Thursday, August 25, 2005

Fitzpatricks War

Fitzpatrick's War: The Early Life of Sir Robert Mayfair Bruce is a wonderful book. Theodore Judson creates a wonderful world in a very possible future. Set in the late 26th century the world is powered by steam (electricity has been forgotten) and the age of fuedalism has returned.

The world's most important science has become history and not only has history been written by the victors (the Yukons), but rewritten by them to glorify Isaac Prophet Fitzpatrick, the conquerer of the world and a young man with an Alexander complex. Or has it?

If you are a fan of historical fiction, speculative history or alternative earths, then this book is definately for you. Not only does Judson create an all too convincing possible future of earth, but he dots the book with humorous takes on current times as seen through the eyes of a puritan society 600 years in the future. The book is filled with footnotes that point out the inconsistancies between Robert's tale and what has become the remembered history of the Age of Fitzpatrick, which allow you to see the power that history creates.

One can only hope that Judson will write more about his future earth as he leaves plenty of back history and potential stories littered in his footnotes. It's been a long time since I have read anything this good.

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