In a world of the future obsessed with the past, the race is on to resurrect a Roman centurion'''
In the year 2089 England has collapsed into a failed state riven by civil war. In neighbouring Scotland a populist demagogue comes to power on a wave of anti-English sentiment, promising to drive out immigrants who have fled from the south. Globally the endless search for mass entertainment has led to an intense fascination with the archaeological past, manifest in interactive simulations of historical eras, which looks set to take on an unwelcome political dimension under the new Scottish leader Fiona Drest.
History lecturer and archaeological consultant Ailee Kenzie is drawn into these events when the body of a Roman soldier is discovered preserved within ancient bog land north of Glasgow. Advanced technology from the Retrovival company can recover fragments of the last experiences held within the dead centurion's brain. Can Caius Flavius’ memories shed light on Britain’s past and the cultural divides that have uncanny parallels in the volatile present?
‘a tour de force ...an interrogation of Scotland: its past, its present and possibilities for what its future could look like, ranging from the inspiring to the horrific... Retrovival is Thompson’s most engaging and hard-hitting book since The Brahan Seer…’ – Margaret Elphinstone, author of The Sea Road and Lost People.
‘Retrovival is a wild, futuristic archaeological romp into Roman Britain, with a plot entwining past and future like a Celtic knot. This riveting story returns us over and over to the crucial present-day issue of how tussles between truth and power shape our civilisation.’ – Mandy Haggith, author of The Last Bear and The Stone Stories trilogy
Genre: Science Fiction
In the year 2089 England has collapsed into a failed state riven by civil war. In neighbouring Scotland a populist demagogue comes to power on a wave of anti-English sentiment, promising to drive out immigrants who have fled from the south. Globally the endless search for mass entertainment has led to an intense fascination with the archaeological past, manifest in interactive simulations of historical eras, which looks set to take on an unwelcome political dimension under the new Scottish leader Fiona Drest.
History lecturer and archaeological consultant Ailee Kenzie is drawn into these events when the body of a Roman soldier is discovered preserved within ancient bog land north of Glasgow. Advanced technology from the Retrovival company can recover fragments of the last experiences held within the dead centurion's brain. Can Caius Flavius’ memories shed light on Britain’s past and the cultural divides that have uncanny parallels in the volatile present?
‘a tour de force ...an interrogation of Scotland: its past, its present and possibilities for what its future could look like, ranging from the inspiring to the horrific... Retrovival is Thompson’s most engaging and hard-hitting book since The Brahan Seer…’ – Margaret Elphinstone, author of The Sea Road and Lost People.
‘Retrovival is a wild, futuristic archaeological romp into Roman Britain, with a plot entwining past and future like a Celtic knot. This riveting story returns us over and over to the crucial present-day issue of how tussles between truth and power shape our civilisation.’ – Mandy Haggith, author of The Last Bear and The Stone Stories trilogy
Genre: Science Fiction
Visitors also looked at these books
Used availability for Douglas Thompson's Retrovival