Book review: the 'modern Rome' edition
Jun. 14th, 2008 10:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hawkwing_lbBooks 2008: 79
79. Sophia McDougall, Romanitas
The conceit of a Roman empire that has lasted through to the modern era and covers, with the exception of China and Japan, most of the planet, is one which does not survive serious scrutiny.
So forget about that. This is a book made of win. And I'm not just saying that because I'm an ancient history geek. The Roman element is very Roman, without ever losing the sense of technological but not social progress.
The main characters are Una and Sulien, escaped slaves from Britain, and Marcus Novius Faustus, a member of the imperial family, whose parents (his father was the heir apparent) were murdered because they supported the abolition of slavery. On the run, Una and Sulien encounter Marcus, also on the run from the same people who killed his parents and want him dead. Much of interest ensues.
The prose is very smooth, with the exception of a couple of head-hopping moments. It is a very well-done book, a bit more literary than spec in its sensibilities, and much more concerned with the internal world of the characters, Una, Sulien, Marcus, and the other viewpoint character, Varius, than with what I'm going to go out on a limb and call 'Rome pr0n' - legions, gladiators, that kind of thing.
I found it convincing, compelling, and fascinatingly interesting.
79. Sophia McDougall, Romanitas
The conceit of a Roman empire that has lasted through to the modern era and covers, with the exception of China and Japan, most of the planet, is one which does not survive serious scrutiny.
So forget about that. This is a book made of win. And I'm not just saying that because I'm an ancient history geek. The Roman element is very Roman, without ever losing the sense of technological but not social progress.
The main characters are Una and Sulien, escaped slaves from Britain, and Marcus Novius Faustus, a member of the imperial family, whose parents (his father was the heir apparent) were murdered because they supported the abolition of slavery. On the run, Una and Sulien encounter Marcus, also on the run from the same people who killed his parents and want him dead. Much of interest ensues.
The prose is very smooth, with the exception of a couple of head-hopping moments. It is a very well-done book, a bit more literary than spec in its sensibilities, and much more concerned with the internal world of the characters, Una, Sulien, Marcus, and the other viewpoint character, Varius, than with what I'm going to go out on a limb and call 'Rome pr0n' - legions, gladiators, that kind of thing.
I found it convincing, compelling, and fascinatingly interesting.
