Lest Darkness Fall & To Bring the Light [Mass Market Paperback]

David Drake (Author), L. Sprague de Camp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1996

When Rome fell, the light of reason flickered out across the Empire. The Dark Ages had begun. Could a man from the 20th century prevent the fall of Rome? When lightning struck, Martin Padway was hurled backward into the sixth century. Like him, her fate was to bring Rome into being. Together, they must strive to bring the light, lest darkness fall.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Baen (July 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671877364
• ISBN-13: 978-0671877361
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #946,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Origin of Alternate History..., January 1, 2002

By 

Carl Malmstrom (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lest Darkness Fall & To Bring the Light (Mass Market Paperback)

"Lest Darkness Fall..." is arguably the novel that began the entire science fiction sub-genre of alternate history. Centering around a Ph.D. candidate studying in Rome in the late 1930s, early 1940s, it tackles the idea question of "What would you do if you had the chance to save the Roman Empire?"

Perched at the very edge of the twilight of the (Western) Roman civilization, it realistically tackles the political, scientific and cultural problems of the 5th and 6th centuries A.D. in southern Europe. De Camp was not only a famous science fiction author (a lesser-known contemporary of Isaac Asimov), but he was a published historian and classicist in his own right. This book showcases all three of those fields in one go - at the height of his writing talent.

The short story paired with this, "To Bring The Light" by David Drake, is less meant as a serious contender in terms of literary quality than an homage to de Camp's work. Dealing with the founding of the Roman civilization in much the way that "Lest Darkness Fall..." deals with it's death throes, it succeeds in showing the David Drake's admiration for de Camp's work.

Ultimately, though, I'd buy the book for "Lest Darkness Fall...": it's a surprisingly ignored but wonderful novel that paved the way for what has become an entire sub-field of science fiction. Whether you like alternate history or not, though, this book should not be missed.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Creative, Concise and Appealing, February 29, 2004

By 

D. Ross "http://directorblue.blogspot.com" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lest Darkness Fall & To Bring the Light (Mass Market Paperback)

Martin Padway, mild-mannered archaeologist, is visiting Rome when he is thrust backwards in time... all the way back to the sixth century A.D. The Roman Empire is fading fast... facing foes on all sides... with the thousand-year blight we now know as the Dark Ages fast approaching. Can a single man -- Padway --change history and prevent the fall of Rome? Nothing less than the 'Age of Enlightenment' hangs in the balance.

The literary descendent of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court', de Camp lets Padway grapple with raw issues. I found these areas the story's most interesting sections: how to make a living, having arrived with only modern currency in hand... how to avoid the authorities, given their proclivity to brand any new technology 'witchcraft'... how to assemble allies, fend off enemies and stay healthy in an environment not conducive to outsiders.

Because it was written in 1939, there is a level of 'political incorrectness' that is entertainingly fresh. Italian women, Muslims, the French and others are insulted with broad brush-strokes. Nonetheless, it is historically informative, important from a literary standpoint and makes for interesting reading. Despite its age, it is a fluid, fast read. de Camp had a lot of interesting things to say... and said them well.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic story with a mediocre one hanging on, March 14, 2000

By 

M. Broderick "mikebinok" (Oklahoma City, OK USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lest Darkness Fall & To Bring the Light (Mass Market Paperback)

"Lest Darkness Fall" is considered a classic of science fiction, and justifiably so. If you enjoy "displaced in time" stories, or if the idea interests you, you can expect to like the book. The hero is a PhD-to-be who gets mysteriously plunged back to Rome in its declining years, and takes it on himself to use what he knows and avert the coming dark ages. It is funny in places, sad in a couple of places, and exciting all through. The other part of this book is a rather forgettable story by an excellent writer, David Drake. If you enjoy this book, look up "Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen" by Piper, or "Island in the Sea of Time" by S.M. Stirling