The Centurion's Empire. [Paperback]

Sean McMullen (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Tor Books; aFirst Edition First Printing edition (1998)
• ASIN: B000OTLI3U
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

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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.