Re: Printed works of future combat

>	There's also a book by Pournelle that uses the Nika riots as
> inspiration -- one of the Falkenberg books, I think.

Inspiration?  He pretty much just retold the story of the Nika riots in
a
different setting.  Excellent book.  Falkenburg was the protagonist. 
Not
Go Tell the Spartans or Prince of Sparta...I think it may have been The
Mercenary but I don't recall for sure.

> I remember this one
> well because someone on a newsgroup once claimed the story proved
> Pournelle was some sort of reactionary.

Pournelle is pretty conservative (or sensible, depending of your own
politic view) but this particular story is a retelling of an historical
event.

 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.
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.