The Imperium Game [Paperback]

K. D. Wentworth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 2000

Kerickson was the main programmer of the Imperium Game, a three-dimensional recreation of the Roman Empire, complete with a slave market, public baths, gladiatorial combat, and a pantheon of ingeniously programmed deities. The Game was incredibly popular, exciting, and flawless–or so it seemed, until the god programs unexpectedly began to exceed their parameters. Suddenly, the Game was out of control. The gods ran rampant, life became violent and chaotic, the Roman emperor turned up dead–for real--and Kerickson was the prime suspect. Pursued by a policeman convinced of his guilt, Kerickson fled into the increasingly dangerous world of the Game. Now a lowly gladiator trainee, Kerickson must find the identity of the true murderer, and quick–because if the authorities don't get him, the gods surely will.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An ingenious mystery with a background combining the glitz of high tech with the decadence of ancient Rome." -- Walter Jon Williams, author of Rift

"K.D. Wentworth is an uncommonly good writer." -- Algis Budrys, author or Rogue Moon

"This is old fashioned heroic adventure, mixing sf and fantasy with a reckless abandon that makes it fun." -- Locus

From the Inside Flap

The Game was authentic from top to bottom, and most players had forgotten it was a game. When the reigning Emperor really was murdered, the prime suspect was the game's main programmer, Kerickson. Fired from his job, pursued by a policeman convinced of his guilt, Kerickson sneaked into the Game to find the real murderer. But he had lost access to his control room and only had the aid of the mouse-munching owl who was the Goddess of Wisdom--if only she were programmed correctly. But Minerva had more bugs than Cerberus had teeth. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Hawk Publishing Group (May 28, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096731318X
• ISBN-13: 978-0967313184
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,402,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Job Reassignment: Computer Geek to Gladiator, December 5, 2000

By 

"veroyse" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Imperium Game (Paperback)

Time and place: New York City of the future, where role playing is taken to its pinnacle at a theme park using physically interactive computer holographic gods and goddesses. The colorful and occasionally gritty streets of ancient Rome come to life in Wentworth's intense imagery, the written equivalent of a Maxfield Parrish painting. But mystery and romance also color the pages.

A hapless programmer named Kerickson is framed for murder of the most important player of The Imperium Game, the Emperor Micio Metullus. It just so happens that Kerickson's ex-wife was Micio's wife in the game, the bewitching Demea, with emphasis on 'witch'. Kerickson soon discovers that Amaelia, the late Emperor's daughter is pursued by her jealous stepmother and by Quintis Gracchus, sinster Captain of the Praetorian Guards. Gracchus seems determined to become the next Emperor by any means and change the nature of the game to serve his own dark purpose. With the sometimes-helpful aid of the malfunctioning gods, Kerickson enters the game and strives to save both it and Amaelia as the programs run amok.

The happy ending hoist Kerickson out of his previous wretched state but leaves room for a fun sequel. The Imperium Game provides a winning combination of sci-fi, mystery and romance.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Job Reassignment: Computer Geek to Gladiator, December 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Imperium Game (Paperback)

Time and place: New York City of the future, where role playing is taken to its pinnacle at a theme park using physically interactive computer holographic gods and goddesses. The colorful and occasionally gritty streets of ancient Rome come to life in Wentworth's intense imagery, the written equivalent of a Maxfield Parrish painting. But mystery and romance also color the pages.

A hapless programmer named Kerickson is framed for murder of the most important player of the Imperium Game, the Emperior Micio Metullus. It just so happens that Kerickson's ex-wife was Micio's wife in the game, the bewitching Demea, with emphasis on 'witch'. Kerickson soon discovers that Amaelia, the Emperor's daughter is pursued by her jealous stepmother and by Quintis Gracchus, sinister Captain of the Praetorian Guards. Gracchus seems determined to become the next Emperor by any means and change the nature of the game to serve his own dark purpose. With the sometimes-helpful aid of the malfunctioning gods, Kerickson enters the game and strives to save both it and Amaelia as the programs run amok.

The happy ending hoists Kerickson out of his previous wretched state but leaves room for a fun sequel should the author ever feel inspired to write one. THE IMPERIUM GAME provides a winning combination of sci-fi, mystery and romance that leaves you eager to read more.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars when in Rome..., September 23, 2005

By 

Jacob Weisman (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Imperium Game (Mass Market Paperback)

Taking place in a world where medieval role-playing games, like the popular Dungeons & Dragons, are conducted on a grand scale, K.D. Wentworth's The Imperium Game is surprisingly well written, full of twists and turns as well as elegant detail. The arena of The Imperium Game is a full-scale recreation of ancient Rome--complete with computor simulated, holographic dieties who assist players in exchange for ritual sacrafices at their temples. The players, who pay a fee to live and work in the city, are given points based on their experience and the authenticity of their role playing, competing to move up in rank and ultimately to assume the role of Emperor. Full of humor and unique creative touches, Wentworth succeeds in turning what may have been an average sf novel into a delightful, lightweight farce that reads more like a crime novel by Donald Westlake than anything else.