Emperor: Time's Tapestry #1 - Hardcover

Baxter, Stephen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0441014666 ISBN 13: 9780441014668

Publisher: Ace Hardcover, 2007

Synopsis

A first installment of a four-book alternate history epic traces the rise of a powerful family whose successes are linked to an ancient prophecy that guides their financial and political choices, in a tale that begins with a Celtic noble's betrayal and culminates in the fall of the Roman empire. 20,000 first printing.

About this title

About the Author:

Stephen Baxter was born in Liverpool, England, in 1957. He holds degrees in mathematics, from Cambridge University; engineering, from Southampton University; and business administration, from Henley Management College. He’s a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society.

His first professionally published short story appeared in 1987. He has been a full-time author since 1995 and is currently Vice-President of the British Science Fiction Association.

His science fiction novels have been published in the UK, the US, and in many other countries including Germany, Japan, France. His books have won several awards including the Philip K Dick Award, the John Campbell Memorial Award, the British Science Fiction Association Award, the Kurd Lasswitz Award (Germany) and the Seiun Award (Japan) and have been nominated for several others, including the Arthur C Clarke Award, the Hugo Award and Locus awards. He has also published over 100 sf short stories, several of which have won prizes. He can be found at stephen-baxter.com.

From Booklist:

About 40 years after the death of Julius Caesar, a child is born in Britain. As his mother struggles in hard labor, she prophesies in Latin, a language she doesn't speak. The forecast is written down and kept as a treasure that will, if properly interpreted, aid the family in times to come. Following the prophecy, the family makes peace with Claudius and prospers under Roman rule while retaining ties to the homeland. Constantine's visit to Britain, however, tears the family asunder, and part of the prophecy is lost. As Roman power wanes and barbarians encroach, the prophecy, with its promise of foreknowledge for those who can construe it, is renewed. Baxter follows what is known of Roman Britain, including the results of recent archaeological research, adding the element of how much influence belief in a knowable future might exert. Embedded in Roman British history, the family's 400-year effort to protect and interpret the prophecy constitutes a very coherent, readable story, which this book just begins. Frieda Murray
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Ace Hardcover
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0441014666
• ISBN 13: 9780441014668
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320