Roma Eterna

Lore & Background

The point of divergence in Roma Eterna is the failure of the Israelite Exodus from Egypt: Moses and many Israelites drowned, and the remnant, led by Aaron, were returned to slavery. This event is recorded in the alternate Book of Aaron. Later, the Hebrews were freed but remained a distinct monotheistic minority in Egypt. The Roman Empire was never Christianized, and mutual assistance between the Western and Eastern Empires preserved both from falling. Muhammad was assassinated by a Roman agent, preventing the spread of Islam.

Reader's Guide

Roma Eterna received a share of negative criticism. Claude Lalumière in The Montreal Gazette accused it of concentrating too much on the upper class and not drawing a detailed picture of Roman life through the ages. The only story to receive true praise from reviewer Alma A. Hromic of SFSite is the last chapter, 'To the Promised Land,' which does not deal with Romans or the upper class. Five of the stories—'Waiting for the End,' 'Getting to Know the Dragon,' 'A Hero of the Empire,' 'With Caesar in the Underworld,' and 'The Reign of Terror'—were nominated for the Sidewise Award for Alternate History upon their original publications, though none won. The novel is significant as a sustained alternate history exploring the consequences of a surviving Roman Empire and the absence of Christianity and Islam, while echoing many historical patterns from our own timeline.

Did You Know?

• The point of divergence is the failure of the Israelite Exodus, with Moses and many Israelites drowned.
• Muhammad was assassinated by a Roman agent, preventing the spread of Islam.
• Five of the novel's stories were nominated for the Sidewise Award for Alternate History.
• The final story, 'To the Promised Land,' was the first written, published in Omni in May 1989.