Rubicon: A HWA Short Collection is a collection of short stories by a variety of different authors set in Ancient Rome. Each story sheds light on a unique part of Rome’s history, bringing to life new characters, plots and events. After each story there is a short interview with the author, discussing their inspiration for these stories and what makes Ancient Rome so special to them and their writing.
The danger with short stories is that it’s harder to create an in-depth, perhaps relatable storyline/character. But on the other hand, it means that these authors are forced into jumping straight into the narrative, with interesting plots from the beginning. Rubicon fulfils this characteristic, with each story describing a unique perspective of Ancient Rome, from soldiers on the battlefield, to spies, and to the everyday life of average citizens. The grandeur of Rome meets the struggles faced in the day to day life of Roman citizens in these short stories, offering new perspectives on this period of history.
For those who are avid Roman literature readers, this collection is a great way to discover new authors and their stories. And for those who are new to this genre or just want to learn more about this period, Rubicon offers a taste of what Roman historical fiction has to offer.