The Legion of Videssos

Videssos #3

by Harry Turtledove

Videssos was not like Marcus Scarus’ native Rome. But he found politics and intrigue the same—deadly!

Book Three of The Videssos Cycle

Since the Roman legion had been mysteriously transported to this world of magic, tribune Marcus Scaurus had served the rulers of war-torn Videssos well. He had been largely responsible for ousting the Pretender and putting Thorish Gavras on the throne. That, of course, made him a hero.

Rome or Videssos, however, Fortune was a fickle goddess.

Now he and the legion were returning in triumph to Videssos the city after defeating a well-entrenched army of rebel mercenaries. But Marcus, betrayed by the one closest to him, was returning to be seized, dragged before the Emperor, and questioned under truth-drug like a traitor.

Of the court, only Alypia Gavra stuck by him—but consorting with the Emperor's niece was dangerous. It could lead to exile—or death!

Yet Alypia was attractive. And Marcus was lonely . . .

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Alternate History, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, War

413 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Dr Harry Norman Turtledove is an American novelist, who has produced a sizeable number of works in several genres including alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction.

Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.

Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original scenarios: such as survival of the Byzantine Empire; an alien invasion in the middle of the World War II; and for giving a fresh and original treatment to themes previously dealt with by other authors, such as the victory of the South in the American Civil War; and of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

His novels have been credited with bringing alternate history into the mainstream. His style of alternate history has a strong military theme.

Reviews

[Raffaello · Rating 2 out of 5]

4 in pagella per questo terzo capitolo del ciclo di Videssos. Turtledove sembra incapace di proporre qualcosa di nuovo, figuriamoci sfruttare appieno il potenziale dell'idea che ha avuto. Oltre che ripetitivo pare pure poco ispirato. I personaggi sembrano controfigure di quelli originali, non c'è una conversazione degna di essere paragonata con quelle dei libri precedenti; le battaglie - le poche che ci sono - sono gestite in maniera deludente...più in generale ogni scena manca di brillantezza.

A corredo di quanto detto aggiungo che i due libri precedenti erano decisamente più contenuti per numero di pagine e, pur non brillando come fulgide stelle nel panorama fantasy mondiale, erano più che godibili. Non ho nulla contro libri sostanziosi (ne ho letti da perdere il conto), ma in questo caso le 100 pagine in più non si giustificano. L'autore non fa altro che menare il can per l'aia per la gran parte del tempo e io non vedevo l'ora di chiudere al più presto il volume.
Ora tutto si interrompe in media res...il volume conclusivo è d'obbligo e speriamo che risollevi le sorti della nostra bistrattata Legione.

[Al "Tank" · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book of Harry Turtledove's Videssos Cycle - the story of Marcus Scaurus and his misplaced Roman legion.

This book relates the stories of Marcus through and after a successful war in the west lands along with a separate story of the Legion's Greek physician, Gorgidas and their huge fellow-misplace Celt, Viridovix (on the run from one of his doxies) sent to the far north on another, diplomatic, mission.

This story has the master's touch that Turtledove is famous for. I usually read to relax before bedtime and I was late to bed many nights while enjoying this story.

[Karl Stark di Grande Inverno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Come allungare il "brodo"... alla cattedra, il Sig. Turtledove.
Ho fatto molta fatica a terminare di leggere questo terzo volume del Ciclo di Videssos, in parte per la noiosità delle vicende narrate, ed in parte perchè mancano i bei dialoghi ed i fitti rapporti interpersonali, finora i pilastri di questa saga.
Cinquecento pagine di una scialba guerriglia della legione contro i Namdaleni, unita al prolisso vagabondare senza meta di Viridovix e Gorgidas, per finire con Marcus che si fa beffare da completo inetto.
Non è completamente da dimenticare, però sarebbe ora che "i buoni" cominciassero a prendere a bastonate gli Yezda, invece che farlo tra di loro.
L'unico obiettivo raggiunto è stato quello di farmi odiare definitivamente il popolo dei Namdaleni, che passano dagli uomini fieri e pieni di dignità descritti nel primo volume, ad un branco di zingari privi di qualsiasi codice morale, pronti a cambiare bandiera con la rapidità di un battito d'ali.

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like the "displaced person in another world" stories then this is the series for you. Now we get an entire legion of roman soldiers, oh and one crazed Celt, on another world. Throw in that magic works there and you have a fantastic story and some awesome characters. Turtledove is one of my top 5 favorite writers. My highest recommendation.

[Brentman99 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this series was extremely well done. Turtledove typically has very strong characters and by keeping many of them around through the entire series, we learn much about them. I really enjoyed it.

[Cesare Bartolini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questo libro continua la narrazione delle vicende di Saurus e del suo gruppo nel mondo di Videssos. Nel farlo, questo libro racconta non una ma due storie separate, perché da una parte Scaurus, dall'altra Gorgidas e Viridovix hanno preso strade diverse, e le trame vengono narrate in capitoli alternati.

Proseguendo nella lettura di questa saga, ritengo che la qualità stia salendo.

Il maggior merito della narrazione continua a risiedere nel profilo storico, che è estremamente elaborato e continua a il raffronto tra il mondo della Roma repubblicana da cui proviene il protagonista e quello derivato dalla Roma imperiale dove si trova a vivere, ma proseguendo nella saga si vece una maggior attenzione alla personalità dei personaggi, che cominciano ad essere non dei nomi sulla carta, come farebbe un cronista storico, ma delle figure viventi.

Anche sotto il profilo dell'intensità della storia percepisco un miglioramento, poiché in questo libro diventa più avvincente, con una pluralità di eventi che innalzano la tensione del lettore.

Pur con una partenza lenta, ritengo che questo autore abbia trovato la giusta dimensione di questa saga.

[TammyJo Eckhart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm thrilled that the view point characters have primarily narrowed down to four in this book; the bulk of the text is focused on Scarus, Viridovix, and Gorgidas. I won't spoil things by saying who the fourth is for a while. There are a couple of extra viewpoint sections throughout the book, but honestly I found them unimportant. However, there is a huge split between the characters less than a third into the book that is never repaired. To be blunt, I didn't care about what two of the three characters were doing by the end of the book. Thank god I was only gifted one more to read and then I can finish with this series.

[Helle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of action, and faster pace than #2, which I liked considerably less. The Legion of Vodessos is split in two storylines, which works for me, possibly because it is easier to keep track of the many characters. Markus is a bit weak in the second half, but the developments of Gorgidas and Viridovix more than make up for it. I am now curious again to see how the adventures of the legionaries will continue.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I choose this cycle to take a break from reading poetry. I like Turtledove but I think I could have chosen better. Still, with book 3, his world becomes more familiar, and I warm to the exploits. The author does a wonderful job of weaving characters and places into his detailed story. Nevertheless, I am not fully immersed in the reading as I would like to be.

[Ronald Spitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story continues. This one has adventure, drama, military tactics and operations, great friends, great enemies, Byzantine plots, plus love and betrayal. This book does manage to stand by itself, but you should read the other two that come before first. Recommended.

[Leelan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way too long since I read this series. Maybe twenty to twenty-five years ago. I have old sales receipts that old that apparently served as bookmarks.

[Massimo Penazzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terzo romanzo della tetralogia della "Legione Perduta". Turtledove non delude le attese.

[David Hall]

The next volume in this mostly-interesting series is a bit of a mixed bag. A lot of the basic politics and challenges that the main protagonist (Marcus Scaurus, a Roman commander caught with his legion in another world) faces are very similar in flavor to the previous book. In some sense, Marcus spends this book spinning his wheels in one way or another, either chasing down allies who turned into bad guys (by rebelling againt the Emperor of Videssos, this world's equivalent of Rome), or sitting in an office job (as penance for letting prisoners escape) - the reasons are different, but he spent a lot of the previous book doing the same things. Still, the story does go someplace, as the wife of his child betrays him (helping those prisoners escape) and this alters his relationship with the Emperor and the Emperor's sister, who Marcus has been greatly attracted to even when paired with the woman who eventually betrayed him.

Other main characters from the Roman contingent get to go do very different things - a group travels to distant lands looking for allies, and ends up getting split, and the characters face different sorts of adversity. In many ways, these events provides a lot more interesting tale than what's going on for Marcus.

Overall, this felt a lot like an extended setup for what is supposed to be more interesting events in the next and final book in the series.... likely mostly necessary, and maybe a lot of the plodding will turn out to be relevant, but the book sort of dragged in places, especially when watching Marcus get dragged through the mud (at times quite literally...)

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The band of Earthlings transported to Videssos has split up. Some are heading north to persuade the Mongols. Sorry. The Arshaum, to join the side of the Empire. The others are off west to squash more rebellion. Time passes.

And the book passes, too. A bit of a filler, this one. Clearly being used to lay the groundwork for the fourth and final volume. Not without its moments, but it is effectively part one of a two parter. See you after book four.

Rated MA for frequent violence, supernatural themes, sex scenes and adult content and a scene of horror. 3/5

[Michael Bracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this series and the idea of a lost Roman unit transported through dimensions. There was a lot of politics to go through but it was an excellent story with plenty of detail for the imagination. I hope that future books build off this series, possibly on the children of the emperor and the Romans. I was a little sad the writer did not sort out what happened to certain family members at the end but again I hope that's a possible tie in for another series to build off of this one to progress the videssos timeline.

[Francesco Grandis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dal primo libro della serie è una lenta discesa. Vicende sempre più noiose, azione sempre più lenta. Personaggi sempre più numerosi e faticosi da ricordare.
Il primo mi era piaciuto, il secondo era brodo allungato, questo terzo l'ho abbandonato dopo 100 pagine.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series, which has really kept my interest the whole time so far. The characters are interesting and the story fun to read.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

[Timothy Gretler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for the rousing conclusion, Marcus is gonna bring it!

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable series

[Scott Gardner · Rating 2 out of 5]

started to drag a bit with this one