Fantasy and the Crusades

[snowmaiden]

There is a fantasy book about the Crusades and the Byzantine Emperor. I think that is right. It has magic in it. It was dicussed on this site. Does anybody have a title or author?

[Jasc]

You *might* be referring to Thomas Harlan's fantastic "Oath of Empires" saga (4 books).

I'll paste a previous blurb I wrote about it:


Oath of Empires is alternative history. It is 600 AD and Rome has never fallen. The Roman Empire of the East will join the Roman Empire of the West to invade the inimical Persians who threaten the very gates of Constantinople itself. Featuring epic battles, beautiful babes, and powerful magic, Oath of Empires is an epic story so full of energy that your hair will sizzle. It features the epic scope of a Steven Erikson novel, a Robert Jordan Wheel of Time like struggle, and the George Martin propensity for axing main characters. Yummy!

Edit: I noted that you mentioned the "crusades". Oath of Empires is pre-crusade time, so it might not be the title you are looking for.

[Shanoncia]

From another man on another forum, this may help you.

Re: "Byzantine Literature

There are a number of other Byzantine novels and short stories. Some of the
ones I have collected are as follows:

Duggan, Alfred, The Lady for Ransom (Weybright and Talley, 1953)

This is set in the 11th century, narrated by a Norman mercenary of Roussel de
Bailliol in Byzantine service and describes the actions immediately prior to,
during and after the Battle of Manzikert. This is the only fictional book on
Manzikert that I am aware of and the battle scenes are awesome. Very
favorable attitude towards Byzantium. This is my second favorite Byzantine
book. The character development is sparing (as with all Duggan books) but
the writing is modern and the descriptive narration, powerful.

Harrison, Frederic, Theophano, The Crusade of the Tenth Century
(Harper & Brothers, 1904)

My all time favorite Byzantine novel. This is it folks! 10th Century
Byzantium at its glittering heights! The cast of characters includes Emperor
Nikephoros Phokas, John Tzimiskes, Leo the Deacon, Emperor Rhomanus II, his
Empress Theophano (hence the title), the Chamberlain Joseph Bringas and even
Digenes Akritas! The novel begins in 956 AD and runs through the murder of
Nikephoros in 969 AD. It runs the epic sweep of the 10th century Byzantine
counterattack against Islam led by Nikephoros, first as Domestic and then as
Emperor. The novel includes the reconquest of Crete and Cilicia, the attack
on Aleppo and the taking of Antioch among others. This is truly epic stuff.
The sweep of the action spans everything in the Mediterranean from embassies
to the Kaliphate of Cordova, battles in Italy and intrigues in the Moslem
courts. The attack on Crete alone is worth the price of admission. Great
descriptions of the Byzantine army at its height in action against a variety
of foes. This book is pro Byzantine. No apologies, no hesitation. The
Byzantine good guys attack, and beat (mostly) the misguided, but usually
honorable Moslems. The only real villain is, of course, that nasty old
Theophano who plots against our hero, Nikephoros. The history is very good.
Harrison must have used a copy of Leo the Deacon's history as his basis.
Like Turtledove, he was a practicing Byzantine historian. The writing style
is unfortunately, early 20th century and it's overly florid descriptions jar
modern reading sensibilities and make some parts a tough read, but not to
excess.

(Personal note: I first read this novel as a student, while working the
Harvard's Widener Library where there was a copy in the English Literature
section. I spotted it by sheer chance while shelving books nearby. I made
it one of my main intellectual pursuits thereafter to obtain my own copy.
After 15 years of fruitless searching in used bookstores on two continents,
I finally found my copy in a bookstore in my hometown of Boston. Finding it
was as close to an intellectual orgasm as I've ever had. What a joy and
triumph to successfully accomplish such a search. Interestingly enough, I
saw a second copy, only two years later.)

Holland, Cecelia, The Belt of Gold (Knoph, 1984)

This novel is set in the reign of the Empress Irene around 800 AD. The hero
is a Frankish nobleman visiting Constantinople. It is mostly a romance and
intrigue novel with the Byantines portrayed as fairly decadent compared to
our stalwart and bluff Frankish hero. As with all of Holland's works
eminently readable and entertaing, nonetheless.

Ennis, Micael, Byzantium (Atlantic Monthly Press, 1989)

Set in the early 11th Century after the death of Basil II, it chronicles the
career of Harold Hardrada, the future Norse king as a Varangian in Byzantine
service and his interactions with the various Byzantine factions in
Constantinople. A lot of modern romance stuff, fortunately offset with some
great battle action against Moslem pirates and Bulgar rebels. Crisp, modern
writing style.

Bradshaw, Gillian, The Bearkeepers Daughter (Houghton Mifflin, 1987)

This is the story of Theodora in the 6th century, with her rumored son as
the hero. Mostly a romance and intrigue book set in Constantinople, though
there are some battle scenes. (We get to see Narses in action in an early
battle of his career.) Bradshaw has a good modern style and is an easy read.

One other note, Turtledove's Agent of Byzantium is not strictly historical.
It is a "what-if" collection of short stories about a Byzantine agent of the
Bureau of Barbarians set in the 14th century of a world where Mohammed,
converted to Christianity and became one of the pillars of Byzantine society
and as a result the Byzantine and Persian empires were never overthrown by
Islam. Byzantium rules most of the Mediterranean and is in conflict with
cross Danubian barbarians and Northern Europeans as well as the Persians.

More later,

Paul Georgian
PaulByzan@aol.com

[Submitted by: "Paul E. Georgian" <PaulByzan@AOL.COM>
Sat, 19 Aug 1995 05:18:24 -0400]

[Shanoncia]

Here's also a book @ amazon that may be the one... G'luck.

[dragondrool]

There's a book called Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead, too. I've got it, but I'm only on page 10 or so, so I don't know about the magic bit.

[Khallandra]

I'm getting back into my Historical Fiction novels so thank you for all the suggestions I really like Stephen Lawhead's work though I haven't read that particular series

[snowmaiden]

Originally posted by dragondrool
There's a book called Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead, too. I've got it, but I'm only on page 10 or so, so I don't know about the magic bit.

Thanks IT!!!!!!!!

[snowmaiden]

Originally posted by Jasc
You *might* be referring to Thomas Harlan's fantastic "Oath of Empires" saga (4 books).

I'll paste a previous blurb I wrote about it:


Oath of Empires is alternative history. It is 600 AD and Rome has never fallen. The Roman Empire of the East will join the Roman Empire of the West to invade the inimical Persians who threaten the very gates of Constantinople itself. Featuring epic battles, beautiful babes, and powerful magic, Oath of Empires is an epic story so full of energy that your hair will sizzle. It features the epic scope of a Steven Erikson novel, a Robert Jordan Wheel of Time like struggle, and the George Martin propensity for axing main characters. Yummy!

Edit: I noted that you mentioned the "crusades". Oath of Empires is pre-crusade time, so it might not be the title you are looking for.

Thanks, this sounds good>

[snowmaiden]

Originally posted by Shanoncia
From another man on another forum, this may help you.

Re: "Byzantine Literature

There are a number of other Byzantine novels and short stories. Some of the
ones I have collected are as follows:

Duggan, Alfred, The Lady for Ransom (Weybright and Talley, 1953)

This is set in the 11th century, narrated by a Norman mercenary of Roussel de
Bailliol in Byzantine service and describes the actions immediately prior to,
during and after the Battle of Manzikert. This is the only fictional book on
Manzikert that I am aware of and the battle scenes are awesome. Very
favorable attitude towards Byzantium. This is my second favorite Byzantine
book. The character development is sparing (as with all Duggan books) but
the writing is modern and the descriptive narration, powerful.

Harrison, Frederic, Theophano, The Crusade of the Tenth Century
(Harper & Brothers, 1904)

My all time favorite Byzantine novel. This is it folks! 10th Century
Byzantium at its glittering heights! The cast of characters includes Emperor
Nikephoros Phokas, John Tzimiskes, Leo the Deacon, Emperor Rhomanus II, his
Empress Theophano (hence the title), the Chamberlain Joseph Bringas and even
Digenes Akritas! The novel begins in 956 AD and runs through the murder of
Nikephoros in 969 AD. It runs the epic sweep of the 10th century Byzantine
counterattack against Islam led by Nikephoros, first as Domestic and then as
Emperor. The novel includes the reconquest of Crete and Cilicia, the attack
on Aleppo and the taking of Antioch among others. This is truly epic stuff.
The sweep of the action spans everything in the Mediterranean from embassies
to the Kaliphate of Cordova, battles in Italy and intrigues in the Moslem
courts. The attack on Crete alone is worth the price of admission. Great
descriptions of the Byzantine army at its height in action against a variety
of foes. This book is pro Byzantine. No apologies, no hesitation. The
Byzantine good guys attack, and beat (mostly) the misguided, but usually
honorable Moslems. The only real villain is, of course, that nasty old
Theophano who plots against our hero, Nikephoros. The history is very good.
Harrison must have used a copy of Leo the Deacon's history as his basis.
Like Turtledove, he was a practicing Byzantine historian. The writing style
is unfortunately, early 20th century and it's overly florid descriptions jar
modern reading sensibilities and make some parts a tough read, but not to
excess.

(Personal note: I first read this novel as a student, while working the
Harvard's Widener Library where there was a copy in the English Literature
section. I spotted it by sheer chance while shelving books nearby. I made
it one of my main intellectual pursuits thereafter to obtain my own copy.
After 15 years of fruitless searching in used bookstores on two continents,
I finally found my copy in a bookstore in my hometown of Boston. Finding it
was as close to an intellectual orgasm as I've ever had. What a joy and
triumph to successfully accomplish such a search. Interestingly enough, I
saw a second copy, only two years later.)

Holland, Cecelia, The Belt of Gold (Knoph, 1984)

This novel is set in the reign of the Empress Irene around 800 AD. The hero
is a Frankish nobleman visiting Constantinople. It is mostly a romance and
intrigue novel with the Byantines portrayed as fairly decadent compared to
our stalwart and bluff Frankish hero. As with all of Holland's works
eminently readable and entertaing, nonetheless.

Ennis, Micael, Byzantium (Atlantic Monthly Press, 1989)

Set in the early 11th Century after the death of Basil II, it chronicles the
career of Harold Hardrada, the future Norse king as a Varangian in Byzantine
service and his interactions with the various Byzantine factions in
Constantinople. A lot of modern romance stuff, fortunately offset with some
great battle action against Moslem pirates and Bulgar rebels. Crisp, modern
writing style.

Bradshaw, Gillian, The Bearkeepers Daughter (Houghton Mifflin, 1987)

This is the story of Theodora in the 6th century, with her rumored son as
the hero. Mostly a romance and intrigue book set in Constantinople, though
there are some battle scenes. (We get to see Narses in action in an early
battle of his career.) Bradshaw has a good modern style and is an easy read.

One other note, Turtledove's Agent of Byzantium is not strictly historical.
It is a "what-if" collection of short stories about a Byzantine agent of the
Bureau of Barbarians set in the 14th century of a world where Mohammed,
converted to Christianity and became one of the pillars of Byzantine society
and as a result the Byzantine and Persian empires were never overthrown by
Islam. Byzantium rules most of the Mediterranean and is in conflict with
cross Danubian barbarians and Northern Europeans as well as the Persians.

More later,

Paul Georgian
PaulByzan@aol.com

[Submitted by: "Paul E. Georgian" <PaulByzan@AOL.COM>
Sat, 19 Aug 1995 05:18:24 -0400]

Please tell him thank you!

[Shanoncia]

Please tell him thank you!

To be sure! Good luck in your quest.

[Radthorne]

A couple of historical novels that are out of print, but specifically on the Crusades, are The Knights of Dark Renown (1969) and The Kings of Vain Intent (1970), both by Graham Shelby. These cover the period immediately before and after the battle of the Horns of Hattin in 1187, so you've got Saladin, Richard the Lion Hearted, and a vast panoply of scheming intriguers among the various Crusaders.

Shelby also wrote The Wolf at the Door (1975), about King John. He wrote some other titles too, but I have not read those. All of these books appear to be available from various used sources.

[snowmaiden]

Thanks Radthrone