11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars is Not Enough, August 29, 2000
This review is from: The Legion of Videssos (Videssos Cycle, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
Harry Turtledove has said that his life was shaped and molded by reading "Lest Darkness Fall" by L. Sprague De Camp. To my mind this first series by the master of alternate history is a time travel book based loosely upon that previous classic. Elements of one of Caesar's legions are transported forward in time to the Byzantine Empire. Only it's not the Byzantine Empire, it's the Videssos Empire in another universe where magic works. Aside from that, it's the Byzantine Empire written by a Byzantine historian. Aside from just surviving, the hero must prevent his new homeland from being overrun by barbarians "Lest Darkness Fall". For this reason I consider this the best time travel series to a fictitious universe ever written, as well as the best series about a Roman Legion. It is a must read for anyone interested in the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, or time travel.
One of the many things which make this series interesting is that the heroes are from Caesar's Rome. Rome is young energetic vibrant and, most of all, expanding at this time. They are transported to the Byzantine/Videssos Empire while it is in a period of decline. (If it were the real Byzantine Empire, it would be the final decline, but we can still hope for a revival of the Videssos Empire.) The decadence brought by a thousand years of Empire is sharply contrasted with the vibrant patriotism of our heroes who remain unknowing that this is the destiny of their empire too.
This isn't just a military book where the legion moves from battle to battle. This is a much more realistic and complete world where the hero is thrust into the middle of court politics, and has to fight to overcome the shear inertia of the Empire's slide towards collapse. The hero spends more time facing corruption, political intrigue, distrustful monarchs, intolerant monks, and tax collectors than he does facing mounted cavalry units.
I don't want to repeat the excellent review about the warfare in this series written by Robert, 12 MAR 99, under "The Misplaced Legion" (Videssos Cycle, Book 1). I would like to add though, that this is not a series about a general. This is not a David Drake/S.M. Sterling series about Belisarius. As Robert points out, the hero of this series stands in the middle of the battles, and seldom knows more of what's going on than immediately to his left and right. The battles themselves are mostly standup fights where two sides hack at each other. This is really much more realistic though. Most battles, especially in the Roman era, were fought this way. Even though nowadays it seems like every book we read is about Belisarius, brilliant generals with innovative battlefield ideas come along only once in a thousand years or so. Most battles are fought without them.
"The Misplaced Legion" (Videssos Cycle, Book 1) is followed by "An Emperor for the Legion" (The Videssos Cycle Book, 2), "The Legion of Videssos" (Videssos Cycle, Book 3), and "Swords of the Legion" (Videssos Cycle, Book 4). There are two prequel series about Videssos. The first is the Tale of Krispos series, beginning with "Krispos Rising." This is actually a two book story, which is excellent, and a third follow on novel which is very good. The other prequel, The Time of Troubles series, begins with "The Stolen Throne". This series is entertaining, but not really as good as the first two series.
Although there are ten other books about Videssos, there can never be enough. And there are only four books about the Misplaced Legion. There needs to be a sequel series not another prequel. Perhaps "Legion of Videssos: Next Generation" where Marcus's son, born and raised in Videssos, can become Emperor, with Dad and his Legion helping out of course. This could lead to a new golden age for Videssos, and maybe even . . .
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The legion stands firms as Videssos crumbles., February 18, 1997
By A Customer
This review is from: The Legion of Videssos (Videssos Cycle, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
In this book (the biggest), many things happen. A powerful general/noble rebels. The mercenaries who defeat him rebel. The legion is caught, and is trapped in the hills teaching guerilla warfare as the nomads forge further eastward, the mercenaries declare their land a new country, and their countrymen land in the north and the west. An embassy duels with a rival embassy to hire mercenaries, a powerful new nomad clan forms on the plains, and the central character forms a "relationship" with the Emperor's niece. Turtledove sees deep in the politics of his world as the Romans try to keep Videssos alive
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1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
much more satisfying than the previous two books, June 2, 2005
This review is from: The Legion of Videssos (Videssos Cycle, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
"The Legion of Videssos" is the third book in the four volume Videssos Cycle. The original premise of the series takes a Roman Legion and magically transported the Legion, plus a Celt, into a completely alien world and into the Empire of Videssos. While the world is populated by humans, it is also a world in which magic truly works. This third book has taken the leader of the Legion, Marcus Scaurus and into the employ of the Empire as a mercenary captain. His legionnaires are accepted as some of the finest warriors around and the Roman tactics are new to Videssos. After installing Thorisin Gavras on the throne of Videssos at the end of "An Emperor for the Legion", and spending a winter sorting out the Empire's tax laws, Marcus Scaurus is sent back out into the field.
The Count Drax was once a mercenary leader just like Marcus, but when Drax found himself on the edge of the Empire having won battles for Videssos, Drax found himself in command of a goodly large chunk of the Empire. Rather than hold his position as a captain, Drax founded his own kingdom. Marcus and the Legion is on the march to capture Drax and reclaim that land for Videssos. Meanwhile, the Celt Viridovix the Celt and Gorgidas the Greek physician have left Marcus' service and are now on their own finding a new way on this strange planet. While Marcus is focused on Drax, he knows and Thorisin Gavras knows that their true enemy is the wizard Avshar, evil leader of a band of Yezda nomads.
For those readers who know of the history of the Byzantium Empire, the Videssos Cycle echoes some (or much) of that history. Videssos, I understand, is this world's Byzantium. Readers with this sort of background will likely get a much deeper reading of this series. I do not know how much actual history fits in with these fictional stories or what that history may be, so I can only enjoy the books on its own terms as it tells a story. Out of the first three books of the Videssos Cycle, "The Legion of Videssos" is the best. It focuses more on Marcus than on the overall Legion, which is a strength. It also alternates sections and sometimes chapters between Marcus, Viridovis, and Gorgidas. The characterization of these men are much stronger here than in the first two books. While it would help to have read books one and two, I do recommend this book (and series) to any who find the idea of this book interesting. I have found that it is worth the time to make it this far in the series and "The Legion of Videssos" has left me more satisfied than the other two books.
-Joe Sherry
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