Fortune's Stroke

May 29, 2000
This exuberant romp of an alternate-history novel is the fourth volume of a series (Destiny's Shield, etc.) in which two contending super-beings from the far future try to determine humanity's fate through changing the 6th century A.D. The villain, Link, uses the Indian Malwa Empire as his tool; the benefactor, Aide, chooses the Byzantine Empire and particularly the famous Count Belisarius, its most formidable general. Belisarius's formidable wife, Antonina, plays matchmaker for the emperor of Ethiopia, thus giving the forces of good a fighting navy in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. The delightful diplomatic noblewoman Irene Macrembolitissa also plays matchmaker, securing the marriage of the Maratha leader Ragunath Rao to his beloved Princess Shakuntala (a South Asian Princess Leia figure). Finally, Belisarius himself brings the Malwans' invasion of Persia to an end. However, Link has managed to find another human host and is as ruthless as ever, while Aide has developed a raunchy sense of humor from too much association with biological humans. Readers shouldn't take all this too seriously (and those new to the series would do well to read the earlier volumes before tackling this one), but should sit back and chortle while admiring the authors' alternate-technological ingenuity.

June 15, 2000
In an alternate version of the sixth century, Roman general Belisarius, with the assistance of Aide-a sentient crystal from the future-leads his armies against the powerful Malwa Empire of India and its ally, the evil entity known as Link. Continuing their sprawling story of history as it never was, coauthors Flint and Drake (Destiny's Shield) display their shared passion for a cast of memorable male and female characters, this imaginative saga should appeal to fans of alternative history. A good choice for most sf collections.

May 15, 2000
Flint gets top billing for the fourth volume of his collaboration with Drake, an alternate-world saga centered on the sixth-century Byzantine soldier Count Belisarius. Advised by Aide, the crystal from the future, Belisarius continues to improve sixth-century tactics and technology to defeat the evil Malwan Empire, based in India and possessed of its own future-advisor, in its efforts to obtain Persia as a base for striking at the Byzantine Empire. Both sides seek allies. The Byzantine Romans are notably more successful, thanks, at least in part, to Belisarius' wife, Antonina, the head of a cast of formidable females that agreeably seasons the martial action and high body count. If one accepts the series' fantastic premises, enjoyment is ensured, and Flint and Drake's expertise and exuberance in exploiting times, cultures, and peoples largely unexplored by other alternate historians are admirable. The book smacks enticingly of Flint's fine time-travel yarn 1632 as it carries on an intelligent romp for military sf lovers. ((Reviewed May 15, 2000))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)