Rating: 
Summary: The Origin of Alternate History...
Review: "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.
Rating:
Summary: A classic story with a mediocre one hanging on
Review: "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
Rating:
Summary: A classic story with a mediocre one hanging on
Review: "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
Rating:
Summary: The Origin of Alternate History...
Review: "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.
Rating:
Summary: The Origin of Alternate History...
Review: "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.
Rating:
Summary: A Rare Treat
Review: A while back, being interested in time travel stories and alternate universe stuff, I found this small tome and decided to buy it. Best purchase I have made in a long time (like others I have read and re-read this one until the pages are dog-eared). Dr. Padway's character is thoughtful and intelligent (being so and writing him that way are two entirely different things showing off deCamp's brilliance at character development). This Conneticut Yankee (Padway), instead of lamenting his predicament (i.e. being catapulted to 500 a.d. at about the moment Rome falls for good), immediately goes about to see if he can change history (ah, parallel time line development), and finds out how tuff that can really be. Even making friends you can trust is a bit of a challange. The only thing I find wouldn't work today is that in deCamp's time they still taught Latin in the grade/high schools/colleges as required material so that Dr. Padway at least has some familiarity with the language in the Rome of otherwhen and allowing him to overcome that "very" nasty barrier with some ease. A highly recommended book.
Rating:
Summary: A Rare Treat
Review: A while back, being interested in time travel stories and alternate universe stuff, I found this small tome and decided to buy it. Best purchase I have made in a long time (like others I have read and re-read this one until the pages are dog-eared). Dr. Padway's character is thoughtful and intelligent (being so and writing him that way are two entirely different things showing off deCamp's brilliance at character development). This Conneticut Yankee (Padway), instead of lamenting his predicament (i.e. being catapulted to 500 a.d. at about the moment Rome falls for good), immediately goes about to see if he can change history (ah, parallel time line development), and finds out how tuff that can really be. Even making friends you can trust is a bit of a challange. The only thing I find wouldn't work today is that in deCamp's time they still taught Latin in the grade/high schools/colleges as required material so that Dr. Padway at least has some familiarity with the language in the Rome of otherwhen and allowing him to overcome that "very" nasty barrier with some ease. A highly recommended book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Classic Worth Revisiting
Review: In this classic of time-travel originally published as a short story, academic Martin Padway is jolted back into the waning days of the Roman Empire. He then sets out to prevent the fall of the Roman Empire by introducing various technological innovations and inventions, which culminate to catapult him to a position of high political and military power. Of course since Martin is an academic in a certain field, he manages to have enough classical Latin to muddle along until he learns the Latin of the times. he is also suspiciously adept at figuring out how to remake certain modern tools with the materials at hand, most notably a printing press. And when he needs to be, he becomes remarkably politically subtle and charismatic. Altogether, rather contrived, but fun.
Rating:
Summary: A seminal work of alternative history.
Review: It is a mark of the quality of this book that it has never been out of print since it was published several decades ago. This is the book that started the genre of alternative history. He throws his hero, Martin Padway, into dark ages Rome with only the contents of his pockets and his wits. Can a modern man make a comfortable life for himself in the ancient world? It is a short read, but very well written. Le Camp builds us a time travel theory and a whole world in the past without needing to engage in in-depth world building. And for students of Byzantine history, it covers an interesting era when Justinian tried to reel the Ostrogothic run Italy back into the Eastern Roman Empire. Apart from the alternative elements the book is very historically correct. As a bonus you get the David Drake novella "To bring the light" another alternative history about the founding of Rome.
Rating:
Summary: A seminal work of alternative history.
Review: It is a mark of the quality of this book that it has never been out of print since it was published several decades ago. This is the book that started the genre of alternative history. He throws his hero, Martin Padway, into dark ages Rome with only the contents of his pockets and his wits. Can a modern man make a comfortable life for himself in the ancient world? It is a short read, but very well written. Le Camp builds us a time travel theory and a whole world in the past without needing to engage in in-depth world building. And for students of Byzantine history, it covers an interesting era when Justinian tried to reel the Ostrogothic run Italy back into the Eastern Roman Empire. Apart from the alternative elements the book is very historically correct. As a bonus you get the David Drake novella "To bring the light" another alternative history about the founding of Rome.
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