Fitzpatricks War by Theodore Judson
Brilliant. Not only the storyline and characters but the author. Sci fi is so often formula: Set in the future, some fantastic world with futuristic weapons, a misfit hero who conquers all despite himself.
The book is a book within itself. The author, a professor (Van Buren) who is commenting on a document written by a intimate (Bruce) of a man (Fitzpatrick) who conquered the world in 4 yrs. The professors book is published some 20 yrs after the death of Bruce.
The world of the future looks very different than today. Todays age is called the Electronics Age and electronics is no longer a force in the world. The world now is run by steam. The mores, dress and lifestyle has reverted back to Victorian/Edwardian times. It's over 300 years in the future and the world no longer remembers countries, states, etc of our times. The prose is Victorian/Edwardian which at first I thought would grate on me but it did not.
This is Bruces story of how he rose from a lowly born commoner, went to a military school and was risen into the ranks of noblity students by Fitzpatrick. From then on he lived a charmed military life, although he continued to question his character as he continued to accept favors from Fitzpatrick. Bruce is a man of morals, of honesty and he finds it increasely difficult to particpate in Fitzpatricks rise to ruler. Yet he does.
There are many groups vying for power, a huge political machine that spans decades in the making of a despot or two. Fitzpatrick is seduced by power (guided at first by his mother) & becomes more and more corupt and paranoid as his posse of military men fawn around him, including Bruce. Fitzpatrick has a Swengali like personality for these men and later the world. History, with a captial H is what rules the population. The conspiracy of Fitzpatricks age is guided by a larger conspiracy, the Timerman. The History of the Timerman is secret, they appear in the book early, are absent in the middle and return at the end.
His wife, who is picked for him quite early is a headstrong woman of lowly birth. She is (according to the professor) his bad influence, as Bruce loves his wife and children and she is always his voice of concience.
Bruce paints an ugly picture of Fitzpatrick, who the public believes is a hero. The Professor has a multitude of footnotes discounting Bruces memory and basically refutes much of Bruces testimony. Constant is references to Gerald who has written the definitive book on the age of Fitzpatrick; a book of heroics and upstanding morales.
The book is quite detailed in it's portrayal of locations all over the world, of the native peoples and of war: strategy and tactics. His love of History is evident on every page.
If you want a complex, detailed futuristic book, this is a great one to read.
The book is a book within itself. The author, a professor (Van Buren) who is commenting on a document written by a intimate (Bruce) of a man (Fitzpatrick) who conquered the world in 4 yrs. The professors book is published some 20 yrs after the death of Bruce.
The world of the future looks very different than today. Todays age is called the Electronics Age and electronics is no longer a force in the world. The world now is run by steam. The mores, dress and lifestyle has reverted back to Victorian/Edwardian times. It's over 300 years in the future and the world no longer remembers countries, states, etc of our times. The prose is Victorian/Edwardian which at first I thought would grate on me but it did not.
This is Bruces story of how he rose from a lowly born commoner, went to a military school and was risen into the ranks of noblity students by Fitzpatrick. From then on he lived a charmed military life, although he continued to question his character as he continued to accept favors from Fitzpatrick. Bruce is a man of morals, of honesty and he finds it increasely difficult to particpate in Fitzpatricks rise to ruler. Yet he does.
There are many groups vying for power, a huge political machine that spans decades in the making of a despot or two. Fitzpatrick is seduced by power (guided at first by his mother) & becomes more and more corupt and paranoid as his posse of military men fawn around him, including Bruce. Fitzpatrick has a Swengali like personality for these men and later the world. History, with a captial H is what rules the population. The conspiracy of Fitzpatricks age is guided by a larger conspiracy, the Timerman. The History of the Timerman is secret, they appear in the book early, are absent in the middle and return at the end.
His wife, who is picked for him quite early is a headstrong woman of lowly birth. She is (according to the professor) his bad influence, as Bruce loves his wife and children and she is always his voice of concience.
Bruce paints an ugly picture of Fitzpatrick, who the public believes is a hero. The Professor has a multitude of footnotes discounting Bruces memory and basically refutes much of Bruces testimony. Constant is references to Gerald who has written the definitive book on the age of Fitzpatrick; a book of heroics and upstanding morales.
The book is quite detailed in it's portrayal of locations all over the world, of the native peoples and of war: strategy and tactics. His love of History is evident on every page.
If you want a complex, detailed futuristic book, this is a great one to read.
posted by vivage @ 6/20/2006 07:04:00 PM
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