Then

[threemonkeys]

In the vastness of all time and all space, coincidences happen. In that context I can report seeing an episode of Time Team where they are excavating a town beside Hadrian's Wall pretty much at the same time as I have been reading Stephen Baxter's Emperor which is set partly in a town beside Hadrian's Wall during Roman times. It was interesting seeing the analysis of bits of pottery and glass beads and then comparing that to Baxter's filled in picture. Of course Baxter is mainly relying on various classical pieces and the myriad of other work derived from them. Still there is a lot of interpolation - it is fiction when all said and done.

This is one of Baxter's broad sweep novels. Essentially a series of connected stories spanning an era by connecting family members across that time. Usually he does it in the future - this time it is the Roman empire in Britain. I like these stories when set in the future - it somehow captures the vastness of the universe. It triggers all those good sense of wonder feeling and nobody does it better. When it comes to the Roman, way too many others have done and others do it better. I bought Emperor together with its sequel as a special deal - I'm kinda regretting that right now.

Comments

[lobelet.livejournal.com]

I rather enjoyed Emperor and its sequel. I'm currently reading the third volume (Navigator) and I'm starting to bog down -- too many future ghosts manipulating the past in ambiguous ways, and too much rather dull history. I suspect that really means that I'm a little bit more tolerant of Baxter's foibles than you are. But not very much more tolerant. It just took me one more book than you to get disillusioned.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Which, for me, is not to say that I won't keep reading his space spanning SF - I will.

[bluetyson.livejournal.com]

Wants to be James A. Michener, does he?

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

I've only read a couple of Michener titles, but yes, now that you mention it...