In the Heart of Darkness

In the Heart of Darkness (1998) is the second SF alternate history novel of the Belisarius series, following An Oblique Approach. In the previous volume, Belisarius came to India to gather intelligence. He convinced Lord Venandakatra -- the Vile One -- that he was ready to work for the Malwa against Justinian, if only they would meet his price. Belisarius also contrived to free Shakuntala, the only survivor of the Satavahana dynasty. He shared rumors with Venandakatra about the depravity of the Kushans and Venandakatra replaced her guards with Mahaveda priests and mahamimamsa torturers. Three nights later, Raghunath Rao entered the palace, slaughtered the Malwa guards, hid the princess, and led the responding troops on a merry chase. In this novel, Belisarius is allowed to observe the siege of Ranapur from a distance, but the Rajput guards are under orders to restrict the viewing times and the viewpoint. Then Lord Harsha decrees that the siege will end on a certain date and Belisarius is taken to the Imperial Pavilion on the eastern side of the city to observe the assault. Belisarius has already learned that the city seems to have a large amount of gunpowder, but no cannon. Now he learns that the defenders include a number of miners. He considers the possibilities and decides to inform the Malwa that the attack probably will cross tunnels packed with explosives. First he commands his men to dismount and tells Rana Sanga -- the Rajput escort commander -- to dismount his own troops. Then the world disappears in a white flash and things start to impact his vicinity. When he crawls out from under his shield, Belisarius notices bodies, parts of bodies, and parts of parts of bodies all around him, along with various other objects. The Ranapur defenders pour over of the destroyed walls and push their way through the dazed attackers toward the Imperial Pavilion. Belisarius shows Rana Sanga the counterattack and the Rajputs hurry toward the pavilion to protect the Malwa emperor. But Belisarius and his three bucellarii approach the befuddled survivors and direct their attention to the attacking forces. In this story, Antonina is pretending to sell out to the Malwa agents in Constantinople. She is also priming Procopius to describe her activities as lusty and lewd. Balban -- the Malwa spymaster in Constantinople -- is certain that Antonina is coming along nicely. Meanwhile, Irene starts working as the spymaster for Theodora, although she remains on Sittas's payroll. Antonina persuades Theodora to fund John of Rhodes in his efforts to develop gunpowder weapons. And Michael of Macedonia starts recruiting Syrian peasants to use the weapons produced by John. This story introduces Belisarius to the Malwa emperor and takes him to the Malwa capital, where he meets Link, the penultimate enemy. Aide is still learning the limitations of his allies in this timeframe and sometimes becomes impatient with Belisarius. Yet Aide does furnish him wit

It's difficult to review a perfect book like this one. Every superlative in the language would merely be redundant. I was hooked from the first page and by reading the first book in the series, and watching characters who have become my friends as they work, play, hope, scheme, dream, love, hate and fight against the background of a world in the shadow of monstrous evil.As always, Flint's people are superbly drawn, and there are scenes and times in this book I will return to again and again. This book is a treasure of graceful writing, with the battle scenes, while accurately done, not done with unnecessary nastiness.This book is the second in a series of which four have now been published. Even so, the ending, while clearly aiming at a sequel, was as logically satisfying as a proof, and as emotionally satisfying as listening to Sarah Brightman sing.This volume is a must have, and the last paragraph on page 302 is words I will treasure all my days. Thank you, Eric.

This series is, to my mind the best stuff Flint and Drake have done so far. It is fun to watch generals, armies and empires rise in fantasy lands, but I get a little more joy in seeing it happen on earth, in "real" terrain. The authors here have moved a little bit away from just the tactical, blood and guts of war (although there is PLENTY of that) and have tried to look at the grand strategy and the operational level of war, in a geographic and historical environment that we all know. This is a bold move, and I think I see where the series is headed (the term "oblique approach" is a real clue) and am very intrigued and excited. There are those who say, "It is just another general backed by a computer," and this is true, perhaps, but THIS general is opposed by an equal if not greater force, complete with its own "computer" and to win he will have to use grand strategy and operational art.Those readers out for blood and guts will get it in this book, but the authors are really trying to do something a little bit more cognitive here and to my mind, it works. I have been a paratrooper sergeant, an Army Ranger, a infantry company commander, a battalion commander, a West Point Psychology Professor and a Professor of Military Science. I was one of the co-founders of the US Army's "Maneuver Warfare Symposium," with chapters in "Maneuver Warfare: An Anthology," and I am the author of "On Killing," a standard textbook used at West Point and in "peace studies" programs in many universities. From my own, strictly personal perspective, I think this series is the best stuff out there for the thinking fan of military SF.

Drake once again establishes himself as a consumate story teller; and, along with Flint begin to rival Harry Turtledove in the this new alternate history epic set in Byzantine Rome.I have tried in vain to identify which writer is actively telling the story outside of the battle scenes (Drake of course must take precedence for these)and would truly like a chapter by chapter lexicon of the each writer's contributuion. This book is well crafted in all respects and imminently entertaining; lets have the next novel in the series as soon as possible.

David Drake has, in essence, recreated his "The General" series in the 6th century Roman Empire (Eastern) using some well known historical figures. His use of these names in the context of the story line is very compelling and inspries a very beliveable "air" to the story-line. The use of the jewel as a guide and mentor to Belisarius through his struggles and plots is a weakness to the story, as it is all to familiar to David Drake fans. I must apploigise to Eric Flint, as I have referred to only David Drake as the author when, in fact, Mr. Flint has brought much to this story as well. A "feel" for the time period that is essencial for the story to move as fluidly as it does between the main players and sub-plots. Overall, the series is entertaining and absorbing and moves well. Each book has left me waiting for the next .