Re: Printed works of future combat

You wrote: 

> I wish I had known the 
>> historical basis of the story...
>> 
>>	Hmmm... can anyone suggest a good general history of Byzantium?
>
>IIRC Sir Steven Runciman has history of Byzantium.  I think also 
Jonathan >Riley-Smith. 

My recomendation for the layman's introduction to the Roman Empire 
post-Constantine (Byzantium is a modern invention, originally 
derogatory.  The Rhomaioi continued to use the Greek form of the word 
"Roman" until the Turks came over the wall in 1453, after which they 
were known as the Rum Millet--the Roman Nation as subjects of the 
Sultan) is Lord John Julius Norwich's A Short History of Byzantium, 
which is a mere 383 pages, or roughly one per 3 years.	It's readable, 
presumes no prior knowledge of the subject, and entertaining.  Then 
read the three volume "History of Byzantium" that it was based on.  
Then go on to Vasiliev and Ostrogorsky and the rest, who write in a 
more scholarly and difficult style, and also, it seems to me, assume 
some prior knowledge.

>If you happen to like Byzantine history, Harry Turtledove has books 
(Agent >of the Empire, and the Misplaced Legion books) which take a 
great deal from >Byzantium; Turtledove has a doctorate in Byzantine 
history.

Also see: Krispos of Videssos.	Barring the magic, the first volume is 
entirely derived from the story of Basil I, the Macedonian, founder of 
the greatest dynasty ever to walk the face of the Earth.  The second 
two are loosely based on other events in Roman history.

John M. Atkinson