This is the fifth in the series. Belisarius was the real life general of the Byzantine Empire under Justinian 1 and Belisarius was known for his strategic skill against the Persians and the conquest of Rome against the Vandals. In this series Belisarius is the strategos of Rome (Byzantine Empire). The world has been infiltrated by an intelligence from the future known as Link, who is trying to sow disorder into the future of human history by changing the world in the 5th Century AD. Link has chosen the Indian kingdom of Malwa as its instrument, and the Malwa embark on a campaign to conquer the civilized world, starting with India, then Persia, then Rome. The opponents of Link have sent another intelligence called Aide, which has taken on the form of a crystal that is in Belisarius' possession. While is is a military scifi, to understand the book you need to pay attention to the philosophy that is underneath, in particular the question as to the purpose of war.
The other books in this series, AnObliqueApproach?, InTheHeartOfDarkness?, DestinysShield?, and FortunesStroke, depict an alternative history set in the time of Emperor Justonian and the Byzantine Empire. In this timeline, an empire has risen out of the Indian subcontinent (the Malwa) guided by a race from the future to change the course of history. In its way are the empires of Persia, and Rome (as the Byzantine Empire is known, also referenced as Greek). Unimpeded, they would have won, but a force opposing those guiding the Malwa have sent their own agent to guide Belisarius, the general of Rome. They bring with them all the knowledge of the art and technology of war, hampered only by the technical base of the 6th century. There are many discriptions of early firearms being introduced to some effect, but the main contribution of the future agents is the knowledge of the art of war, specifically mentioned are Gustovus Adulphus, the Peninsular War, the Dutch wars of Independence, and the Tidewater campaigns of the United States Civil War.
There are four storylines. One based around the Maratha rebellion against the Malwa that has started on the Indian subcontinent, supported by Ethiopia, allies of Rome. Another storyline based on a Kushan rebellion against the Malwa in the Hindu Kush (modern Afghanistan/Pakistan?). A third story is set around one of the Malwa commanders (Rana Sanga), who is very competent, but as he is not Malwa himself is officially relegated to a subidiary position as he considers the worth of the side that he is on. But the main story line is on an invasion of the India subcontinent by Persia and Rome under Belisarius, after their repulse of the Malwa invasion of Persia.
The leaders in the book have many opportunities to reflect on war and its brutality. In the Malwa storyline Rana Sanga is actively opposing the cruelty that his Malwa superiors are requiring him to display, based on the concept of honor that his culture has. But it is Belisarius and Aide that have the best conversations.
A reviewer in another forum said of BlackhawkDown?, "all war movies are really anti-war movies" and he was commenting on the depiction of the violence and destruction of combat. This is the alternative. Yes, the book directly questions the violence and destruction of war. But the answer is that the difference between the two sides is real. In the difference between the two sides is one of philosophy, Link (guiding the Malwa) believes in a world of order and perfection, while those who guide Belisarius, are representative of a humanity that is diverse in many ways and is built on merit, regardless of origen. The impact is shown in how each side treats other races, both its allies and its enemies. The Malwa have a clear heirarchy, where every race is underneath the Malwa and those that are not its favored races are bled in battle and, when India is invaded, the the Malwa slaughter its own peasants Malwa so they would not be available as slave labor for the invading Romans and Persians. There is central control, and leadership is based on their membership of the correct bloodlines. The comparison is made of the concept of the master race of 1930's Germany. In contrast, Belisarius allies are given freedom of initiative and to exercise creativity.
Belisarius is originally from a peasant family, not nobility, and if he was not a soldier, he would have been a blacksmith like his father. And there are many times that he wonders if that would have been better. There was a particular bloody battle that Belisarius watches, and Aide realizes Belisarius' thoughts, I know. There are times you wish you could have been a blacksmith. But later on, the come across a nearby village, which was slaughtered earlier by the Malwa army they had just destroyed.
Aide did not speak for some time thereafter. Then, almost like an apology: If you had been a blacksmith, this would have happened also. Ten times over, and ten times worse.
Belisarius shrugged. I know that, Aide. And tomorrow the knowledge will mean something to me. But today? Today it means nothing. I just wish I could have been a blacksmith.
Here there is a recognition that war is brutal, and is not something to be proud of, but at times it is necessary in the place of something that is worse.
And this is part of what war is. The Malwa slaughtered the village based on their philosophy that there is a master race, and those that were not a part of that master race were things of utility, but of no other value. While there is always injustice, oppression, one of the one guarantees that all people have is that their rulers would allow them to survive, but this is not true for a master race that seeks to remove those considered to be less valuable. Belisarius then employs what is now known as Grand Strategy by Boyd and others, he orders his army to treat the peasants well, to not pillage the land, not to steal or commite acts of pillage and rapine common to all armies of the period. And this attitude goes down to his men, later one of his junior commanders issues instructions to rescue Malwa sailors whose ships have gone down, and the comment is made that since the Romans treat the Malwa sailors and soldiers almost as well as the Malwa do, the Malwa soldiers have little will to fight. If real values are at stake (and not merely an exchange of owners of property or rights to rule a patch of ground), meaning what it means to be human, and the prevention of slaughter to come, then maybe war is justified. But even with this knowledge, it should not be taken lightly, and with regret, even if your side is right. It is telling that several of those on the opposing (Malwa) side also are seen asking these questions, although in their case it is seen as subversive.
Another major theme is that of the art of war. While both Link and Aide have full knowledge of history and technology as we know it, Aide takes on the role of a counselor instead of leading the Romans directly, because Aide has chosen the advantage of the creativity of Belisarius and Rome. The closing lines of the book represents an interview of Belisarius by a subordinate, who is now taking on the role of communications and historian after injuries taken in a hopeless battle.
Calopodius hesitated. Then, boldly: "And what, would you say, is the factor which is most on your side?"
Belisarius "The biggest factor in my favor is that I'm just a lot better at this than the monster is. Way better. War is an art, not a science. And for all that monster's superhuman intelligence, it's got about as much of an artistic streak as a carrot."
"There are times," he said softly, "when I wish I could have been a blacksmith. But then there are other times when I'm glad I couldn't. This time and place more than any other in my life. War is also an honorable trade, after all—or can be, at least. And I suspect I'm a lot better at it than I ever would have been as a blacksmith."
He cocked his head a little, listening to the gunfire. "Soon, Calopodius. Soon I'll put paid to that monster. And teach it, and its masters, that a professional craftsman at the top of his trade can't possibly be matched by any know-it-all cocksure dilettante."
Contrast this to something like a TomClancy, where victory is based on the newest technical gadget, or to stories where raw furosity or courage lead to success. The Malwa depend on essentially technical knowledge in the form of purity or race and knowledge of history. Belisarius relies on creativity to succede.
A BookOnTheBookshelf, depicting VisionsOfWonder
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