Walter Jon Williams, author of Rift
"An ingenious mystery with a background combining the glitz of high tech with the decadence of ancient Rome."


Locus
"This is old fashioned heroic adventure, mixing sf and fantasy with a reckless abandon that makes it fun."


Algis Budrys, author or Rogue Moon
"K.D. Wentworth is an uncommonly good writer."


Book Description
Kerickson was the main programmer of the Imperium Game, a three-dimensional recreation of the Roman Empire, complete with a slave market, public baths, gladiatorial combat, and a pantheon of ingeniously programmed deities. The Game was incredibly popular, exciting, and flawless–or so it seemed, until the god programs unexpectedly began to exceed their parameters. Suddenly, the Game was out of control. The gods ran rampant, life became violent and chaotic, the Roman emperor turned up dead–for real--and Kerickson was the prime suspect. Pursued by a policeman convinced of his guilt, Kerickson fled into the increasingly dangerous world of the Game. Now a lowly gladiator trainee, Kerickson must find the identity of the true murderer, and quick–because if the authorities don't get him, the gods surely will.

ANNOTATION

Something's very wrong in the high-tech Roman Empire role-playing environment called The Imperium Game. The Emperor hasn't just been taken out of the game, he's been killed, and Kerickson, the main programmer, is the prime suspect. To elude a relentless robot cop, he must enter the game world--where glitches can be deadly. Original.

FROM THE PUBLISHER