Retired army officer and now ancient history professor Arthur Vandenberg, along with four of his students, is summoned to a lab in Austria in 2032. Around them, the world is descending into imminent nuclear war. The lab has perfected time travel, and the group of five finds itself in the Roman province of Pannonia Superior, in the late second century, during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. As they hurriedly leave 2032, the final war has begun, and they’be been sent back to change history, equipped with supplies and reference materials. From that starting point, Arthur (now Artorius) and his crew introduce numerous improvements to agriculture, medicine, architecture, and crucially the military arts, aiming to strengthen and preserve the Roman empire and prevent the Dark Ages.
Mr. Stirling is back to form in a fast-paced novel filled with fascinating historical detail. The casual cruelty of the social norms of the time is starkly presented, but in contrast with the barbarian tribes, the Romans believe in peace and thus prosperity. Artorius and the other four “moderns” are all interesting and fully-formed characters, as is their new friend Josephus the merchant. This is part historical fiction page-turner, part history lesson, and goes well beyond any superficial “moderns are superheroes” tropes.
