An alternate history Colosseum

Continuing this month's theme of alternate histories, here's the most straightforward alt-history passage in my novel, Parallel U. - Freshman Year. My group of parallel-hopping students travels to Parallel 24, in which the Roman Empire never fell, and visits the Colosseum—which in this world has been used continually since antiquity. Here's the history of the building, as related by a hologram of the current Roman ruler, played while the characters are riding an escalator to their seats. (Bonus points if you can spot the point of divergence from our history to alt-history.)

“Consul-Elect Philippa Daciana welcomes you to the Flavian Amphitheatre, so named because of its initial construction almost twenty-one hundred years ago during the reigns of the Flavian emperors, Vespasian the First and Titus. Originally built of concrete and stone, the Amphitheatre was partially destroyed by earthquake nine hundred years later and was subsequently rebuilt according to its original specifications during the Clovian dynasty, by the Emperor Linus and his daughter, the Regent Jocasta. It again fell to ruin during the Mongol Occupation, after which its reconstruction, this time in iron and steel, became a catalyst for the Classical Revival. Its most recent reconstruction, two decades ago by the architect Paolo Gambini, incorporates the latest innovations in synthetics and cybernetics, and is dedicated to the initiation of the Third Republic, which began that same year. Improvements and upgrades continue on a regular basis for the enjoyment and edification of citizens and visitors from across the empire and beyond. Throughout the centuries the Amphitheatre has remained an indomitable symbol of the glory and greatness of both our city and our empire, and we are proud that you’ve chosen to visit it. Enjoy today’s show, as many millions have done before you!” 

To share the experience along with my characters (which isn't what you'd think; the games involve exoskeletons, and the fast food is Chinese), order or download Parallel U. 

BTW: Paolo Gambini is also an architect in our own world. I hope he someday gets a commission on this scale.

Also BTW: That point of divergence? It comes after the first sentence. (Actually it creeps in a little earlier; in our reality, there was no Vespasian the Second, so the emperor who bears that name is known to us simply as...Vespasian.)

Alternate histories

My novel Parallel U. - Freshman Year is about a university where all the students are from parallel universes. For some of my readers, this will be the first time you encounter the concept of a parallel universe—one similar to our own, but which differs in one or more pivotal way. In fact parallel worlds have been a mainstay of science fiction for decades; though the term many aficionados prefer for the genre is "alternate histories"—because each parallel world is the result of a point in history at which our world went one way, and the fictional world in question, another.

One of my favorite alternate histories is Robert Silverberg's Ruled Britannia. Its point of departure is the attempted invasion of England by the Spanish Armada in 1588. In our universe, of course, the smaller, more nimble English fleet (aided by some killer winds) pulverized the bloated, slow-moving Armada, and ushered in an era of English triumphalism. But in Silverberg's novel, which opens in 1597, it's the Spanish who won; and for the past decade, England has been ruled by Spain, its Protestant religion outlawed and Roman Catholicism re-imposed, and the aged Queen Elizabeth imprisoned in favor of the King of Spain's daughter, Isabella. The novel's protagonist is a young playwright who's recruited by the nationalist underground to write a drama that will incite London to overthrow the Spanish occupation. The playwright's name—well, what else could it be but William Shakespeare? It's great, tub-thumping stuff, and it appeals not only to my own personal fondness for the Tudor period and for all things Shakespeare...it also adds in another layer of interest, in Shakespeare choosing for his rabble-rousing play the subject of Boudicca, the ancient British queen who led a rebellion against the Romans.

Speaking of my mania for Rome—both republic and empire—Robert Silverberg, another exalted name in science fiction circles, delivers up a virtual Disneyland in Roma Eterna, whose premise is that the Roman Empire never declines and falls. Readers of Parallel U. will recognize that this is the story of my Parallel 24, where Fabia Terentia, one of my principal characters, originates; and in fact Parallel 24 was directly inspired by my reading of Silverberg's book. By deftly weaving a story that involves Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed all being sidelined, so that the rise of Jews, Christians, and Muslims never has a chance to impede Rome's progress, Silverberg made me believe such a thing was actually possible. (I did, however, feel obliged to make my Parallel-24 Rome different from Silverberg's Rome; to which end, I established a 200-year period in which the empire was occupied by the Mongols. And as long as I'm giving credit where credit is due, let me just add that this idea was directly inspired by my listening to Dan Carlin's riveting five-part podcast on the history of the Mongol empire, Wrath of the Khans, during the time I was writing Parallel U.) Where Roma Eterna differs from most alternate histories is in its format; it's not a novel, but a series of interrelated short stories, beginning in antiquity and continuing up through what, in our world, we call the 20th Century. It's an amazing, endlessly juicy read; I highly recommend it.

For those of you who might like to dip your toe into the alternative history pond without leaping into an entire 300-400 page book, let me also recommend Jordan Harbour's podcast Twilight Histories, which applies the concept to the venerable radio-play format, and does a consistently excellent job of it. There's a whole archive of podcasts set in parallel realities covering literally thousands of years, so you can find one that sparks your personal interest to begin, then keep going with all the rest. I only recently discovered this ongoing gem, and I'm having a blast with it. Even better, most of the programs are free on iTunes...and the few extras that are for purchase, are at a bargain price.

Happy reading/listening...and, oh yeah, happy new year!

Trade paperback now available

The Parallel U. Kindle edition is still available (for just 99 cents!), and now the traditionalists among you can purchase the trade paperback edition as well—featuring the back-cover portrait of principal cast by the one-and-only Dan Dougherty. Hey, makes a great Christmas gift as well! Just sayin'. 

And after you've read it—in whatever format you've read it—come back here and let me know what you thought, okay? Thanks, cheers, happy hols.