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A Choice of Destinies
What might have happened had Alexander not marched into India, but turned back west? This is the question posed in Ms. Scott's alternate history. Yet another revolt in Greece (even more serious than the historical revolt of King Agis of Sparta) forces Alexander to turn around and march back home. Having been thwarted then in his bid for India, he turns his interest west instead, to Rome and Carthage.
314 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1986
3 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Scott
100 books450 followersScott studied history at Harvard College and Brandeis University, and earned her PhD. in comparative history. She published her first novel in 1984, and has since written some two dozen science fiction and fantasy works, including three co-authored with her partner, Lisa A. Barnett.
Scott's work is known for the elaborate and well-constructed settings. While many of her protagonists are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered, this is perfectly integrated into the rest of the story and is rarely a major focus of the story. Shadow Man, alone among Scott's works, focuses explicitly on issues of sexuality and gender.
She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in Science Fiction in 1986, and has won several Lambda Literary Awards.
In addition to writing, Scott also teaches writing, offering classes via her website and publishing a writing guide.
Scott lived with her partner, author Lisa A. Barnett, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for 27 years, until the latter's death of breast cancer on May 2, 2006.
Scott's work is known for the elaborate and well-constructed settings. While many of her protagonists are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered, this is perfectly integrated into the rest of the story and is rarely a major focus of the story. Shadow Man, alone among Scott's works, focuses explicitly on issues of sexuality and gender.
She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in Science Fiction in 1986, and has won several Lambda Literary Awards.
In addition to writing, Scott also teaches writing, offering classes via her website and publishing a writing guide.
Scott lived with her partner, author Lisa A. Barnett, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for 27 years, until the latter's death of breast cancer on May 2, 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 3, 2016
First things first: The cover is pretty terrible. But I guess the book is also 30 years old and probably fits right in there with its contemporaries.
Anyway, it's what is inside a book that really matters and I truly can't complain there. I'm sort of a collector of Alexander the Great fiction (I do have some requirements that need to be met before I pick up one, though... making the already short list of books even shorter) and this one is probably my favorite at this point.
I do have to say that it might take a bit to get into the story, since the book starts way into the future (yes, this means space ships) before it goes back into the time when Alexander actually lived and then jumps back into the future two or three times afterwards.
Afterwards it's an enjoyable ride, where Alexander, who is neither the perfect wise God amongst men (a lot of characters do look up to him, though) nor the warmongering beast some other books describe him as, doesn't die and meets the Romans, Hephaestion is actually treated as the competent man he was (he and Ptolemy are POV characters, too) and they go on, probably building even more Alexandrias (in space!).
When I was finished I actually wished the book had been longer or had a sequel since there are unlimited possibilities in an alternative universe like that.
Anyway, it's what is inside a book that really matters and I truly can't complain there. I'm sort of a collector of Alexander the Great fiction (I do have some requirements that need to be met before I pick up one, though... making the already short list of books even shorter) and this one is probably my favorite at this point.
I do have to say that it might take a bit to get into the story, since the book starts way into the future (yes, this means space ships) before it goes back into the time when Alexander actually lived and then jumps back into the future two or three times afterwards.
Afterwards it's an enjoyable ride, where Alexander, who is neither the perfect wise God amongst men (a lot of characters do look up to him, though) nor the warmongering beast some other books describe him as, doesn't die and meets the Romans, Hephaestion is actually treated as the competent man he was (he and Ptolemy are POV characters, too) and they go on, probably building even more Alexandrias (in space!).
When I was finished I actually wished the book had been longer or had a sequel since there are unlimited possibilities in an alternative universe like that.
January 17, 2014
This was quite an exciting and satisfying read! Though, one should have some basic background info about Alexander the great and his campaigns before attempting a reading of it.
This book left me smiling stupidly imagining a world where Alexander's kingdom still held and slightly melancholic that this never came to pass! Definitely worth a read!
This book left me smiling stupidly imagining a world where Alexander's kingdom still held and slightly melancholic that this never came to pass! Definitely worth a read!
May 27, 2017
If you read one Alexander the Great novel, read this one.
November 9, 2014
This was a rec from someone, and I have to say, I truly enjoyed it and read it in the course of one day. Being an Alexander fan along the lines of Mary Renault it was a pleasure to read a sympathetic characterization of him. Plus, Hephaistion gets the place he deserves - by Alexander's side. :)
I'm also a big fan of alternate histories, so I enjoyed this aspect of the book as well. Alexander fighting the Romans was especially interesting, I thought, as were the tidbits of "future" that showed how history might have changed if he had succeeded in creating a stable empire. As far as I was concerned, the book could have gone on much longer!
There was so much detail in everything, from the battles to the "future" stories, I easily forgave the slightly uneven writing and the few facts that were changed before the point of divergence and left unexplained (i.e. the Sacred Band and Alexander's son). I do think already having some background knowledge of Alexander's life is helpful in order to fully appreciate the novel. But yes, definitely a pleasant surprise!
I'm also a big fan of alternate histories, so I enjoyed this aspect of the book as well. Alexander fighting the Romans was especially interesting, I thought, as were the tidbits of "future" that showed how history might have changed if he had succeeded in creating a stable empire. As far as I was concerned, the book could have gone on much longer!
There was so much detail in everything, from the battles to the "future" stories, I easily forgave the slightly uneven writing and the few facts that were changed before the point of divergence and left unexplained (i.e. the Sacred Band and Alexander's son). I do think already having some background knowledge of Alexander's life is helpful in order to fully appreciate the novel. But yes, definitely a pleasant surprise!
December 29, 2021
I love this book for its wealth of immersive detail, and its characters: firstly the Companions (in particular its steady, intelligent Ptolemy, and its sardonic, amused, sandy-haired, lounging Perdiccas), but also its Alexander and Hephaistion, and the ever-present, unspoken trust and support and care and affection running between them. The book never makes a big thing of it, but it’s clear how much they love each other.
There’s not much plot per se; instead it’s the kind of book which lets you escape into another world for a while. The quietly sad thing about it is not only that it didn’t happen but that it wouldn’t have happened; the choice the real Alexander made was the one that was truest to himself, no matter how tragically it ended.
There’s not much plot per se; instead it’s the kind of book which lets you escape into another world for a while. The quietly sad thing about it is not only that it didn’t happen but that it wouldn’t have happened; the choice the real Alexander made was the one that was truest to himself, no matter how tragically it ended.
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February 10, 2026Melissa Scott wrote an Alexander the Great novel and no one told me??
A Choice of Destinies starts slowly but grows into a compelling alternate history of Alexander the Great taking his campaigns west to Rome and Carthage instead of to India. At first, I found the many characters gravitating around Alexander difficult to distinguish, but I ended up loving how, little by little, Melissa Scott outlines their personalities and relationships.
I struggle to visualise battle scenes-in all books, not just this one-so a lot of the descriptions of troop movements were lost on me, and I preferred the political maneuvering and pre-battle strategising. This is purely a personal preference rather than a flaw in the book, though.
The story is also punctuated by interludes set at various points in the future, including in space. Those were so fun! It made me wish this book were the start of an entire series instead of stand-alone.
A Choice of Destinies starts slowly but grows into a compelling alternate history of Alexander the Great taking his campaigns west to Rome and Carthage instead of to India. At first, I found the many characters gravitating around Alexander difficult to distinguish, but I ended up loving how, little by little, Melissa Scott outlines their personalities and relationships.
I struggle to visualise battle scenes-in all books, not just this one-so a lot of the descriptions of troop movements were lost on me, and I preferred the political maneuvering and pre-battle strategising. This is purely a personal preference rather than a flaw in the book, though.
The story is also punctuated by interludes set at various points in the future, including in space. Those were so fun! It made me wish this book were the start of an entire series instead of stand-alone.
January 22, 2021
Review from 09 August 2014: What might have happened had Alexander the Great not gone to India, but turned back to the West and gone up against Rome instead? A fascinating theory about a fascinating historical figure, expertly woven into a compelling alternate history tale by Melissa Scott. Now if only it had been longer...
May 23, 2013
Well written and very well researched, allthought I suspect it isn't for people who do not bring an at least rudimentary understanding and knowledge with them into the book.
June 30, 2017
If I had expected a novel I probably would have been disappointed: especially in the beginning the book was very much focused on what-if plot developments and battle plans and had little focus on characters. I suspect it would have taken me far longer to become interested in Alexander and Hephaestion if I had not read stories about them before. It was the background characters with conflicted loyalties that I found the most interesting, Theagenes and Cassius mostly, and I wish they'd been given more space, though it probably wouldn't have fit in this book's narrative style.
I do like what-if AUs a lot and this book delivered nicely on that. Especially the chapters set in the far future were an unexpected and fun bonus.
I do like what-if AUs a lot and this book delivered nicely on that. Especially the chapters set in the far future were an unexpected and fun bonus.
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December 13, 2019Melissa Scott is one of those underrated scifi writers from the 80s and 90s who I actually really enjoy! This one is an alternate history where Alexander the Great survives and creates an empire that eventually reaches the stars. I was expecting more speculative/alternate history elements, but the bulk of the narrative is more historical fiction that didn't actually happen. My favorite moments were the interludes, and I would totally read a whole book that is set on a spacestation in Alexander's empire.
July 11, 2025
Just could not get into it. Alexander and all the other characters never came to life for me. Well written but just not for me.
August 21, 2021
Wow, I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did! I would read almost anything about Alexander The Great, so when I heard about this book I thought, well why not. That awful cover almost put me off but decided to give it a try. Totally worth it.
December 29, 2020
Definitely a fun and interesting read, especially if you like Alexander the Great. This book was one of my first forays into alternate history, and I greatly enjoyed it. The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars is that it can seem a little slow at points, and there aren't as many sci-fi elements as I expected. I definitely recommend giving A Choice of Destinies a shot if you are into alternate histories/alexander the great.
Want to read
November 3, 2018melissa scott has been out here writing all the books i want to read the whole goddamn time!!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews