Published by Pulcheria Press,
19 October 2018.
ISBN: 979-1-09731008-0 (PB)
19 October 2018.
ISBN: 979-1-09731008-0 (PB)
The
Roma Nova novels are set in an alternative history scenario in which the Roman
Empire did not disappear. Instead, a few breakaway families showed great
courage in establishing a new country, which is run on the Roman ideals of
government and ruled by the female heads of the great families. The book is
divided into two parts: the historical, which starts at AD 370 and concludes in 1983; and the contemporary, which starts in
2011 and ends in 2029.
This collection of short stories is
cleverly collated to lead the reader through the history of Roma Nova from its
beginning and traces its influence on world politics. I particularly enjoyed ‘A
Roman Intervenes’, the bold and inventive story that used the potential of
alternative history to describe how an envoy from Roma Nova took drastic action
in an attempt to prevent Duke William from invading England in 1066.
The Roma Nova novels centre around Carina
Mitela and her grandmother, Aurelia Mitela. Although there is one story
featuring Aurelia at the end of the historical section, she plays a small part
in Roma Nova Extra compared to Carina, who appears in all the stories in the
contemporary part of the book, although she is not always the central
protagonist. The stories vary in length and theme and feature a mixture of
adventure stories, tales of political intrigue, and love stories, all skilfully
weaved into the history of Roma Nova.
The concept of alternative history is
fascinating and the author shows a masterly grasp of history and politics and
its many ramifications, and the stories are well crafted and enjoyable. I have
read and enjoyed all the novels about Carina and Aurelia and I found this a delightful
‘extra.’ I am slightly concerned that anybody who has not read the novels might
find that the stories featuring Carina and Aurelia contain several ‘spoilers,’
and would recommend reading the novels first, they are excellent.
Roma Nova Extra
is a very pleasurable read and one which I would recommend.
------
Reviewer: Carol Westron
Alison Morton Even before she pulled on her first set of combats,
Alison Morton was fascinated by the idea of women soldiers. Brought up by a
feminist mother and an ex-military father, it never occurred to her that women
couldn’t serve their country in the armed forces. Everybody in her family had
done time in uniform and in theatre – regular and reserve Army, RAF, WRNS, WRAF
– all over the globe. So busy in her day job, Alison joined the Territorial
Army in a special communications regiment and left as a captain, having done
all sorts of interesting and exciting things no civilian would ever know or
see. Or that she can talk about, even now…
But something else fuels her writing… Fascinated by the mosaics at Ampurias (Spain), at their creation by the complex, power and value-driven Roman civilisation she started wondering what a modern Roman society would be like if run by strong women…
But something else fuels her writing… Fascinated by the mosaics at Ampurias (Spain), at their creation by the complex, power and value-driven Roman civilisation she started wondering what a modern Roman society would be like if run by strong women…
Now,
she writes Roman-themed alternate history thrillers with tough heroines:
http://alison-morton.com
Carol Westron is a successful
short story writer and a Creative Writing teacher. She is the moderator for the cosy/historical
crime panel, The Deadly Dames. Her crime novels are set
both in contemporary and Victorian times.
The Terminal Velocity of Cats the first in her Scene of Crimes
novels, was published July 2013. Carol recently gave an interview to Mystery
People. To read the interview click on the link below.
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