Review: Historical short fiction spanning 2000 years
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 18, 2014
I was delighted to see this collection; while historical novels abound, historical short stories - especially good ones - can be much harder to find.  This volume, with a baker's dozen stories by 9 very talented writers, has a lot to like.  Times range from 54 BC to World War II; locations include Rome and Wallachia, Japan and Tasmania, England and Ireland.  There's quite a lot of "guy" fiction here, with meticulously-described battles, gladiators and Vikings, and a fair bit of combat mayhem, but there is also a lot of food for thought, as well as some vivid characters - remarkable men and possibly even more remarkable women.  A recurring theme is that things are not always what they seem, and the many and varied ways the authors approach this idea are both entertaining and satisfying.  Highly recommended.