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friendlymilk's review
4.0
So. Freaking. Cool.
What if Ptolmaic astronomy and Aristotlian physics were real? What if Aristotle practiced applied science, rather than philosophy? WHAT IF HE JOINED UP WITH ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND USED THEIR COMBINED SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES AND MILITARY STRATEGY TO CONQUER THE WORLD?
Nine hundred years later, the Delian League is still going strong. It is at constant war with the Middle Kingdom. Aias, an Athenian scholar, devises a scheme to steal matter from the sun and create a weapon to end the war once and for all. This does not go as planned.
I loved all of it. The Buddhists, who are persecuted by everyone because they are pacifists and therefore make terrible soldiers (and you need as many soldiers as possible for this never-ending war). The advanced technology, based on the four elements. The medicine, based on the four humors. Aias' somewhat flowery, academic personality. The mind-bending mechanics of a geocentric solar system. The constant inspirations and contributions from the gods. The diversity of the people within the Delian league. Aias' awesome bodyguard, who is a female Spartan warrior of Cherokee descent. All anyone sees when they look at her is a rigorously competent Spartan. End of story.
Speaking of! Aias, an Athenian academic, manages to come to a place of mutual understanding and respect with:
A Spartan warrior
A Middle Kingdom Taoist
A Buddhist pacifist
He keeps an open mind, and is willing to discuss philosophies and worldviews calmly and thoughtfully. This is objectively awesome.
Also, I found that my knowledge of how the world works kept getting in the way. Ptolmaic astronomy makes for a truly alien solar system. It drove home how very conservative even the wildest fantasy world is; even the weird ones hew to the natural laws as we know them, plus a little magic on top.
Ahhhhh! I wish there were more books.
What if Ptolmaic astronomy and Aristotlian physics were real? What if Aristotle practiced applied science, rather than philosophy? WHAT IF HE JOINED UP WITH ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND USED THEIR COMBINED SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES AND MILITARY STRATEGY TO CONQUER THE WORLD?
Nine hundred years later, the Delian League is still going strong. It is at constant war with the Middle Kingdom. Aias, an Athenian scholar, devises a scheme to steal matter from the sun and create a weapon to end the war once and for all. This does not go as planned.
I loved all of it. The Buddhists, who are persecuted by everyone because they are pacifists and therefore make terrible soldiers (and you need as many soldiers as possible for this never-ending war). The advanced technology, based on the four elements. The medicine, based on the four humors. Aias' somewhat flowery, academic personality. The mind-bending mechanics of a geocentric solar system. The constant inspirations and contributions from the gods. The diversity of the people within the Delian league. Aias' awesome bodyguard, who is a female Spartan warrior of Cherokee descent. All anyone sees when they look at her is a rigorously competent Spartan. End of story.
Speaking of! Aias, an Athenian academic, manages to come to a place of mutual understanding and respect with:
A Spartan warrior
A Middle Kingdom Taoist
A Buddhist pacifist
He keeps an open mind, and is willing to discuss philosophies and worldviews calmly and thoughtfully. This is objectively awesome.
Also, I found that my knowledge of how the world works kept getting in the way. Ptolmaic astronomy makes for a truly alien solar system. It drove home how very conservative even the wildest fantasy world is; even the weird ones hew to the natural laws as we know them, plus a little magic on top.
Ahhhhh! I wish there were more books.
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