Review of 'The Misplaced Legion'

The Misplaced Legion by Harry Turtledove
1st book in the 'Videssos Cycle' series

I had to check to see that this book was classified as “fiction” since the very premise of the book is very science-fiction in nature (when the swords of the leaders of a roman legion and a gaul one touch the roman legion and the gaul are transported to another planet where the magic is commonplace). The story is a good one with a lot of discussion about war and politics but interesting nonetheless. The story essentially follows the leader of the roman legion – Marcus Scaurus – who ends up leading his legionnaires as soldiers-of-fortune in this new land. I must admit that I was suprised at the ending, but then again, this is only book one…Turtledove is the master of both war and historically based fiction and even in this, one of his earlier works, this is obvious.

Rating: “A bit better than average”

Genre: Fantasy