Destiny's Shield
Empire Rug for SALES ONLINE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS 2011-CHECK SPECIAL PRICES!!! ...
Product Rating : |
 |
Popular Rating : |
|
Reviews Rating : |
|
Customer Rating : |
 |
Available : In Stock
Destiny's Shield
Empire Rug
More Choices! More Variety! Selected Just for You......
Cruel, ruthless, depraved, the Malwa Empire dominates 6th century India. And the thing from the distant future that commands it is far worse. Those in the future who oppose the Hell the Malwa will make of Earth have sent a crystal, Aide, to halt their advance. But Aide cannot act by himself. He has found a champion -- Count Belisarius of Byzantium, perhaps the greatest general of all time -- to help him defeat the enemies of humankind. No matter what it costs..../ Destiny's Shield / Empire Rug
Eric Flint and David Drake's alt-history epic devoted to real-life Byzantine butt-kicker Belisarius has reached part three--Destiny's Shield--and this installment finally busts loose with some serious head-to-head. Everybody's favorite general is leading an outnumbered Roman-Persian force to check Malwa aggression in the east, forced to action by the fiends' sea-borne invasion of the Tigris-Euphrates delta and their subsequent siege of Babylon. For those unfamiliar with the series, this what-if puts the Malwa Empire in control of the Indian subcontinent thanks to diabolical assistance from across time, granting their forces superior strategy and advanced weaponry. But the ever-canny Belisarius is equal to the challenge, with no small help from a telepathic crystal named Aid that acts as both adviser and seer.Empire Rug
Special for cheapest price black friday's deals and discount
Customer Review :
Belisarius Strikes Back : Destiny's Shield
Destiny's Shield (1999) is the third novel in the Belisarius series, following In the Heart of Darkness. In the old volume, the traitors blinded Justinian and threatened Theodora. Narses killed John of Cappadocia and saved her life.
Thracian bucellarii, Greek cataphracts, and the infantry followed Belisarius into the Great Palace and drove off or captured the traitors inside. Then Belisarius led his forces to the Hippodrome to preserve Antonina and her grenadiers. The Theodora Cohort faced the mob within the Hippodrome and, with help from the cataphracts and infantry, devastated both them and the Malwa kshatriya.
Since Justinian was blind, he could no longer be Emperor. Theodora was a woman, so she couldn't be Emperor. That was a problem to be solved.
In India, Empress Shakuntala of Andhra convinced Dadaji Holkar to remain as her chief advisor. He agreed as long as his devotee -- Belisarius -- allowed him to do so. She also forced him to face the need to find his family.
In this novel, Photius -- Antonina's eight year old son -- is adopted by Justinian and Theodora and then acclaimed as the Emperor. Theodora will be his regnant and Justinian his advisor. Hypatia will be his governess and Justin his chief bodyguard. Belisarius will be his strategos and Antonina his comfort.
Baresmanas of the Suren is the new Persian Ambassador. His audience is the first communal appearance of the new emperor. He worries Photius until the young emperor makes a minuscule mistake in his greeting for the ambassador. When Baresmanas smiles warmly at his recovery, Photius is relieved. Baresmanas suddenly reminds Photius of his stepfather Belisarius.
After putting Photius to bed, Antonina joins a argument with the Persian ambassador. Baresmanas is just concluding a long and complex speech warning the Romans against interfering in the secession in Persia. As he is finishing his remarks, Irene Macrembolitissa ushers in a Persian officer, who whispers in the ambassador's ear.
When the ambassador withdraws to speak to his own entourage, Irene passes on the gist of the news. Persia has been invaded by the Malwa. Khusrau -- the new King of Kings -- has instructed Baresmanas to ask for Roman aid.
The Romans can only furnish about ten thousand men under Belisarius. They must leave forces along the Danube to keep out the barbarian tribes and the cataphracts under Sittas must remain in Rome to ensure its stability after the attempted coup. Moreover, they need to send forces to Egypt to put down a revolt by the patriarch and the army commander.
In this story, Belisarius leaves for Persia with his forces and the Persian ambassador. He and the Persians will face an army of two hundred thousand men. Only the Malwa could raise and preserve as army of this size.
The King of Kings is encamped within the ruins of Babylon. The bulk of the Malwa army has his army under siege, but cavalry units are scouring the rest of the country. Only Belisarius and his forces are ready to counter these Malwa troops.
Antonina is leading the expedition against their opponents within Egypt. She has the Theodora Cohort, an infantry legion and five hundred cataphracts as well as hundreds of the newly formed order of the Knights Hospitaler. She also has Ashot as her forces advisor and Irene as her brain advisor.
When they reach the harbor of Alexandria, the naval command tries to preclude their entry. Antonina lets their delegation board her ship, listens to their obnoxious remarks, and then has them bound and gagged. John of Rhodes brings in the gunship Theodora and clears out the blocking dromons.
Empress Shakuntala is having problems with her maternal grandfather. He is demanding her departure from Kerala and is neglecting to block assassination attempts against her. In talks with his advisors, the empress agrees to leave if her grandfather pays for transportation and supplies. Otherwise, her Marathas may well take his kingdom from him.
This tale brings the first forces victories against the Malwa. Of course, the Malwa losses are minor compared to their total strength, but the victories by Belisarius greatly increase the morale of the allies. Then Great Lady Holi -- and Link -- come to Persia to take direct payment of the Malwa forces.
This volume includes roughly every form of armed friction other than the use of weapons of mass destruction. Still, Belisarius creates his own weapon of mass destruction. Enjoy!
Highly recommended for Drake & Flint fans and for whatever else who enjoys tales of forces and naval combat and political intrigue in a war against evil.
-Arthur W. Jordin
