I've just finished reading Dave Bishop's The Strangelove Gambit and have been inspired to write something about Dante myself. I was thinking of introducing a character along these lines...
Josef Dredov was the Tsar?s most loyal and most successful general. During the last days of the War, only the front led by this most capable leader held out against the Romanov forces. When the tide had turned and the Romanovs had been unexpectedly defeated by the Imperial forces, the Tsar had offered Dredov his choice of lavish rewards ? Dredov had respectfully declined. For Dredov was no common man.
Created in the Imperial Cloning Facility of Minsk, Dredov had become the ultimate soldier. The origins of his DNA template were lost in the mists of time. Some said he had been created in the image of Peter the Great, while others maintained that he was the clone of some long-forgotten dictator of the Dark Times. Dredov himself never thought of his origins; they were irrelevant to him and distracted his attention from serving the Empire.
He strode down the chamber towards the Tsar and knelt down on one knee in subservience. All who were gathered were impressed by this imposing figure. He stood tall and dark. His uniform was black, the only colour was from the myriad array of medals he wore on his chest. These, he wore only in the presence of the Tsar, and only to honour those that fell under his command. His face was completely obscured by a black, opaque helmet. No living person could say that they had beheld this man?s face, and this only added to his legend. And he held quite the legend.
As impressive as his bearing was, the man?s reputation somehow made him larger than life. He was known as ?The Judge,? for his devotion to order was essential to him. Many were the stories of how he served the Tsar during the War, and how after each battle, he would dispense summary justice to wrongdoers, no matter which side they belonged to. For he did sit on drumhead trials. He was ruthless but he was fair. Second to this in his nature was his incorruptibility. While other officers under the Tsar?s rule routinely accepted bribes, Dredov steadfastly refused any infringement of the law. He wouldn?t attend the drinking establishments the other officers would regularly visit, or make use of the Imperial brothels. And more than that, he would not allow any of his men under his direct command to do so either. It was little wonder that this man was held in such esteem by the military, the court in general and the Tsar in particular.
What do you think? Is it too close to other stories, or do you think it cannot be developed into a proper story?
Josef Dredov was the Tsar?s most loyal and most successful general. During the last days of the War, only the front led by this most capable leader held out against the Romanov forces. When the tide had turned and the Romanovs had been unexpectedly defeated by the Imperial forces, the Tsar had offered Dredov his choice of lavish rewards ? Dredov had respectfully declined. For Dredov was no common man.
Created in the Imperial Cloning Facility of Minsk, Dredov had become the ultimate soldier. The origins of his DNA template were lost in the mists of time. Some said he had been created in the image of Peter the Great, while others maintained that he was the clone of some long-forgotten dictator of the Dark Times. Dredov himself never thought of his origins; they were irrelevant to him and distracted his attention from serving the Empire.
He strode down the chamber towards the Tsar and knelt down on one knee in subservience. All who were gathered were impressed by this imposing figure. He stood tall and dark. His uniform was black, the only colour was from the myriad array of medals he wore on his chest. These, he wore only in the presence of the Tsar, and only to honour those that fell under his command. His face was completely obscured by a black, opaque helmet. No living person could say that they had beheld this man?s face, and this only added to his legend. And he held quite the legend.
As impressive as his bearing was, the man?s reputation somehow made him larger than life. He was known as ?The Judge,? for his devotion to order was essential to him. Many were the stories of how he served the Tsar during the War, and how after each battle, he would dispense summary justice to wrongdoers, no matter which side they belonged to. For he did sit on drumhead trials. He was ruthless but he was fair. Second to this in his nature was his incorruptibility. While other officers under the Tsar?s rule routinely accepted bribes, Dredov steadfastly refused any infringement of the law. He wouldn?t attend the drinking establishments the other officers would regularly visit, or make use of the Imperial brothels. And more than that, he would not allow any of his men under his direct command to do so either. It was little wonder that this man was held in such esteem by the military, the court in general and the Tsar in particular.
What do you think? Is it too close to other stories, or do you think it cannot be developed into a proper story?