Review: decent alternate history
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 4, 2013
Mr. Currie is one of my favorite sci-fi authors, but I'm sorry to say that his laudable attempt to do something a bit outside his comfort zone is not a complete success.  In "Steam Legion", he combines research at the Great Library of Alexandria and researcher/warrior Dyna of Sparta, a direct descendant of King Leonidas, to produce early technological advances that halt the advance on Alexandria of Jewish Zealots from Judea.  This is apparently drawn from the actual uprising in Judea against Roman rule in 66 A.D., but the character of Dyna as the protege of Heron, the head of the Library, appears to be drawn from the famous scientist/philosopher Hypatia (daughter of mathematician Theon), who was actually killed by a mob of Christian Zealots in Alexandria some 350 years later.The political context of Mr. Currie's story is roughly speaking that stew of Roman intrigue centering around Emperor Nero, and the nationalist rebellion in first century Judea.  Oddly absent from the narrative is the birth of Christianity.  Mr. Currie, as usual, takes pains to get his technology right, from the standard Roman weapons and armor to the inventions at the Library.  It was, however, strange to see him repeatedly refer to the Roman "phalanx" since that form was not used by the legions.While one might infer that Dyna's saving of the Library gives rise to an early steam revolution, that does not seem to be what Mr. Currie was aiming for, except tangentially.  Rather, he has placed ongoing steam research at the threatened Library, and it is the presence of Dyna that propels it into practical, military use.  In other words, he wanted to write a steampunk novel and devised a pretext that more or less fit.  For a much more effective premise, and IMHO a far superior book, seeThe Peshawar Lancers.  Also take a look atLest Darkness Fallfor a somewhat similar take on anachronistic technology's effect on Roman events, albeit in a later period and with a more lighthearted tone.All this is not to slam "Steam Legion", which would have served as a perfectly fine half of one of the old Ace doubles.  But it is not up to the high standard of Mr. Currie's space operas.