the executioner
• Tertiary Eggmaster of the Northwest Hive, aka "Ethelbert"