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Videssos #1-2
Videssos Cycle, Volume One: The Misplaced Legion / An Emperor for the Legion
Experience one of the most beloved series in fantasy—as could only be imagined by “the standard-bearer for alternate history” (USA Today).
Harry Turtledove’s many New York Times bestsellers provide an intriguing take on history’s most crucial moments, but he honed his speculative talents in a different genre: fantasy. The Videssos Cycle is the perfect fusion of the two. Collected here are the first two novels of Turtledove’s one-of-a-kind saga, in which a Roman legion is transported to a strange realm where magic rules.
THE MISPLACED LEGION
In a duel for survival, the Roman military tribune Marcus Aemilius Scaurus raises his sword, blessed by a Druid priest, against a Celtic chieftain, who brandishes a blade of his own. At the moment the weapons touch, Marcus and his legion find themselves under a strange night sky, full of unfamiliar stars, where Rome and Gaul are unknown. They are in an outpost of the embattled Empire of Videssos—a world that will test their skill and courage as no soldiers have ever been tested before.
AN EMPEROR FOR THE LEGION
In the capital of Videssos, a coward and betrayer has seized the throne. There, behind great walls that have always made the city impregnable to storm or siege, he rules with the aid of dark sorcery. Overthrowing him seems impossible and the imperial army has already fled in panic from the savage victors. But there is no panic in the legion. Now Marcus Scaurus leads his men through the chaos and enemy hordes in search of winter quarters, to regroup and do the unthinkable: take the untakeable city.
Harry Turtledove’s many New York Times bestsellers provide an intriguing take on history’s most crucial moments, but he honed his speculative talents in a different genre: fantasy. The Videssos Cycle is the perfect fusion of the two. Collected here are the first two novels of Turtledove’s one-of-a-kind saga, in which a Roman legion is transported to a strange realm where magic rules.
THE MISPLACED LEGION
In a duel for survival, the Roman military tribune Marcus Aemilius Scaurus raises his sword, blessed by a Druid priest, against a Celtic chieftain, who brandishes a blade of his own. At the moment the weapons touch, Marcus and his legion find themselves under a strange night sky, full of unfamiliar stars, where Rome and Gaul are unknown. They are in an outpost of the embattled Empire of Videssos—a world that will test their skill and courage as no soldiers have ever been tested before.
AN EMPEROR FOR THE LEGION
In the capital of Videssos, a coward and betrayer has seized the throne. There, behind great walls that have always made the city impregnable to storm or siege, he rules with the aid of dark sorcery. Overthrowing him seems impossible and the imperial army has already fled in panic from the savage victors. But there is no panic in the legion. Now Marcus Scaurus leads his men through the chaos and enemy hordes in search of winter quarters, to regroup and do the unthinkable: take the untakeable city.
673 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
148 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
About the author
Harry Turtledove
564 books1,966 followersDr 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 18, 2013
This is an old favourite which I've returned to after many years. Harry Turtledove, of course, is a past master at the alternative history or historical fantasy genres and, while this is one of his early efforts, the Videssos Cycle is one of his best. Set in the Empire of Videssos, an empire which bears more than a passing resemblance to the Byzantine Empire, except with a dualistic religion and effective magic. The plot turns around the commander of a detachment of Romans who magically were transported from Caesar's Gaul to Videssos. The commander, Scaurus, has to navigate the treacherous politics of the Videssian court, fight off various enemies and, finally, confront the wizard/prince who threatens to destroy the Videssians and introduce Skotos, the evil god, into the empire. This volume holds the first two books in the series.
Personally, I find the story gripping and I have more than a soft-spot for Scaurus, a Stoic in Videssos. Turtledove draws his characters convincingly and interestingly. I enjoy the weaving in of Byzantine history, but that is an odd taste, I recognize.
Definitely worth reading!
Personally, I find the story gripping and I have more than a soft-spot for Scaurus, a Stoic in Videssos. Turtledove draws his characters convincingly and interestingly. I enjoy the weaving in of Byzantine history, but that is an odd taste, I recognize.
Definitely worth reading!
July 26, 2016
Slow going
The Videssos Cycle was very slow moving and barely of interest to me. It began with a Roman legion in close combat with Gauls. At the peak of confrontation, the Roman leader is challenged to single combat by the Gallic chieftain. During the duel, as the men's warded swords clashed and locked together ,the men are suddenly transported . Where? To another dimension, a strange but similar feudal land. Oddly, the Roman soldiers are transported , along with the Gallic chief, but not the Gauls.
For the following 300 pages nothing much happens, and it happens slowly. The reader is introduced to to Videssos society, law, lore and customs, not to mention court intrigue. There is a bit of action, but only a bit. The lead characters are flat, and the abundance of newly appearing characters with similar names from a multitude of countries with various alliances hardly fuse one's eyes to the page.
The author had evidently read up on Greek and Roman military history as he often sprinkled the text with Greek and Latin terms. Luckily, since this was a Kindle book, a translation/ definition was readily available. But the attempts to add authenticity were unable to hide the lack of good story telling.
Reading the book, I began to feel as if I was one of the soldiers, plodding through the arid plains and vast deserts of Videssos, waiting for the promised battles. They were good, but it was like having to eat a bowl of kale before you got to the ice cream.
It's a good thing the book was on sale for 99¢. But I wish that I had my buck back.
The Videssos Cycle was very slow moving and barely of interest to me. It began with a Roman legion in close combat with Gauls. At the peak of confrontation, the Roman leader is challenged to single combat by the Gallic chieftain. During the duel, as the men's warded swords clashed and locked together ,the men are suddenly transported . Where? To another dimension, a strange but similar feudal land. Oddly, the Roman soldiers are transported , along with the Gallic chief, but not the Gauls.
For the following 300 pages nothing much happens, and it happens slowly. The reader is introduced to to Videssos society, law, lore and customs, not to mention court intrigue. There is a bit of action, but only a bit. The lead characters are flat, and the abundance of newly appearing characters with similar names from a multitude of countries with various alliances hardly fuse one's eyes to the page.
The author had evidently read up on Greek and Roman military history as he often sprinkled the text with Greek and Latin terms. Luckily, since this was a Kindle book, a translation/ definition was readily available. But the attempts to add authenticity were unable to hide the lack of good story telling.
Reading the book, I began to feel as if I was one of the soldiers, plodding through the arid plains and vast deserts of Videssos, waiting for the promised battles. They were good, but it was like having to eat a bowl of kale before you got to the ice cream.
It's a good thing the book was on sale for 99¢. But I wish that I had my buck back.
August 27, 2016
This volume contains the first two books in a four book series. A Roman legion fighting a Celtic tribe is about to be overrun. Marcus, the Roman Tribune leading the legion is in one-on-one combat with the leader of the Celts. Both have longswords inscribed with magical runes by Druids. When the swords clash, magic transports the legion and Viridovix, the Celtic leader, to a planet far from Earth. Viridovix and Marcus set aside hostilities in the face of this situation. Left with no other choice, the legion agrees to serve as mercenaries for the empire in which they land.
The plot is a blend of very detailed accounts of battles, politics, and romances between the Earth soldiers and local women. I found the portrayal of the military campaigns oppressively long-winded and tiring. The politics and cultural differences were interesting. Characterizations were good, and there was some evolution of characters, though I hesitate to call it growth; just adaptation to new circumstances.
Magic was limited to religion-based powers, both good and evil. There was no magic "system" per se. One reason I read fantasy is to be entertained by magic systems, so I was disappointed in that.
Who would like this book? Mostly readers who enjoy descriptions of military life and combat. I liked it enough that I bought the other volume containing the third and fourth books in the series.
The plot is a blend of very detailed accounts of battles, politics, and romances between the Earth soldiers and local women. I found the portrayal of the military campaigns oppressively long-winded and tiring. The politics and cultural differences were interesting. Characterizations were good, and there was some evolution of characters, though I hesitate to call it growth; just adaptation to new circumstances.
Magic was limited to religion-based powers, both good and evil. There was no magic "system" per se. One reason I read fantasy is to be entertained by magic systems, so I was disappointed in that.
Who would like this book? Mostly readers who enjoy descriptions of military life and combat. I liked it enough that I bought the other volume containing the third and fourth books in the series.
September 30, 2015
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.
July 27, 2021
I'm not usually into fantasy, but this is a nice combination of history, alternative history, and fantasy. Romans stranded in some unknown land that uses magic (but not too often.) Interesting how they adapt. As usual, a fully created world from Harry Turtledove with interesting characters and history of its own. This is a two-book ebook set, both pretty long, and a great read.
October 20, 2018
One of the finest alternative histories ever written
The mixture of Roman and Byzantine history is good. Many modern people forget that they were closely related. The admixture of good and evil magic is also well done. These videssos cycle novels are almost a retelling of ancient history. Sort of a mercenary eyes view of the world.
The mixture of Roman and Byzantine history is good. Many modern people forget that they were closely related. The admixture of good and evil magic is also well done. These videssos cycle novels are almost a retelling of ancient history. Sort of a mercenary eyes view of the world.
July 26, 2019
Harry is always good
Great read with more than two story lines. All are good and interesting. I am always interested in Harry's work
Great read with more than two story lines. All are good and interesting. I am always interested in Harry's work
January 19, 2020
4.5 stars. Good story and world building.
July 24, 2016
This is the series that put Turtledove on the publishing map and I think it is still one of his best works, which is why I periodically re-read the series. The characters are great and the journey is truly epic. I think that if someone wants to learn how to write a multiple book series, they should learn from this one.
Marcus Aemilius and Gaius Philippus are two of the best characters that I have ever encountered in many years of reading. In both (all four) books, they just kept getting better.
Well worth reading. If you enjoy Turtledove's books and have never read this series, you need to.
Marcus Aemilius and Gaius Philippus are two of the best characters that I have ever encountered in many years of reading. In both (all four) books, they just kept getting better.
Well worth reading. If you enjoy Turtledove's books and have never read this series, you need to.
June 24, 2013
Good series so far.
October 17, 2016
Great, well written fantsasy
Well worth the time to read, looking forward to the next one. Characters are relatable and the plot very fun
Well worth the time to read, looking forward to the next one. Characters are relatable and the plot very fun
February 18, 2015
Fun, light reading.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews