SAVAGE
CITY
Sophia McDougall, Gollancz, 2011, £12.99, pb, 424pp, 9780575094888
In this alternative history,
Rome has never fallen, and is still a major player on the world stage in the 21st century. But there is trouble both internally
and externally. The Nionian Empire
(=Japan) is slowly advancing, and may be about to win the arms race. In Rome, the Colosseum has just been bombed
by a terrorist, killing the current emperor outright, and gravely wounding his
heir. The future of the Roman Empire
ultimately rests with a brother and sister from Britannia, but can they and
their supporters survive in a hostile Empire?
This is the third volume in the
Romanitas triology, and I haven't read the other two volumes. For the most
part, this was not a barrier to enjoying the story. This is a well imagined, bedded in,
alternative world, and felt very plausible throughout. There are changes in the technology, but it
was easy to work out what they approximate to in our world. In addition, there
are maps showing the Romanitas world, plus very useful chronologies detailing
the alternative time line.
The book is epic in scale, with
the interior life of the many characters very well realised. It is a triumphant
conclusion to the series. McDougall is one to watch.
(This review appeared in Historical Novels Review, November 2011, pages 56-57)
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