Byzantine SF

> Robert Crawford wrote:

> Which seems to be a _very_ popular source of inspiration for

> SF writers. Drake's used to it twice -- _Counting the Cost_ and less

> veiled in latest book he coauthored with S.M. Stirling(?) -- the

> to _Oblique Approach_.

I think that's Eric Flint he coauthored with. That's a good series, by the
way. I'm just

wondering though, since I'm not familiar with Indian history/mythology,
how many (if any)

of the Indian characters are historical/legendary? Also, as far as I can
remember the

Rajputs only settled in India in the fifth and sixth centuries, and might not
be as firmly

established as presented in the book.

> There's also a book by Pournelle that uses the Nika riots as

> inspiration -- one of the Falkenberg books, I think. I remember this

> well because someone on a newsgroup once claimed the story proved

> Pournelle was some sort of reactionary. I wish I had known the

> historical basis of the story...

Of course, as everyone knows, Harry Turtledove also has a Ph.D. in Byzantine
history.

I wonder what it is with military SF writers and Byzantine history.

> Robert Crawford wrote:

> Which seems to be a _very_ popular source of inspiration for

> SF writers. Drake's used to it twice -- _Counting the Cost_ and less

> veiled in latest book he coauthored with S.M. Stirling(?) -- the

> to _Oblique Approach_.

I think that's Eric Flint he coauthored with. That's a good series, by the
way. I'm just

wondering though, since I'm not familiar with Indian history/mythology,
how many (if any)

of the Indian characters are historical/legendary? Also, as far as I can
remember the

Rajputs only settled in India in the fifth and sixth centuries, and might not
be as firmly

established as presented in the book.

> There's also a book by Pournelle that uses the Nika riots as

> inspiration -- one of the Falkenberg books, I think. I remember this

> well because someone on a newsgroup once claimed the story proved

> Pournelle was some sort of reactionary. I wish I had known the

> historical basis of the story...

Of course, as everyone knows, Harry Turtledove also has a Ph.D. in Byzantine
history.

I wonder what it is with military SF writers and Byzantine history.