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CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY—OR DIE!One moment Conrad Schwartz was suffering from a severe hangover as he hiked through the mountains of present-day Poland, the next he was running for his life from an angry Teutonic knight. Things went downhill from there, and he finally had to face the disheartening fact he had somehow been stranded in 1231 A.D.
He would have been happier if he had known less history. But there was very bad news in his new future, so he set out to turn Medieval Poland show more into the most powerful country in the thirteenth century. It wouldn't be easy. He would be investigated by the Inquisition (he should have expected that), be knighted, round up vassals, build a city, survive armed combat with the Champion of the Teutonic Knights, invent the steam engine and cloth factories, establish universal education, and organize an army.
He needed that army most of all, because he knew that the Mongol hordes would attack in only ten years and destroy medieval Poland—and that would really mess up Conrad's life.
Three novels in the Locus best-selling series in one volume.
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
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Giant Gary Stu alternative history timeslip story (the mechanism is well-explained) set in mediæval Poland with the Mongols coming a few years in the future. Conrad Stargard races to prepare for their coming by creating an industrial revolution and bedding barely nubile girls. This is geek wish-fulfillment in excelsis.
I think Frankowski writes complete and utter trash and this book doesn't do a thing to change my mind.
And yet here I am, having read 3 books into the series. I am disturbed at that :-)
And yet here I am, having read 3 books into the series. I am disturbed at that :-)
All the books in this series are great - Conrad's Quest for rubber isn't quite as good -- get food and water near you before you start reading these 6
See the Book 1 review
baen ebook
The continuing story of Conrad the involuntary time-traveller, who found himself stranded in 13th century Poland and is trying to prepare the country for the Mongol invasion that he knows is coming.
In this volume, he’s still working hard on his industrialization programme, but now he also starts the beginnings of an army. Partially by accident, he’s promoted from knight to baron, which means that he gains more land and is entitled to knight people himself.
The story remains mildly entertaining in parts, if you like this kind of thing: Leo Frankowski (1943–2008) was a literary pigmy and politically incorrect, but a competent storyteller.
For most of this series, he avoids explicitly condoning rape, by the simple device of assuring us show more that most 13th century Polish females were remarkably willing. However, this book includes a rape that he seems to condone, and what’s more it’s not essential to the plot, he could easily have avoided it. Most authors would have avoided it, to save themselves some hate, but I suppose Frankowski was thick-skinned and didn’t care about antagonizing people.
Overall, I find these books sufficiently entertaining to reread them occasionally, when I can’t find anything better to read; but I wouldn’t normally recommend them to other people. The scenario is genuinely interesting, and Conrad’s attempt to gear up Poland to resist the Mongols is worth reading about and not badly handled. However, here we have a hero (and probably an author too) whose main preoccupations are engineering and sex, which doesn’t suit me well; I don’t know about you. The writing style is unsophisticated and characterization is perfunctory. show less
In this volume, he’s still working hard on his industrialization programme, but now he also starts the beginnings of an army. Partially by accident, he’s promoted from knight to baron, which means that he gains more land and is entitled to knight people himself.
The story remains mildly entertaining in parts, if you like this kind of thing: Leo Frankowski (1943–2008) was a literary pigmy and politically incorrect, but a competent storyteller.
For most of this series, he avoids explicitly condoning rape, by the simple device of assuring us show more that most 13th century Polish females were remarkably willing. However, this book includes a rape that he seems to condone, and what’s more it’s not essential to the plot, he could easily have avoided it. Most authors would have avoided it, to save themselves some hate, but I suppose Frankowski was thick-skinned and didn’t care about antagonizing people.
Overall, I find these books sufficiently entertaining to reread them occasionally, when I can’t find anything better to read; but I wouldn’t normally recommend them to other people. The scenario is genuinely interesting, and Conrad’s attempt to gear up Poland to resist the Mongols is worth reading about and not badly handled. However, here we have a hero (and probably an author too) whose main preoccupations are engineering and sex, which doesn’t suit me well; I don’t know about you. The writing style is unsophisticated and characterization is perfunctory. show less
Dec 17, 2024 (Edited)English (UK)
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33 Works 3,571 Members
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Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Radiant Warrior
- Original publication date
- 1989-07
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- Members
- 429
- Popularity
- 71,587
- Reviews
- 7
- Rating
- (3.37)
- Languages
- English, Italian
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 2
