by John Brunner
First published 1984
Freitas commands his global empire's engineers to construct a machine capable of pillaging the past. The device works beyond his expectations. He can now claim any treasure from history, but wealth alone does not satisfy him. Freitas seeks absolute power over his enemies and competitors. He uses the machine to recruit powerful figures from bygone eras, men and women whose abilities can help him crush his rivals and establish total dominion. The historical figures arrive in his world, ready to serve his ambitions. Yet Freitas discovers a fatal flaw in his plan. These people from the past possess their own dangerous influence over him. The very allies he summoned to secure his victory may destroy him instead. Terror spreads as the consequences of tampering with time become clear.
Genres: science-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, thriller, action, alternate-history
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
239 pages · Mass Market Paperback · DAW Science Fiction