Decline and Fall

Among the many sci-fi authors whose work I have come to admire during the past few years, Theodore Judson made quite an impression upon me in 2004 with the publication of his epic novel Fitzpatrick's War - a tale of the rise and fall of a 25th century Alexander-like figure named Isaac Prophet Fitzpatrick, Emperor of the Yukon Confederacy. The story is narrated from the standpoint of one of Fitzpatrick's close advisers, with footnotes inserted by a future historian unwilling to confront the truth of the adviser's wry observations.

Earlier this year, another novel of his was published, entitled The Martian General's Daughter. As Fitzpatrick's War was essentially a retelling of the rise and fall of Alexander the Great, set in a future time, The Martian General's Daughter is a retelling of the decline and near-fall of the Roman Empire under Commodus. Playing the Commodus role in Judson's novel is Luke Spacious Anthony, son of Emperor Matthias the Glistening of the Pan-Polarian Empire - an empire with its capital in a place called Garden City (formerly Mexico City), controlling most of the northern hemisphere in addition to some off-world colonies across the solar system.

The main character in the novel, however, is a young woman named Justa Black, the illegitimate daughter and constant companion of General Peter Justice Black of the Pan-Polarian Army. Through her eyes, the reader comes to know General Black as a good, but imperfect man caught up in dreadful circumstances. The story begins with General Black serving as the military governor of the Pan-Polarian Empire's colony on Mars (hence the novel's title) while back on Earth the empire has fallen into chaos with the assassination of the tyrannical, insane Luke Anthony. From that point, the story tells the tale of the Pan-Polarian Empire's decline in flashbacks, first going back to the death of Matthias the Glistening (who bears a strong resemblance to Marcus Aurelius) and the beginning of Luke Anthony's disastrous tenure as emperor and then to several years later in Garden City, when the gluttony and corruption of Luke Anthony is on full display, but the people don't care as the government is providing for all their food and entertainment while the empire crumbles around them.

As the years go by, General Black ends up being one of the few competent men remaining that Luke Anthony can trust, primarily because of Black's professionalism and lack of desire for political power. Nonetheless, Black is severely troubled by Luke Anthony's decadence and the declining fortunes (for which Luke Anthony is directly responsible) of the empire he has served for so many years. Following Luke Anthony's death, Black then has to consider the possibility that he may be the Pan-Polarian Empire's last, best hope and may just have to reluctantly accept the responsibility fate is attempting to thrust upon him.

As for whether or not General Black ultimately chooses to bear that burden, to find the answer you must read this highly-recommended novel.