The first book of the Videssos Cycle.  The premise behind this book is that a group of Roman soldiers, from the time of Julius Caesar, are transported to a fantasy realm, where they have to try and find a place for themselves.  The way Turtledove brings about these events is rubbish, to be blunt.  A Roman tribune and a Gaul chieftain both happen to have magical swords crafted by rival Druids, and when these swords clash there's a flash of light and suddenly the Romans and the Gaul are somewhere else.  There is little or no explanation of why these swords should do this or why a Roman tribune would have a Druid sword in the first place.  However, once that contrived nonsense is out of the way, things pick up rapidly.  I really enjoyed reading about how the displaced soldiers bring the ideas and tactics of Rome to the fantasy Empire of Videssos, which in itself is a very well-realised creation.  I also enjoyed the unusual ending in which the outnumbered heroes have to make the best of a defeat (rather than overcome overwhelming odds as happens in most other fantasy) and I enjoyed reading the scene of the fighting withdrawl.  Aside from the daft beginning, one other thing brings the quality of this book down; the character of Viridovix.  I simply found him to be a constant irritant, with his little pearls of barbarian wisdom, and the sudden dissipation of animosity between him and the Romans is just too hard to credit.

4 out of 5

'The sun of northern Gaul was pale, nothing like the hot, lusty torch that flamed over Italy.'

Then I can easily see you liking George R. R. Martin.

FSFH Book Review - Fantasy - Science Fiction - Horror - Book Review - Hardback - Paperback - Comics TPB - Anthologies - Star Wars - Book Review - FSFH Book Review - Fantasy - Science Fiction - Horror - Book Review - Hardback - Paperback - Comics TPB - Anthologies - Star Wars - Book Review - FSFH Book Review - Fantasy - Science Fiction - Horror - Book Review - Hardback - Paperback - Comics TPB - Anthologies - Star Wars - Book Review