The Centurion's Empire [Hardcover]

Sean McMullen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1998

In the year that Mount Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii, the Roman Centurion Vitellan set off for the twenty-first century as Imperial Rome's last human-powered time machine. He killed an unfaithful lover by just letting her grow old, but her hate pursued him across seven centuries. In 1358 he stood with a few dozen knights against an army of nine thousand to defend the life of a beautiful countess...and earned a love that would conquer death.

Now Vitellan has awakened in the twenty-first century, a bewildered fugitive, betrayed and hunted in a world where minds and bodies are swapped and memories are bought, sold, and read like books. But worst of all, a deadly enemy from the fourteenth century is still very much alive--and closing in.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Sean McMullen, frequent winner of Australia's top science fiction award, the Ditmar, has created a fascinating adventure through time in The Centurion's Empire. From A.D. 71 to 2029, the Roman centurion Vitellan hibernates through the centuries via an elixir made from snow-dwelling insects. Unfortunately, he doesn't possess the antidote for the corrosive substance, so every time he is awakened, his body is more ravaged. His frigidarium is secreted beneath an English village, and as the Danes invade during the Dark Ages, the villagers, in fear for their lives, awaken him. He teaches them Roman martial discipline and they fight off the Danish rabble, but he's so weak that he must return to his cold sleep and await better medicine in the future. He is awakened in 1358 to battle again, this time in France, but it's his next awakening--in 2028--that propels the latter half of the novel into a thrill ride of nanotech-embellished skullduggery, as Illuminati-like factions vie for control of the resurrected hero. The centurion's viewpoint offers both a window into history and a ledge to stand on while peering into the future. Readers who enjoy the juxtaposition of historical novel with science-fiction adventure, as in Ian McDonald's King of Morning, Queen of Day, will appreciate McMullen's expertise in The Centurion's Empire. --Blaise Selby

From Publishers Weekly

McMullen (Voices in the Light), a three-time winner of the Aurealis Award, has crafted a novel that's both historical and futuristic, with much to recommend it. The story begins in A.D. 71, when Vitellan Bavalius is a simple sailor. Due to a series of fortunate accidents, Vitellan is made a centurion and handed a secret formula that was created by a group of Romans known as the Temporians. When used in combination with ice chambers, the formula induces a state of cryogenic suspension from which a person can be successfully resuscitated. Vitellan uses the formula to travel forward in time. He is revived at various turning points in history by his hereditary Icekeepers, who guard his "immortal" status. Each time Vitellan awakens, he finds his life complicated by previous and current love affairs. In this novel, women have long memories and they pass on their grudges (as well as their loyalties) to their offspring. Although his story occasionally lapses into tedious technical description, McMullen handles his characters and historical action scenes with zest. He is even more inventive with the sequences set in the 21st century; these are thrilling and allow more leeway for his wry sense of humor. Whether peeling off a false face or discussing the realities of the world shortly after Christ's death, Vitellan is an appealing protagonist. His fictional advent, worthy of a sequel, should enthrall fans of both history and hard SF.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 383 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312851316
• ISBN-13: 978-0312851316
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,727,472 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly Good, June 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Centurion's Empire (Hardcover)

Let me start by saying I'm not the kind of guy who gives 5-star reviews lightly. Many of my favorite books have serious flaws, but I don't let that get in the way of reading and enjoying them.

This book has no noticable flaws, at least after one reading. The level of craftsmanship is incredible; I haven't seen it done this well since Avram Davidson (although McCullen is not a 'prose stylist' - some will find this an improvement). Some very complex plot twists are deftly handled, and well foreshadowed. I was in complete suspension of disbelief from the very beginning, and felt compelled to read it in one sitting. Characterization was strong, action scenes were comprehensible and gripping. Violence was appropriate to the plot, and not overused.

The plot revolves around a Roman Centurion who gains access to a suspended animation elixer, and uses it to survive voluntary freezing for many centuries. He awakens several times over the years, finally in the mid-21st century. I don't want to give too much away; it's great fun to find it out as you go.

The 21st century technology may be a bit hard to keep up with for readers not familiar with cyberpunk conventions - there is nothing completely groundbreaking here, but my mother would be quite lost in the maze of bions, tiltfans, and brain imprints. This is probably appropriate; certainly our hero is confused by them himself.

All in all, it's the best novel I have read in some years. Quite excellent.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Roamin' Roman in the 21st Century, November 4, 2003

By 

David "dtstrange" (Pleasant Hill, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Centurion's Empire (Mass Market Paperback)

Getting books from Australia must be very hard, which explains how difficult it is to find Sean McMullen's works here in the States. Centurion's Empire predates his Greatwinter Trilogy books and it appears that the author was still learning his craft while writing this novel. The book starts slowly, which is normal in a time travel novel, but don't let the slow start get you down. Once our Hero finally reaches the 21st Century, which is about page 150 or so, the book is non-stop action and becomes incredibly fast-paced. I guarantee you'll like the book more after this point.

While I enjoyed the book, it is evident that this book was written in the mid-90's. Like many books from that era, it overestimates the rise of computer and nano-technology to point where it becomes very unbelievable that the advances described in the book will be with us before 2030. We have William Gibson to thank for this and it seems that McMullen tries to imitate that style and that maybe of Stephenson in Snow Crash, instead of exploring his own style, which is quite wonderful as anyone who has read and enjoyed his Greatwinter Trilogy can tell you. However, I highly recommend this book and hope that this author continues to write and gets the recognition he deserves on this side of the Pacific.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Little Too Long, But Otherwise Excellent., May 12, 2000

By 

A. Ross (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Centurion's Empire (Mass Market Paperback)

This excellent time-travel saga begins with a young Roman soldier almost dying in a tempest in the year 71. The first hundred pages takes place during this time, where the method of time travel that forms the basis for the book is introduced. This section is all excellent conspiracy stuff with the ancient Rome twist. This is followed by a sixty-page interlude in France during the 100 Years War which is full of chivalry and heroism, also good stuff. The remainder of the book takes place about 30 years years into our future and is heavy on complicated technology and elaborate double-crossing. This is somewhat less satisfying for all its complexity than the previous settings, although the story is good enough to carry the reader through until the end. For the futurist buffs, there all kinds of neat ideas: mind imprinting, body repair, crazy weapons and armor, vehicles, etc. Although a bit too long, the book is a pretty satisfying blend of historical fantasy and futurist sci-fi.