In search of references

[thanate]

Working on second drafting some of these books, and I want to know what else is out there that I ought to be considering, contextually. Can you think of any books/short stories/AV media/etc that deal with the following topics? Works in English that I can get hold of preferred, of course:

*Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine, for you later scholars), preferably fantasy inspired thereby. I've been re-reading Gillian Bradshaw's historical versions, and have Guy Gavriel Kay's Sailing to Sarantium out from the library. The only other thing I think of is The Dragon Waiting, which is not at all useful to me.

*Ancient river/desert cultures that aren't Egypt, real or fictional. I have a lead on something Southwestern American, but haven't tracked down the book yet.

*Normal-ish people who become gods & have to deal with that. I have NK Jemison's Inheritance Trilogy, but that's all I think of at the moment.

*Tree of life/wisdom and/or magic apple myths besides Eden, Freya's tree, and the greek stuff (Atlanta, apple of discord)... fruits that grant magical whatever from tropical cultures particularly appreciated, invented cultures also ok.

Any suggestions appreciated-- thanks!

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Didn'[t Harry Turtledove and Susan Shwartz write some Byzantine fantasies, back in the eighties?

[alecaustin.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there's The Tale of Krispos (http://www.amazon.com/The-Tale-Krispos-Videssos-Emperor/dp/0345467205/) for Turtledove. I think he did a couple more books in that universe too, though I don't know if they're in print.

Shwartz wrote Byzantium's Crown (http://www.amazon.com/Byzantiums-Crown-Susan-Shwartz/dp/1585866822/), Queensblade (http://www.amazon.com/Queensblade-Susan-Schwartz/dp/0759203865/), and The Woman of Flowers (http://www.amazon.com/The-Woman-Flowers-Susan-Shwartz/). The latter two seem to be in short supply, at least in hardcopy.

[thanate.livejournal.com]

Awesome, thank you! (now if only my library systems had any of these...)

[thanate.livejournal.com]

Now that you mention it, I had heard about the Turtledove ones, though the last time I tried to track them down all I could find was his civil war stuff & so I promptly forgot about them. I had not previously heard of Susan Shwartz at all. Thanks!

[funnylori.livejournal.com]

Robert Silverberg did Sailing to Byzantium, but it is pretty sci-fi. I loved it. http://www.amazon.com/Sailing-To-Byzantium-Robert-Silverberg/dp/0743487117 It probably isn't very helpful at all. :-P

[thanate.livejournal.com]

Sounds like it might at least be interesting in terms of scenery, if not helpful culture-wise. Thanks. :)

[weebaby.livejournal.com]

If I remember correctly, Many Waters (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312368577/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=weebaby&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0312368577)dealt quite extensively with a fictional-esque Biblical desert life. It's the lesser known fourth book of the Wrinkle in Time series.

The Magician's Nephew (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0064409430/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=weebaby&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0064409430) from The Chronicles of Narnia put a different spin on the apple in Eden myth, such as the effects it has on villain.