An Oblique Approach

A Divergence in Time An Oblique Approach (1998) is the first novel in the Belisarius series. Byzantium was the Empire of Rome in the East, ruled at this time by Emperor Justinian. A former Thracian peasant, Justinian had selected a minor Thracian noble, Belisarius, to be his bodyguard and then later to head the army facing their Medean foe. While Belisarius was not the Emperor's friend (for Justinian had no friends), they respected each other and Belisarius' wife Antonia was a close friend of the Empress Theodora. When Belisarius was traveling to assume command the army at Daras, the monk Michael of Macedonia and Anthony Cassian, the local bishop, came to his new house in Aleppo, bringing a strange object found by Michael within his cave in the desert. A faceted crystal that seemed to form and reform, they said that it had brought visions to their minds when they held it and they urged Belisarius to take it into his own hands. When it was passed to him, the crystal flared into light and flooded his mind with visions. The crystal could induce visions and feelings, but was mostly unable to communicate directly. The visions showed a future in which the Malwa empire of northern India conquered all the known world and induced feelings of dread and despair. But all who held the crystal also felt certain that the future shown and felt was not necessarily the only possible future. The crystal had come to enlist Belisarius himself in an effort to preclude this bitter future in favor of one more consistent with their own desires and inclinations. While the exhausted crystal quietly regained its strength, the human party formed a conspiracy to counter the evil plans of the Malwa. Deciding to keep the secret among themselves for a time, they arranged for a location to build a secret arsenal and weapons project on property controlled by Anthony. They also agreed that Anthony would arrange for the services of John of Rhodes, a clever ex-naval officer, as the head of the project. Belisarius had to leave the conspiracy in the others' hands while he assumed command of the army in Daras. The prior commander, Libelarius, had left his army understrength and riddled with corruption, so weeding out the rot was Belisarius' first task. Then he had to rebuild his command structure and replace those struck from the roles. Belsarius was charged with building a fort near the border as a deliberate provocation of the Persians, but Belisarius needed to conclude the campaign quickly in order to get back to the conspiracy. Once the fort was finished, he arranged for the Army of Lebanon under its two generals, Bouzes and Coutzes, to join with him against the Persians. Then he baited Bouzes and Coutzes with news of a Persian army pay chest and sent the Persian commander a nasty note. Thereafter, he waited for the afternoon wind to blow from the west. This story depicts an intervention from the future followed by a counter-intervention from the same era. The intervention i

I first came upon this book when I saw it featured in the free library at the Baen website along with its sister books, "Heart of Darkness" and "Destiny's Shield". Since it was free I took a gander and was immediately hooked. The first book effectively introduces a mystery of grand proportions. In the world of 6th century Rome, Belisarius is a character that is not what we would expect of a Roman general. We expect ruthlessness and atrocities and looting, all the characteristics of a barbaric time in our history. However, what I saw was something which I could truly admire and respect. Belisarius has a fiendish mind for strategy and tactics, combined with that gift is a high code of honor and ethics. He will not stand helplessly and watch evil being committed in his world. He will not "compromise" with his lessors. And he definitly will not be defeated by a bunch of "savages" from India. Read the book based upon Belisarius' character alone. Fortunatly that's not all the reasons why you should read it.The story is set in authentic historical context in the time of Justinia, Emperor of Rome. However, future is melded into the past. A device of unfathomable complexity and intelligence is sent from the future to protect history. It chooses Belisarius as its sole avatar. Belisarius will see the future and the possible future that will be, if he does not act. That future results in a world aflame with agony, and Belisarius will do whatever in his power to prevent that future to exist. Whatever it takes, he will do, and he will do it with the same standards of decency, honor, and ruthlessness as he has defeated all his enemies with. Belisarius will bring into being weapons powered by gunpowder, rockets and grenades that shatter human flesh. Technologies of the future will be retrofitted to fit with the technological base of Rome. The enemy, indeed the enemy of all civilization, the barbarians will meet their match. The barbarians have numerical superiority but their ethics allow them only to use numbers and not elite troops like the Roman's cataphracts. Eric Flint brings his own wry humor into the mix, that is also a reason to read the book. The enemy will be brought down by brilliantly described combat but the dialogue of the characters will show wit, humor, and intelligence to the reader. Absolutely one of the most enjoyable series I have ever read. The series will span the war with the Malwa barbarians, this book will feature the beginnings of that war.

Being a new fan of alternate history I came across eric flint's 1632 and loved it. When I went looking for more, An Oblique Approach seemed to fit the bill and I was not dissapointed. Fast paced and tightly written it kept me turning pages far into the night. Belisarius and his schemes, his men and women all combined to make a rich tapestry that tantilized and delighted me. (And the mutterings made me laugh out loud). If you are looking for a well written, intriguing and yet historical novel this is it.

I missed this one when it came out, largely because David Drake's name on a book is a strong *NEGATIVE* recommendation to me. Drake's stories are usually nasty, and his characters people who, were they dying of thirst in the desert, I would not spit upon them lest the moisture help them live.But *THIS*, this is Eric Flint's work I am sure, with Drake supplying, at most, an outline. I ran into Flint by reading his magnificent "1632" and, when I learned of this series, went out and got all the volumes. I'm working my way through them now.There *are* parallels between this series and the Stirling/Drake "General" collaboration, but while Stirling's good, Flint is easily the master. The writing is strong and, in places, is pure poetry. I don't want to spoil anything, but just wait until you read "How the Monsoon Visited the Palace", and what it wrought there!Flint writes superbly, bringing all his characters to full and vivid life. We see their loves, their hates, their dreams and their nightmares. Belisarius has a cause worth fighting for and an enemy that makes the MPAA, the RIAA, and the Nazis all rolled into one look like spiteful, spoiled children. I would deem it an honor to die guarding *this* Belisarius' back. Or I would follow him to hell. Judging by the vileness of the enemy, it looks like I'll have that privilege before the series is over.Thank you, Eric. I don't find stuff this good very often. May all kindly Gods and Goddesses watch over you and your word processor!

I found AN OBLIQUE APPROACH to be intriguing, thought-provoking, and fun to read. History isn't my best subject, so I don't know anything about the historical basis of this book. But I trust David Drake, and I enjoyed Eric Flint's previous book, MOTHER OF DEMONS. This isn't a fast-action book. This is a thinking book. Belisarius is a general with an excellent mind and the will to use it. Furthermore, Belisarius is not the only character in the book who can do something right. (I'm not crazy about "only you can save the world" books.) I also like the fact that he's devoted to his wife.