39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grand SF Strategy on an Earthly Plane, April 27, 2000
This review is from: In the Heart of Darkness (Belisarius) (Mass Market Paperback)
This series is, to my mind the best stuff Flint and Drake have done so far. It is fun to watch generals, armies and empires rise in fantasy lands, but I get a little more joy in seeing it happen on earth, in "real" terrain. The authors here have moved a little bit away from just the tactical, blood and guts of war (although there is PLENTY of that) and have tried to look at the grand strategy and the operational level of war, in a geographic and historical environment that we all know. This is a bold move, and I think I see where the series is headed (the term "oblique approach" is a real clue) and am very intrigued and excited. There are those who say, "It is just another general backed by a computer," and this is true, perhaps, but THIS general is opposed by an equal if not greater force, complete with its own "computer" and to win he will have to use grand strategy and operational art.
Those readers out for blood and guts will get it in this book, but the authors are really trying to do something a little bit more cognitive here and to my mind, it works. I have been a paratrooper sergeant, an Army Ranger, a infantry company commander, a battalion commander, a West Point Psychology Professor and a Professor of Military Science. I was one of the co-founders of the US Army's "Maneuver Warfare Symposium," with chapters in "Maneuver Warfare: An Anthology," and I am the author of "On Killing," a standard textbook used at West Point and in "peace studies" programs in many universities. From my own, strictly personal perspective, I think this series is the best stuff out there for the thinking fan of military SF.
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Next Step, April 7, 2008
This review is from: In the Heart of Darkness (Belisarius) (Mass Market Paperback)
In the Heart of Darkness (1998) is the second SF alternate history novel of the Belisarius series, following
An Oblique Approach. In the previous volume, Belisarius came to India to gather intelligence. He convinced Lord Venandakatra -- the Vile One -- that he was ready to work for the Malwa against Justinian, if only they would meet his price.
Belisarius also contrived to free Shakuntala, the only survivor of the Satavahana dynasty. He shared rumors with Venandakatra about the depravity of the Kushans and Venandakatra replaced her guards with Mahaveda priests and mahamimamsa torturers. Three nights later, Raghunath Rao entered the palace, slaughtered the Malwa guards, hid the princess, and led the responding troops on a merry chase.
In this novel, Belisarius is allowed to observe the siege of Ranapur from a distance, but the Rajput guards are under orders to restrict the viewing times and the viewpoint. Then Lord Harsha decrees that the siege will end on a certain date and Belisarius is taken to the Imperial Pavilion on the eastern side of the city to observe the assault.
Belisarius has already learned that the city seems to have a large amount of gunpowder, but no cannon. Now he learns that the defenders include a number of miners. He considers the possibilities and decides to inform the Malwa that the attack probably will cross tunnels packed with explosives.
First he commands his men to dismount and tells Rana Sanga -- the Rajput escort commander -- to dismount his own troops. Then the world disappears in a white flash and things start to impact his vicinity. When he crawls out from under his shield, Belisarius notices bodies, parts of bodies, and parts of parts of bodies all around him, along with various other objects.
The Ranapur defenders pour over of the destroyed walls and push their way through the dazed attackers toward the Imperial Pavilion. Belisarius shows Rana Sanga the counterattack and the Rajputs hurry toward the pavilion to protect the Malwa emperor. But Belisarius and his three bucellarii approach the befuddled survivors and direct their attention to the attacking forces.
In this story, Antonina is pretending to sell out to the Malwa agents in Constantinople. She is also priming Procopius to describe her activities as lusty and lewd. Balban -- the Malwa spymaster in Constantinople -- is certain that Antonina is coming along nicely.
Meanwhile, Irene starts working as the spymaster for Theodora, although she remains on Sittas's payroll. Antonina persuades Theodora to fund John of Rhodes in his efforts to develop gunpowder weapons. And Michael of Macedonia starts recruiting Syrian peasants to use the weapons produced by John.
This story introduces Belisarius to the Malwa emperor and takes him to the Malwa capital, where he meets Link, the penultimate enemy. Aide is still learning the limitations of his allies in this timeframe and sometimes becomes impatient with Belisarius. Yet Aide does furnish him with some concepts that might be adapted to the current technology.
This volume is obviously only a small advance in the series, but it is filled with incidents, actions and stratagems. It occupied this reviewer's attention from start to finish. Enjoy!
Highly recommended for Drake & Flint fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of alternate history, military tactics, and epic drama.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The saga continues..., April 29, 2001
This review is from: In the Heart of Darkness (Belisarius) (Mass Market Paperback)
For those of you who have not read AN OBLIQUE APPROACH, I suggest you do so before reading this book. It may not be strictly necessary, but it will make the series more enjoyable for you. For followers of the series, this is a strong follow-up to the first book. Depending more on individual action than intricate battle-plans, it makes a refreshing change of pace that is still absorbing.
In this second installment of the Belisarius series, Our Hero has rescued the Empress Shakuntala and finally meets his ultimate enemy face-to-face. Link, the supercomputer from the future, lives in the body of one of the Malwa royalty. Unable to hide his true intentions from the mind-reading machine, Belisarius is forced to flee India. His African, Roman, and Indian friends split up to help confuse pursuit, and much of the book is taken up with their various escapades.
On the home front, Antonina and Theodora are dealing with treachery and treason as Malwa and Romans ally to overthrow the Emperor. Antonina has not been a sluggard while her husband was away; she is the leader of the newly formed cohort of grenadiers. Rioting in the streets, attempted assassinations, and the best efforts of the Malwa empire are no match for Belisarius and his wife, but tragedy does strike the Emperor Justinian in the end.
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