Roma Eterna
Encyclopedia
Roma Eterna is a 2003 novel by Robert Silverberg
which presents an alternate history
in which the Roman Empire
survives to the present day.
is the failure of the Israelite
Exodus
from Egypt
. Moses
and many of the Israelites drowned, and the remnant—led by Aaron
—were fetched back to slavery in Egypt, a traumatic event recorded for posterity in the Book of Aaron, an alternate version of the Bible
. Later on, the Hebrews were freed from bondage, and remained a distinct religious-ethnic minority in Egypt, practicing a monotheistic religion, up to the equivalent of our 20th Century (27th Century of the Roman Calendar).
Still, affairs of the larger world, the rise and fall of empires and cultures, remained roughly the same as in our history up to division of the Roman Empire (here, never Christianised). At this point, mutual assistance between the Western and Eastern Roman Empires against barbarian invasions, preserved both from falling and kept Roman rule intact throughout the imperial dominions.
Despite the absence of Christianity, which in our history considerably influenced early Islam, Muhammad
did start his prophetic career—but was assassinated by a perceptive Roman agent, nipping Islam in the bud and thus precluding the spread of any Monotheistic religion through the Roman Empire
. Monotheism remained limited to the specific Hebrew sect in Egypt.
Properly the novel is considered a fixup, as each of the ten chapters was first published as a short story, six of them in Asimov's Science Fiction
, between 1989 and 2003.
(AD
529) to 2723 AUC (AD 1970). Most of the story-chapters involve Roman politics, either the competition between the Western and Eastern Empires to dominate the other or the violent creation of the Second Roman Republic
in about 2603 AUC (AD 1850). Others describe the first Roman circumnavigation of the world and unsuccessful attempts to conquer Nova Roma (North America).
Many features of our own history are repeated in this history, though under changed circumstances: The equivalent of the 16th and 17th Centuries have bold navigators and adventurers, romanticised by later generations but unpleasantly brutal and ruthless when looked at closely; in the late 18th to mid-19th Centuries, a decadent old order is overthrown by revolution followed by a reign of terror and the reemergence of Republicanism; though Italy remains a central part of the Roman Empire, the Latin dialect spoken there develops into a kind of Italian, and the name "Marcus" changes into "Marco"; though Vienna is a provincial capital which never had an Emperor of its own, its population dances the Waltz
; by the 20th Century, people travel by cars rather than carriages and by the second half of the century, space flight is achieved.
It concludes with the first story to be written, when a group of Hebrew citizens in Alexandria
prepare to depart Earth in a rocket which explodes shortly after takeoff. But they will try again, still believing God
chose them to inherit the Promised Land
, just not on Rome-dominated Earth.
Paperback
Robert Silverberg
Robert Silverberg is an American author, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple nominee of the Hugo Award and a winner of the Nebula Award.-Early years:...
which presents an alternate history
Alternate history (fiction)
Alternate history or alternative history is a genre of fiction consisting of stories that are set in worlds in which history has diverged from the actual history of the world. It can be variously seen as a sub-genre of literary fiction, science fiction, and historical fiction; different alternate...
in which the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
survives to the present day.
Plot introduction
The point of divergencePoint of divergence
In discussion of counterfactual history, a divergence point , also referred to as a departure point or point of divergence , is a historical event with two possible postulated outcomes...
is the failure of the Israelite
Israelite
According to the Bible the Israelites were a Hebrew-speaking people of the Ancient Near East who inhabited the Land of Canaan during the monarchic period .The word "Israelite" derives from the Biblical Hebrew ישראל...
Exodus
The Exodus
The Exodus is the story of the departure of the Israelites from ancient Egypt described in the Hebrew Bible.Narrowly defined, the term refers only to the departure from Egypt described in the Book of Exodus; more widely, it takes in the subsequent law-givings and wanderings in the wilderness...
from Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
and many of the Israelites drowned, and the remnant—led by Aaron
Aaron
In the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an, Aaron : Ααρών ), who is often called "'Aaron the Priest"' and once Aaron the Levite , was the older brother of Moses, and a prophet of God. He represented the priestly functions of his tribe, becoming the first High Priest of the Israelites...
—were fetched back to slavery in Egypt, a traumatic event recorded for posterity in the Book of Aaron, an alternate version of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. Later on, the Hebrews were freed from bondage, and remained a distinct religious-ethnic minority in Egypt, practicing a monotheistic religion, up to the equivalent of our 20th Century (27th Century of the Roman Calendar).
Still, affairs of the larger world, the rise and fall of empires and cultures, remained roughly the same as in our history up to division of the Roman Empire (here, never Christianised). At this point, mutual assistance between the Western and Eastern Roman Empires against barbarian invasions, preserved both from falling and kept Roman rule intact throughout the imperial dominions.
Despite the absence of Christianity, which in our history considerably influenced early Islam, Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
did start his prophetic career—but was assassinated by a perceptive Roman agent, nipping Islam in the bud and thus precluding the spread of any Monotheistic religion through the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. Monotheism remained limited to the specific Hebrew sect in Egypt.
Properly the novel is considered a fixup, as each of the ten chapters was first published as a short story, six of them in Asimov's Science Fiction
Asimov's Science Fiction
Asimov's Science Fiction is an American science fiction magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy and perpetuates the name of author and biochemist Isaac Asimov...
, between 1989 and 2003.
Plot summary
The novel is presented as a series of vignettes over a period of about 1500 years, from 1282 ab urbe conditaAb urbe condita
Ab urbe condita is Latin for "from the founding of the City ", traditionally set in 753 BC. AUC is a year-numbering system used by some ancient Roman historians to identify particular Roman years...
(AD
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
529) to 2723 AUC (AD 1970). Most of the story-chapters involve Roman politics, either the competition between the Western and Eastern Empires to dominate the other or the violent creation of the Second Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
in about 2603 AUC (AD 1850). Others describe the first Roman circumnavigation of the world and unsuccessful attempts to conquer Nova Roma (North America).
Many features of our own history are repeated in this history, though under changed circumstances: The equivalent of the 16th and 17th Centuries have bold navigators and adventurers, romanticised by later generations but unpleasantly brutal and ruthless when looked at closely; in the late 18th to mid-19th Centuries, a decadent old order is overthrown by revolution followed by a reign of terror and the reemergence of Republicanism; though Italy remains a central part of the Roman Empire, the Latin dialect spoken there develops into a kind of Italian, and the name "Marcus" changes into "Marco"; though Vienna is a provincial capital which never had an Emperor of its own, its population dances the Waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
; by the 20th Century, people travel by cars rather than carriages and by the second half of the century, space flight is achieved.
It concludes with the first story to be written, when a group of Hebrew citizens in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
prepare to depart Earth in a rocket which explodes shortly after takeoff. But they will try again, still believing God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
chose them to inherit the Promised Land
Promised land
The Promised Land is a term used to describe the land promised or given by God, according to the Hebrew Bible, to the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob. The promise is firstly made to Abraham and then renewed to his son Isaac, and to Isaac's son Jacob , Abraham's grandson...
, just not on Rome-dominated Earth.
Chapters
The book consists of a prologue and ten chapters (Gregorian calendar year):- AUCAb urbe conditaAb urbe condita is Latin for "from the founding of the City ", traditionally set in 753 BC. AUC is a year-numbering system used by some ancient Roman historians to identify particular Roman years...
1203: Prologue (ADAnno Dominiand Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
450) - AUC 1282: With Caesar in the Underworld (529)
- AUC 1365: A Hero of the Empire (612)
- AUC 1861: The Second Wave (1108)
- AUC 1951: Waiting for the End (1198)
- AUC 2206: An Outpost of the Realm (1453)
- AUC 2543: Getting to know the Dragon (1790)
- AUC 2568: The Reign of Terror (1815)
- AUC 2603: Via Roma (1850)
- AUC 2650: Tales from the Venia Woods (1897)
- AUC 2723: To the Promised Land (1970)
Literary significance and reception
The book received a share of negative criticism. It was accused of concentrating too much on the upper class and not drawing a detailed picture of Roman life and its change through the ages. The only story in the book to receive true praise from reviewer Alma A. Hromic is the last chapter, To the Promised Land, which incidentally, does not deal with Romans or the upper class of the Empire.As short stories
Original short stories first publication.- To the Promised Land (Omni, May 1989)
- Tales from the Venia Woods (The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October 1989)
- An Outpost of the Empire (Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, November 1991)
- Via Roma (Asimov's Science Fiction, April 1994)
- Waiting for the End (Asimov's Science Fiction, October/November 1998)
- Getting to Know the Dragon (Far Horizons: All New Tales from the Greatest Worlds of Science Fiction, May 1999)
- A Hero of the Empire (The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October-November 1999)
- The Second Wave (Asimov's Science Fiction, August 2002)
- With Caesar in the Underworld (Asimov's Science Fiction, October/November 2002)
- The Reign of Terror (Asimov's Science Fiction, April 2003)
As a single book
Hardback- June 2003, publisher: Eos, ISBN 0380978598, USA edition
- August 2003, publisher: GollanczGollanczGollancz often refers to the British publishing house Victor Gollancz Ltd.Gollancz, a family name originating from the Polish town Gołańcz , is mainly known as the name of a prominent British Jewish family, including:* Sir Hermann Gollancz , rabbi* Sir Israel Gollancz , scholar of...
, ISBN 0575073535, UK edition
Paperback
- April 2004, publisher: Eos, ISBN 0380814889, USA edition
- July 2004, publisher: Gollancz, ISBN 0575075562, UK edition
See also
- RomanitasRomanitas (novel)Romanitas is an alternate history novel by Sophia McDougall, published by Orion Books. It is the first of a planned trilogy of novels based on a world where the Roman Empire has survived to contemporary times and now dominates much of the world....
- Warlords of UtopiaWarlords of UtopiaWarlords of Utopia is an original novel by Lance Parkin set in the Faction Paradox universe. It has been described as 'possibly [Parkin's] finest accomplishment to date'....
- Gunpowder EmpireGunpowder EmpireGunpowder Empire is an alternate history novel by Harry Turtledove. It is the first part of the Crosstime Traffic series.-Plot summary:In the novel, Jeremy and Amanda Solter are two teenagers living in the late 21st century...