Byzantine SF

Robert Crawford wrote: 

> Which seems to be a _very_ popular source of inspiration for 

> SF writers. Drake's used to it twice -- _Counting the Cost_ and less 

> veiled in latest book he coauthored with S.M. Stirling(?) -- the
sequel 

> to _Oblique Approach_. 

I think that's Eric Flint he coauthored with. That's a good series, by
the way. I'm just 

wondering though, since I'm not familiar with Indian history/mythology,
how many (if any) 

of the Indian characters are historical/legendary? Also, as far as I can
remember the 

Rajputs only settled in India in the fifth and sixth centuries, and
might not be as firmly 

established as presented in the book. 

> There's also a book by Pournelle that uses the Nika riots as 

> inspiration -- one of the Falkenberg books, I think. I remember this
one 

> well because someone on a newsgroup once claimed the story proved 

> Pournelle was some sort of reactionary. I wish I had known the 

> historical basis of the story... 

Of course, as everyone knows, Harry Turtledove also has a Ph.D. in
Byzantine history. 

I wonder what it is with military SF writers and Byzantine history. 

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