Cry Republic (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Fascinatingly different...Vividly presented...First rate. -- Science Fiction Review

Stimulating, exciting, fascinating 'what if'... -- Anne McCaffrey

Product Description

Two thousand years after Pilate pardoned Jesus, Rome rules the world with nuclear might. But when Caesar Germanicus seeks to transform the empire into a republic, his legions rise up against him.

• 3rd reissue in Kirk Mitchell's fascinating alternate history trilogy

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Ace (December 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441123899
• ISBN-13: 978-0441123896
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,055,598 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Liberty or death!, December 12, 2000

By	Jeph Gord (Venice, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This fine adventure story wraps up Kirk Mitchell's "Procurator" trilogy. The first book ("Procurator") introduced Germanicus Agricola, military governor of Anatolia, serving in the name of a Roman Empire that never fell. In the next book, Germanicus travelled to the New World, to make war with the bellicose Aztec Empire, and their enigmatic Chinese allies. Throughout his career, however, Germanicus had only one goal: the dismantling of the Empire, and the ultimate restoration of the legendary Republic.

Alas, the tradition-minded Empire has little room for idealists. Germanicus, his plot detected before it can reach fruition, is forced to flee East in fear for his life. Meanwhile, a cruel usurper seizes the Roman throne, determined to profit from the chaos. A bloodthirsty and paranoid tyrant, he ruthlessly goes about the task of eliminating his rivals. His main target, inevitably, is Germanicus...

Germanicus himself makes his way to Anatolia, in the desperate hope of finding allies, or, more probably, a peaceful death. He finds more than he could have expected, however. For in the East, away from the pagan heartland of the Empire, monotheism has survived through the milennia. And now, both the Jews of Palestine and the Muslim-like Anatolians see something special in this _pasa_ from the West, something which may forever change the course of events, both temporal and spiritual.

This book, like the previous ones, provides a satisfying mixture of alternate history and theological fantasy. The timeline is not particularly plausible (the Imperial structure has apparently survived almost completely unchanged for two thousand years), but the static and conservative empire, straining on the brink of a major technological revolution, makes a fascinating setting.

An excellent concluding book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rome finally begins to Crumble..., March 13, 2003

By	DJK ver 2.0 "Reader and Movie Buff" (Richardson, TX) - See all my reviews

'Cry Repbulic' concludes the trilogy started by 'Procurator,' in which ancient Rome never fell. Written by Kirk Mitchell, history as we know it was changed when Pontius Pilate spared Jesus Christ from the cross. Without its Martyr, Christianity never rose to take root in the Empire, eventually erroding its strength and causing its crumble.

Germanicus Agricola began the series as a Procurator. Through a failed coup, most of the Imperial family was killed, and the title of Emporer fell to Germanicus. Over the course of adventures in the East and in the New World, Germanicus attempted to solidify his power....only so he could give it all away. His goal, from the beginning of his reign, has been to restore Rome to a Republic.

However, the very individuals that seek to gain the most from this arrangement, the Senators, stand the most firmly in his way. They have grown use to living a privileged lifestyle; the rise of a Republic would make them have to work. They help plot Germanicus' overthrow with Nepos, a high ranking Emporer's aide. Nepos conspires with Claudia, the mother of Germanicus' adopted son, to assassinate Germanicus and assume 'the Purple'--the rank of Emporer.

Germanicus manages to escape with the aide of his most loyal bodyguard, the German Rolf, and another advisor from the Far East, Tora.

The most intriguing part of these novels is to watch the Rome that never fell attempt to weave modern technology into the Empire. For the most part, the Empire has been resistant. Electric power is in its infancy. Gunpowder and firearms are generations behind modern day warfare. The automobile is practically nonexistant. The first airplane of the series is seen in the last novel. The Romans may have been stubborn enough to conquer the known world, but that same stubborness appears to have prevented the world from evolving much.

'Cry Republic,' like its predecessors, is steeped in theological mystery. The mystery of Christ, who appears to have moved onwards towards China after his pardon, is touched on throughout the series. The Jews still make their home in Isreal. Germanicus is somewhat torn between the Roman Gods of his homeland and the intriguing faith he discovers as he flees.

My greatest complaint with this novel, and the series for that matter, is that it is often difficult to determine where things are happening. Mitchell uses a lot of latin names for locations that are not obvious, unless of course you have studied latin. The same problem holds true for some technological innovations. After enough reading, even the casual reader can figure out what is meant. However, this leads to frustration and often a plodding story line.

That being said, this is still an excellent alternative history novel. It gets away from the Civil War and World War II, both favorites of most alternative history authors, and is compelling. I highly recommend this series to alternative history fans, Roman history buff, and those interested in theological fiction.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cry Republic, November 24, 2004

By	J. Allison "Uncle Joe" (Tennessee USA) - See all my reviews

I would like to add my voice to all the others who have reviewed the "Procurator" trilogy, and given it a high rating.
The books are a very satisfying read and despite the complaints of some about Mr. Mitchell's use of ancient names for locations and giving creative Latin names to some objects, I had no difficulty in following the plot. I would also like to say that his story telling skills are every bit as good as Harry Turtledove's and wish he would write in the alternative history genre more.

Now that I've read the last book in the trilogy, "Cry Republic," I'll miss Germanicus, Rolf, and Tora and wonder if they ever reunited and succeeded in establishing the republic. I hope some time in the future Mr. Mitchell will see fit to write another book and tie up all the loose ends he has left in his third book in this series.