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  • (ReacTor) Five Thinly Veiled Versions of Rome in SF

    From James Nicoll@3:633/280.2 to All on Tue Nov 12 04:10:44 2024
    Five Thinly Veiled Versions of Rome in SF

    For some science fiction authors, all roads really do lead to Rome.

    https://reactormag.com/five-thinly-veiled-versions-of-rome-in-sf/
    --
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  • From William Hyde@3:633/280.2 to All on Tue Nov 12 07:00:48 2024
    James Nicoll wrote:
    Five Thinly Veiled Versions of Rome in SF

    For some science fiction authors, all roads really do lead to Rome.

    https://reactormag.com/five-thinly-veiled-versions-of-rome-in-sf/

    Not just in science fiction. Gondor and Arnor are clearly drawn in
    large part from the Eastern and Western Roman Empire.

    And Harry Turtledove wrote at least two Byzantine-inspired series that I
    can think of.

    I can't at the moment think of where Asimov used Thucydides. Perhaps he
    just needed him for the rhyme.

    Then there's the explicit use of Rome in DeCamp's "Lest Darkness Fall".
    It was amusing to read Gibbon and think of these Goths as pictured in
    DeCamp's novel. Entirely not to my surprise, LSDC knew his stuff.

    It is remarkable how many of these feature late Rome, and not the Rome
    of the Republic.

    Well, Alan Yates did write an sf novel "Coriolanus, the Chariot", but
    IIRC that had nothing to do with Rome.


    William Hyde

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    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (3:633/280.2@fidonet)
  • From William Hyde@3:633/280.2 to All on Tue Nov 12 15:43:32 2024
    Ted Nolan <tednolan> wrote:
    In article <vgtnq0$15a52$1@dont-email.me>,
    William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> wrote:
    James Nicoll wrote:
    Five Thinly Veiled Versions of Rome in SF

    For some science fiction authors, all roads really do lead to Rome.

    https://reactormag.com/five-thinly-veiled-versions-of-rome-in-sf/

    Not just in science fiction. Gondor and Arnor are clearly drawn in
    large part from the Eastern and Western Roman Empire.

    And Harry Turtledove wrote at least two Byzantine-inspired series that I
    can think of.

    I can't at the moment think of where Asimov used Thucydides. Perhaps he
    just needed him for the rhyme.

    Then there's the explicit use of Rome in DeCamp's "Lest Darkness Fall".
    It was amusing to read Gibbon and think of these Goths as pictured in
    DeCamp's novel. Entirely not to my surprise, LSDC knew his stuff.

    It is remarkable how many of these feature late Rome, and not the Rome
    of the Republic.

    Well, Alan Yates did write an sf novel "Coriolanus, the Chariot", but
    IIRC that had nothing to do with Rome.


    William Hyde

    The Turtledove was Videssos.

    But Videssos is a one-to-one mapping of Byzantium.

    William Hyde




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    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (3:633/280.2@fidonet)
  • From Lynn McGuire@3:633/280.2 to All on Tue Nov 12 16:37:25 2024
    On 11/11/2024 11:10 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
    Five Thinly Veiled Versions of Rome in SF

    For some science fiction authors, all roads really do lead to Rome.

    https://reactormag.com/five-thinly-veiled-versions-of-rome-in-sf/

    Wow ! Four for five for me. The Asimov, the Anderson, the Drake, and
    the Thomas.

    Lynn




    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.8.4 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (3:633/280.2@fidonet)
  • From Jay E. Morris@3:633/280.2 to All on Wed Nov 13 01:30:08 2024
    On 11/11/2024 11:37 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 11/11/2024 11:10 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
    Five Thinly Veiled Versions of Rome in SF

    For some science fiction authors, all roads really do lead to Rome.

    https://reactormag.com/five-thinly-veiled-versions-of-rome-in-sf/

    Wow !ÿ Four for five for me.ÿ The Asimov, the Anderson, the Drake, and
    the Thomas.

    Lynn




    I think the same, although the Thomas is very vague.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.8.4 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: very little if any (3:633/280.2@fidonet)
  • From Lynn McGuire@3:633/280.2 to All on Wed Nov 13 07:45:37 2024
    On 11/12/2024 8:30 AM, Jay E. Morris wrote:
    On 11/11/2024 11:37 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 11/11/2024 11:10 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
    Five Thinly Veiled Versions of Rome in SF

    For some science fiction authors, all roads really do lead to Rome.

    https://reactormag.com/five-thinly-veiled-versions-of-rome-in-sf/

    Wow !ÿ Four for five for me.ÿ The Asimov, the Anderson, the Drake, and
    the Thomas.

    Lynn




    I think the same, although the Thomas is very vague.

    I just saw it the other day when I was looking through the boxed books
    in my garage.

    Lynn


    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.8.4 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (3:633/280.2@fidonet)
  • From Lynn McGuire@3:633/280.2 to All on Wed Nov 13 07:46:15 2024
    On 11/12/2024 8:30 AM, Jay E. Morris wrote:
    On 11/11/2024 11:37 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 11/11/2024 11:10 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
    Five Thinly Veiled Versions of Rome in SF

    For some science fiction authors, all roads really do lead to Rome.

    https://reactormag.com/five-thinly-veiled-versions-of-rome-in-sf/

    Wow !ÿ Four for five for me.ÿ The Asimov, the Anderson, the Drake, and
    the Thomas.

    Lynn




    I think the same, although the Thomas is very vague.

    I just saw it the other day when I was looking through the boxed books
    in my garage.

    Lynn


    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.8.4 (Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (3:633/280.2@fidonet)