Roma Eterna

Infobox Book
name = Roma Eterna
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Robert Silverberg
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
subject =
genre = Alternate history
publisher = Roc Books
pub_date = 2003
english_pub_date =
media_type = Print (Hardcover and Paperback)
pages = 416
isbn = 0380978598
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"Roma Eterna" is a 2003 novel by Robert Silverberg which presents an alternate history in which the Roman Empire survives to the present day.

Plot introduction

The point of divergence is the failure of the Israelite Exodus from Egypt, followed more obviously by the later mutual assistance between the Western and Eastern Roman Empires against barbarian invasions, and later, the assassination of Muhammad, thus precluding the spread of any Monotheistic religion through the Roman Empire.cite book | last=Silverberg | first=Robert | authorlink=Robert Silverberg| title=Roma Eterna| location=London | publisher=Gollancz | pages=400 | date=2003 |id=ISBN 0575073535]

More properly the novel is considered a fixup, as each of the ten chapters was first published as a short story, six of them in "Asimov's Science Fiction", between 1989 and 2003. The novel obscures this by labeling each story-chapter with a year number (according to ab urbe condita) rather than the title given to the original short story.

Plot summary

The novel is presented as a series of vignettes over a period of about 1500 years, from 1282 ab urbe condita (AD 529) to 2723 AUC (AD 1970). Most of the story-chapters involve Roman politics, either the competition between the Western and Eastern Empires to dominate the other or the violent creation of the Second Roman Republic in about 2603 AUC (AD 1850). Others describe the first Roman circumnavigation of the world and unsuccessful attempts to conquer Nova Roma (North America).

Many features of our own history are repeated in this history, though under changed circumstances: The equivalent of the 16th and 17th Centuries have bold navigators and adventurers, romanticised by later generations but unpleasantly brutal and ruthless when looked at closely; in the late 18th to mid-19th Centuries, a decadent old order is overthrown by revolution followed by a reign of terror and the reemergence of Republicanism; though Italy remains a central part of the Roman Empire, the Latin dialect spoken there develops into a kind of Italian, and the name "Marcus" changes into "Marco"; though Vienna is a provincial capital which never had an Emperor of its own, its population dances the Waltz; by the 20th Century, people travel by cars rather than carriages and by the second half of the century, space flight is achieved.

It concludes, ironically with the first story to be written, when a group of Hebrew citizens in Alexandria preparing to depart Earth in a rocket, which explodes shortly after takeoff. But they will try again, still believing God chose them to inherit the Promised Land, just not on Rome-dominated Earth.

Chapters

The book consists of a prologue and ten chapters "(Gregorian calendar year)":
* AUC 1203: Prologue "(AD 450)"
* AUC 1282: With Ceasar in the Underworld "(529)"
* AUC 1365: A Hero of the Empire "(612)"
* AUC 1861: The Second Wave "(1108)"
* AUC 1951: Waiting for the End "(1198)"
* AUC 2206: An Outpost of the Realm "(1453)"
* AUC 2543: Getting to know the Dragon "(1790)"
* AUC 2568: The Reign of Terror "(1815)"
* AUC 2603: Via Roma "(1850)"
* AUC 2650: Tales from the Venia Woods "(1897)"
* AUC 2723: To the Promised Land "(1970)"

Literary significance and reception

The book received a share of negative criticism. It was accused of concentrating to much on the upper class and not drawing a detailed picture of Roman life and its change through the ages. [ [http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/fantasticfiction/roma.htm Claude Lalumière's Fantastic Fiction - Review of Roma Eterna] The Montreal Gazette, published: 12 July 2003, accessed: 8 August 2008] The only story in the book to receive true praise is the last chapter, "To the Promised Land", which incidently, does not deal with Romans or the upper class of the Empire. [ [http://www.sfsite.com/11a/re163.htm SFsite.com - Review of Roma Eterna] By: Alma A. Hromic, published: 2003, accessed: 8 August 2008]

Publication history

* Hardbacks: [ [http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/s/robert-silverberg/roma-eterna.htm Publication history of Roma Eterna] fantasticfiction.co.uk, accessed: 8 August 2008]
** June 2003, publisher: Eos, ISBN 0380978598, USA edition
** August 2003, publisher: Gollancz, ISBN 0575073535, UK edition

* Paperbacks:
** April 2004, publisher: Eos, ISBN 0380814889, USA edition
** July 2004, publisher: Gollancz, ISBN 0575075562, UK edition

See also

* "Romanitas"
* "Warlords of Utopia"

Reference