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Cast in Time #1
Baron
An Engineer finds himself in an Alternate reality, Cornwall, in the year 715 A.D. He awakens in the body of a young Baron.
Retired Lieutenant General, former head of the Army Corp of Engineers, lies dying at the age of ninety-two. Leading a full life, he is a decorated veteran of World War II, Korea, and Viet Nam. His love of Engineering has him taking university courses his entire life. When his health falters, and he can no longer continue his education, MIT awards him an honorary Ph.D. in Professional Studenting. After a long illness, he lies dying. His last thought is, "What a waste of such wonderful knowledge." As he fades to black, the fun begins. He is to build a modern civilization without being burned as a witch!
Retired Lieutenant General, former head of the Army Corp of Engineers, lies dying at the age of ninety-two. Leading a full life, he is a decorated veteran of World War II, Korea, and Viet Nam. His love of Engineering has him taking university courses his entire life. When his health falters, and he can no longer continue his education, MIT awards him an honorary Ph.D. in Professional Studenting. After a long illness, he lies dying. His last thought is, "What a waste of such wonderful knowledge." As he fades to black, the fun begins. He is to build a modern civilization without being burned as a witch!
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2023
846 people are currently reading
249 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
July 8, 2023
I voted this a 3 and this could easily be a little bit more but there is a solid reason I believe that even though this was a quick and easy read it was to put it lightly unrealistic. We aren't even talking about the going back in time into the body of a young man part. Its that the main character invents and orcastrates 1000 years of innovation, inventions, and organization in just 2 years. He started with 50 people and by the end of the first book has over 4k and conquered everything in sight.
You really have to not put your thinking cap on for this book. He gives his townfolk ideas and within days its accomplished over and over and over again. We are talking about an age of uneducated serfs and you can honestly say that the main character didnt really have a setback the entire novel. Everything worked, hardly any resistance or pushback. There was some minor struggles but nothing that you as a reader had any investment into.
This says nothing of the main character which could be described as perfect. He is an engineer which nothing to sneeze at but one that has more degrees than I have years being alive. A photographic memory so not only does he know everything at least through books but he can remember everything to distribute to the people. This is not a bad novel considering I read it in just over a day but I really dont care about James. He is perfect with no faults other than being too smart and pushing a project before other projects are complete.
This book is given very high reviews. Like I mentioned its not a bad book but totally unrealistic even from a logistic point of view and not the sci fi part. Where is the tension, the struggle, the something to get me to be invested into the story. This is about a man in his first life that had everything a man could hope to achieve and here he is in a second life getting more of the same.
You really have to not put your thinking cap on for this book. He gives his townfolk ideas and within days its accomplished over and over and over again. We are talking about an age of uneducated serfs and you can honestly say that the main character didnt really have a setback the entire novel. Everything worked, hardly any resistance or pushback. There was some minor struggles but nothing that you as a reader had any investment into.
This says nothing of the main character which could be described as perfect. He is an engineer which nothing to sneeze at but one that has more degrees than I have years being alive. A photographic memory so not only does he know everything at least through books but he can remember everything to distribute to the people. This is not a bad novel considering I read it in just over a day but I really dont care about James. He is perfect with no faults other than being too smart and pushing a project before other projects are complete.
This book is given very high reviews. Like I mentioned its not a bad book but totally unrealistic even from a logistic point of view and not the sci fi part. Where is the tension, the struggle, the something to get me to be invested into the story. This is about a man in his first life that had everything a man could hope to achieve and here he is in a second life getting more of the same.
November 27, 2023
This one is difficult. In many ways I enjoyed the series, but in any objective sense it has a lot of problems.
Firstly, the editing. It is obvious that there was little to none. In some places I wondered if the author had even proofread what he'd written. There are myriad spelling mistakes and grammatical errors, something I would tolerate from an amateur fan work, but for a published book that one has to pay for, it isn't good enough.
Secondly, the protagonist. His extreme level of education in conveniently relevant fields was kind of funny. I accepted it with a tongue in cheek suspension of disbelief as a necessary component of the story. His "eidetic memory", however was harder to swallow. He can literally call up a book he's read in his mind and read it word for word, such that it can be dictated and reproduced. This is basically a superpower, and as such leads the author to an overzealous pace of tech uplift which, by the third book, fully jumps the shark.
Thirdly, the conflict. Time and time again throughout the series, things happen with extreme convenience. Don't want to have to execute a rival baron? Okay, he died anyway! Need to expand but don't want to go to war? Okay, abandoned land on your border! Enemy king invading your land with a superior force? Okay, he's an idiot with no strategic instincts! The story doesn't try to explore an idea of a man being forced to stoop to the brutality of the time. Of having to make awful and monstrous decisions or be wiped out. Instead of his 20th century morals coming back to bite him, any potential consequences are magicked away by convenient events. After a few instances of this, it became clear that the protagonist would not face any real conflict or setback. By the third book, this get's so apparent, and the tech uplift so exaggerated that it is clear he will conquer the world with little to no trouble.
Finally, and to me the most annoyingly, the history. The author attempts to wave this away by setting the story in some sort of alternate universe, but this isn't convincing. Things such as towns being in a different place than real life are manageable, if a bit of a strange choice. However, it is clear that before starting this book, the author did not perform the most cursory Google of the time period he was writing in. The first thing you notice, is that everyone's names are simply modern English names with the novelty of their surname being their place of birth or occupation. It is jarring to see 8th century celtic Cornish people with names like 'William' (a Norman name), when characters would have names like Cynan, Cadoc, Talan or Maeloc. Or the Saxon characters, Ælfwine, Ceolmund or Hrothgar. The repeated handwaving that this is just how the protagonist interprets it through translation falls flat. In fact, until later in the book it is clear that the author assumed the Cornish spoke Old English.
This extends to the political situation of the world. An Emperor in London, Vikings before the Scandinavians started raiding, a Cornish man who had apparently served in a Roman legion, centuries after that was possible. It speaks for itself. The author once again did not research the setting he was writing in.
I enjoyed the series up to a point. The humanitarian efforts of the protagonist, his political worries (while the tension was still there) and his early technological advancements were interesting and believable. I was rooting for him to overcome the challenge of conquering Britain and beyond, to bring the population a better standard of living. Now that it is no longer a challenge, it is no longer interesting and I don't think I will be purchasing the fourth book anytime soon.
2/5
Firstly, the editing. It is obvious that there was little to none. In some places I wondered if the author had even proofread what he'd written. There are myriad spelling mistakes and grammatical errors, something I would tolerate from an amateur fan work, but for a published book that one has to pay for, it isn't good enough.
Secondly, the protagonist. His extreme level of education in conveniently relevant fields was kind of funny. I accepted it with a tongue in cheek suspension of disbelief as a necessary component of the story. His "eidetic memory", however was harder to swallow. He can literally call up a book he's read in his mind and read it word for word, such that it can be dictated and reproduced. This is basically a superpower, and as such leads the author to an overzealous pace of tech uplift which, by the third book, fully jumps the shark.
Thirdly, the conflict. Time and time again throughout the series, things happen with extreme convenience. Don't want to have to execute a rival baron? Okay, he died anyway! Need to expand but don't want to go to war? Okay, abandoned land on your border! Enemy king invading your land with a superior force? Okay, he's an idiot with no strategic instincts! The story doesn't try to explore an idea of a man being forced to stoop to the brutality of the time. Of having to make awful and monstrous decisions or be wiped out. Instead of his 20th century morals coming back to bite him, any potential consequences are magicked away by convenient events. After a few instances of this, it became clear that the protagonist would not face any real conflict or setback. By the third book, this get's so apparent, and the tech uplift so exaggerated that it is clear he will conquer the world with little to no trouble.
Finally, and to me the most annoyingly, the history. The author attempts to wave this away by setting the story in some sort of alternate universe, but this isn't convincing. Things such as towns being in a different place than real life are manageable, if a bit of a strange choice. However, it is clear that before starting this book, the author did not perform the most cursory Google of the time period he was writing in. The first thing you notice, is that everyone's names are simply modern English names with the novelty of their surname being their place of birth or occupation. It is jarring to see 8th century celtic Cornish people with names like 'William' (a Norman name), when characters would have names like Cynan, Cadoc, Talan or Maeloc. Or the Saxon characters, Ælfwine, Ceolmund or Hrothgar. The repeated handwaving that this is just how the protagonist interprets it through translation falls flat. In fact, until later in the book it is clear that the author assumed the Cornish spoke Old English.
This extends to the political situation of the world. An Emperor in London, Vikings before the Scandinavians started raiding, a Cornish man who had apparently served in a Roman legion, centuries after that was possible. It speaks for itself. The author once again did not research the setting he was writing in.
I enjoyed the series up to a point. The humanitarian efforts of the protagonist, his political worries (while the tension was still there) and his early technological advancements were interesting and believable. I was rooting for him to overcome the challenge of conquering Britain and beyond, to bring the population a better standard of living. Now that it is no longer a challenge, it is no longer interesting and I don't think I will be purchasing the fourth book anytime soon.
2/5
July 5, 2023
As with all of Ed Nelson's books, he is a great storyteller but suffers from poor editing. This first book in a new series is no different.
An Army engineer and professional student dies and is sent back in time to Dark Ages Wales. He takes over the body of a local baron and finds decrepitude all around. The village is in ruins and the former baron only cared about himself.
What ensues is an engineering marvel. I won't spoil what these are but the MC gets busy turning around the fortunes of his village. He makes enemies with other barons and friends with a baron in a large city. I did think a lot was overlooked here because of the focus on engineering. Would the townspeople really get on board with doing things differently from how they were taught? I don't know but that doesn't happen.
As I said earlier, the editing is poor but it's not anything we haven't seen before. With Richard Jackson behind us, I'm looking forward to future volumes in this series.
5/5*
An Army engineer and professional student dies and is sent back in time to Dark Ages Wales. He takes over the body of a local baron and finds decrepitude all around. The village is in ruins and the former baron only cared about himself.
What ensues is an engineering marvel. I won't spoil what these are but the MC gets busy turning around the fortunes of his village. He makes enemies with other barons and friends with a baron in a large city. I did think a lot was overlooked here because of the focus on engineering. Would the townspeople really get on board with doing things differently from how they were taught? I don't know but that doesn't happen.
As I said earlier, the editing is poor but it's not anything we haven't seen before. With Richard Jackson behind us, I'm looking forward to future volumes in this series.
5/5*
November 3, 2023
A chance to read something simple
An enjoyable, easy, and quick read. Interesting concept. However, it took too many liberties with the idea. Actually, the constant advances and developments became almost laughable by the end.
An enjoyable, easy, and quick read. Interesting concept. However, it took too many liberties with the idea. Actually, the constant advances and developments became almost laughable by the end.
September 20, 2023
Unoriginal and ahistorical
Cast in Time, if it seems a bit familiar, is a plot that has been done before— in 1889, with A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain. Twain did it better.
An advantage that Twain had was that he was setting his novel in a mythical Camelot, vice an historical Cornwall. Nelson’s book has an engineering prodigy somehow brought back to the Eighth Century, a period about which the author seems to know too little.
The author seems to believe that there were Eighth Century Britons who’d fought with the Roman Legions in Germannia (by the year 476 the Roman Empire had fallen), and that feudal barons in Cornwall owed allegiance to the Roman governor in Londinium (which was by then a city in the relatively minor Kingdom of Essex).
His knowledge of Church and monastic life is little better. He refers to monks as friars (they’re not), and thinks that the second in charge after the abbot was the Senior Monk (it was the prior). At the end of a wedding, the choir chants the Agnus Dei (a prayer for Christ’s mercy on our sins), rather than the Te Deum, which would have been the appropriate prayer of praise.
He has nobles riding in a closed carriage (not to be invented for centuries), and in an era when only the clergy were literate, has a blacksmith taking notes. He also expects us to believe that the daughter of a local baron was more of a feminist than we’d meet in the 18th Century, let alone the Eighth.
The author failed to do his homework, and it shows. While he’s good about avoiding most typos (something indie authors have trouble with— publishing houses have professional copy editors), he also has a remarkable number of sentence fragments; he’s neglected to include verbs.
If he had gone for science fiction vice time travel he would have been far better off; the future requires far less research.
Cast in Time, if it seems a bit familiar, is a plot that has been done before— in 1889, with A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain. Twain did it better.
An advantage that Twain had was that he was setting his novel in a mythical Camelot, vice an historical Cornwall. Nelson’s book has an engineering prodigy somehow brought back to the Eighth Century, a period about which the author seems to know too little.
The author seems to believe that there were Eighth Century Britons who’d fought with the Roman Legions in Germannia (by the year 476 the Roman Empire had fallen), and that feudal barons in Cornwall owed allegiance to the Roman governor in Londinium (which was by then a city in the relatively minor Kingdom of Essex).
His knowledge of Church and monastic life is little better. He refers to monks as friars (they’re not), and thinks that the second in charge after the abbot was the Senior Monk (it was the prior). At the end of a wedding, the choir chants the Agnus Dei (a prayer for Christ’s mercy on our sins), rather than the Te Deum, which would have been the appropriate prayer of praise.
He has nobles riding in a closed carriage (not to be invented for centuries), and in an era when only the clergy were literate, has a blacksmith taking notes. He also expects us to believe that the daughter of a local baron was more of a feminist than we’d meet in the 18th Century, let alone the Eighth.
The author failed to do his homework, and it shows. While he’s good about avoiding most typos (something indie authors have trouble with— publishing houses have professional copy editors), he also has a remarkable number of sentence fragments; he’s neglected to include verbs.
If he had gone for science fiction vice time travel he would have been far better off; the future requires far less research.
February 27, 2024
It might be not the worst book I read but it's a strong contender. How it has such high ratings is totally beyond me. It's poorly written (reminds me of a primary school level composition:"and then I went and did this and later he came and said this") and poorly edited.
I love a good time travel book so I am not a stranger to suspending disbelief, but my goodness, this was too much. Tea and coffee in 8th century Cornwall. Also paper. "Ice delivery service" invented by the MC (who was an expert on literally everything). Servants being friendly with (and being treated as equals by) nobles. Basically everyone being literate. No one being suspicious of the baron's inventions. Yeah.
Once again I find myself regretting there's no zero star rating (or even negative star rating) on Goodreads.
I am sure I won't be reading anything else by this author.
I love a good time travel book so I am not a stranger to suspending disbelief, but my goodness, this was too much. Tea and coffee in 8th century Cornwall. Also paper. "Ice delivery service" invented by the MC (who was an expert on literally everything). Servants being friendly with (and being treated as equals by) nobles. Basically everyone being literate. No one being suspicious of the baron's inventions. Yeah.
Once again I find myself regretting there's no zero star rating (or even negative star rating) on Goodreads.
I am sure I won't be reading anything else by this author.
July 8, 2023
The idea is outstanding
Even though the idea of the story is outstanding, and at no point is anything bad. Very simply the characters within story are all well rounded, there is true civilization building and even what looks to be a story arc. There just is nothing visceral about any one part of the story. The facts are there, the science of development, the various interactions. It just all seems one step removed. I very much look forward to more from this series, it would simply be amazing if the characters could come to life rather than be cardboard cutouts.
Even though the idea of the story is outstanding, and at no point is anything bad. Very simply the characters within story are all well rounded, there is true civilization building and even what looks to be a story arc. There just is nothing visceral about any one part of the story. The facts are there, the science of development, the various interactions. It just all seems one step removed. I very much look forward to more from this series, it would simply be amazing if the characters could come to life rather than be cardboard cutouts.
July 20, 2023
good but brief
I enjoyed this story but it is fast moving. I generally moan because stories do not progress very quickly but this one almost rushes. It is good as you get to see the impact of technological improvements but bad in that there os minimal character development.
The book also had varying formatting with one sections shaded. A bit distracting but minor.
I enjoyed this story but it is fast moving. I generally moan because stories do not progress very quickly but this one almost rushes. It is good as you get to see the impact of technological improvements but bad in that there os minimal character development.
The book also had varying formatting with one sections shaded. A bit distracting but minor.
July 8, 2023
Very good! I hope the next book comes out soon.
January 29, 2024
A series of events
Totally lacking in character development. Superficial descriptions of a series of events. This book is not worth the time to read.
Totally lacking in character development. Superficial descriptions of a series of events. This book is not worth the time to read.
March 18, 2024
3 Give Them Ten Strokes With A Cane For Being Stupid Stars
Baron is the first book in the Cast In Time series by Ed Nelson.
This book is solely focused on the progression of the Barony he now oversees, paired with his overwhelming amount of engineering knowledge. It's been interesting to discover the processes for these early works of labor. To experience beside James as his people grow beyond their ignorance.
I do wish there was a little more drama or rather emotion behind the writing. The protagonist/narrator is very pragmatic and logical. He has few moments where his humor or desires shine through his ever pressing need to expand and improve upon the land and people he now governs.
I have enjoyed much of this work. I only with the youngest Baron in this book survived.
Baron is the first book in the Cast In Time series by Ed Nelson.
This book is solely focused on the progression of the Barony he now oversees, paired with his overwhelming amount of engineering knowledge. It's been interesting to discover the processes for these early works of labor. To experience beside James as his people grow beyond their ignorance.
I do wish there was a little more drama or rather emotion behind the writing. The protagonist/narrator is very pragmatic and logical. He has few moments where his humor or desires shine through his ever pressing need to expand and improve upon the land and people he now governs.
I have enjoyed much of this work. I only with the youngest Baron in this book survived.
May 27, 2024
Read books 1,2,3 of the series :"The Baron, The Baron of the Middle Counties and The Earl"
I rate them at 2.5.
Very derivative of some books that I really liked. "The Cast under an alien sun series", The Ring of fire series, The ArchMagus, not nearly as good though. If I had to do it over again, I'd probably go dig around in the Ring of fire series, which is immense and try to find a grantville gazette I haven't read yet.
I rate them at 2.5.
Very derivative of some books that I really liked. "The Cast under an alien sun series", The Ring of fire series, The ArchMagus, not nearly as good though. If I had to do it over again, I'd probably go dig around in the Ring of fire series, which is immense and try to find a grantville gazette I haven't read yet.
June 10, 2025
overall the story had flow in its descriptive nature. There was some dialogue but not enough for it to be truly a great novel. There are 6 books in the series which I am eager to read mostly to see if the Author develops and improves his style of writing to take this series over the top. to summarize quick easy fun read on what to do if you find yourself transported into the past!
January 18, 2024
3.5 stars! I enjoyed it! Jim Fletcher died and was reborn into the body of a medieval Baron in Cornwall! This story is about how he tries to improve the lives of his people!
April 14, 2025
2.5 stars. Wow. I don't think I've ever I read a book more duplicative of another author's than this. There must be some "legal mumbo jumbo" reason why it hasn't prompted a copyright lawsuit. The book itself is nothing but a bland recitation of a series of "inventions" that the MC introduces to an 8th century English society to which he time-traveled. No character development, no suspense, no excitement. Certainly nothing to make me read the second book in this series. Particularly since I've read it all before in another author's book series.
July 6, 2023
good but needs editing
Changes in text format and font are an issue for continuous reading as it does pull you out of the story. Flow of time is also an issue, the main character thinks things or says them and then is immediately told about how it’s happened already despite no time being said to have passed. The romans are mentioned as being in the past with tales of things they used to do. Yet a character is said to have served in the Roman legions. Small continuity errors such as this aren’t too big of an issue and an editor should hopefully help with these things. Otherwise a good premise likeable character and intriguing setting
Changes in text format and font are an issue for continuous reading as it does pull you out of the story. Flow of time is also an issue, the main character thinks things or says them and then is immediately told about how it’s happened already despite no time being said to have passed. The romans are mentioned as being in the past with tales of things they used to do. Yet a character is said to have served in the Roman legions. Small continuity errors such as this aren’t too big of an issue and an editor should hopefully help with these things. Otherwise a good premise likeable character and intriguing setting
February 8, 2025
This novel,
Baron
by Ed Nelson, consists of labored, workmanlike writing. The protagonist, Jim, is a big-time Mary Sue character. That means he is way overqualified for his problems, which he overcomes with annoying ease. Hasn't the author ever heard of dramatic conflict? There is NO conflict in this novel that is not trivially easy for Jim to brush aside. It's a kind of a record of unimpeded progress. (Which, I confess, is vaguely interesting to follow.)
The situation is setup at the beginning, so these are not spoilers. Jim is a wildly over-educated engineer in contemporary times. He has multiple PhD degrees (just for casual interest on his part). He dies at 90-some years, and is reborn in the body of a 20-year old minor baron in Cornwall in the year 715 CE. The original baron was an evil jerk, but now our goodly engineer takes over and improves everything.
This novel is the first of six. Glance at the following titles to get an idea of what's to come--you'll notice his title keeps becoming higher in the peerage, of which baron is the lowest rank. I know the "Horatio Hornblower" series has the same ascendance... but Hornblower has to work hard to get out of tight spots. Not our baron.
The situation is setup at the beginning, so these are not spoilers. Jim is a wildly over-educated engineer in contemporary times. He has multiple PhD degrees (just for casual interest on his part). He dies at 90-some years, and is reborn in the body of a 20-year old minor baron in Cornwall in the year 715 CE. The original baron was an evil jerk, but now our goodly engineer takes over and improves everything.
This novel is the first of six. Glance at the following titles to get an idea of what's to come--you'll notice his title keeps becoming higher in the peerage, of which baron is the lowest rank. I know the "Horatio Hornblower" series has the same ascendance... but Hornblower has to work hard to get out of tight spots. Not our baron.
June 26, 2024
3* (series through bk 3)
So I love this genre and have spent countless hours reading about making gunpowder from scratch, creating a blast furnace, optimal length of a saddle tree for horses durability, etc… I was hoping this would be a really nuanced look at how a modern engineer might boot strap a primitive civ into industrial era but it falls a bit short.
First major issue was MC beginning to pave a 10 mile road in cement with a village of around 1,000 people…. how feasible is this assuming all resources are available??? Ha, a mile of hwy takes 21,000 yards of concrete, a standard concrete mixer can carry 10 yards. A yard of concrete mix weighs 4,000 lbs. if we’re generous and say a wagon in 700s can carry 2,000 lbs so we’re talking like 42,000 wagon loads PER mile, obviously this is completely ridiculous especially considering they’re also building blast furnaces to forge spring steel for better crossbows to fight of impending invasion.
After 6 years when MC decides to skip muskets and build an AK47 is when this series got too much for me.
That said it was relatively entertaining mindless escapism but no where near as good as Destines Crucible or Island in the Sea of Time.
So I love this genre and have spent countless hours reading about making gunpowder from scratch, creating a blast furnace, optimal length of a saddle tree for horses durability, etc… I was hoping this would be a really nuanced look at how a modern engineer might boot strap a primitive civ into industrial era but it falls a bit short.
First major issue was MC beginning to pave a 10 mile road in cement with a village of around 1,000 people…. how feasible is this assuming all resources are available??? Ha, a mile of hwy takes 21,000 yards of concrete, a standard concrete mixer can carry 10 yards. A yard of concrete mix weighs 4,000 lbs. if we’re generous and say a wagon in 700s can carry 2,000 lbs so we’re talking like 42,000 wagon loads PER mile, obviously this is completely ridiculous especially considering they’re also building blast furnaces to forge spring steel for better crossbows to fight of impending invasion.
After 6 years when MC decides to skip muskets and build an AK47 is when this series got too much for me.
That said it was relatively entertaining mindless escapism but no where near as good as Destines Crucible or Island in the Sea of Time.
February 1, 2024
Not really a novel
It's kind of hard to review this book. Theoretically, it's about a very experienced modern day engineer being reborn as a Middle Ages baron and introducing technology. Practically, it's really about an almost bullet point-like list of things we are randomly told about that seamlessly mixes actual science and technology with the author's outdated views on society and politics. One specific example is when the village children are put in school for the winter and over the course of three months we are told they get from not knowing letters and numbers to fifth-grade level reading, writing and mathematics and all through one simple trick that the modern world has forgotten- frequent beatings both in school and at home. This whole topic of the school is brought up, told and finished to never be brought up again over the course of two short paragraphs. The whole book is written like that.
It's kind of hard to review this book. Theoretically, it's about a very experienced modern day engineer being reborn as a Middle Ages baron and introducing technology. Practically, it's really about an almost bullet point-like list of things we are randomly told about that seamlessly mixes actual science and technology with the author's outdated views on society and politics. One specific example is when the village children are put in school for the winter and over the course of three months we are told they get from not knowing letters and numbers to fifth-grade level reading, writing and mathematics and all through one simple trick that the modern world has forgotten- frequent beatings both in school and at home. This whole topic of the school is brought up, told and finished to never be brought up again over the course of two short paragraphs. The whole book is written like that.
August 22, 2023
Saxons?
Too many seeming anachronisms, to make the setting terribly realistic. A "Viking" found in the village at least 100 years before the raiding really got started. Coffee available in trade before the Sufi monks first discovered it... etc. Those two could be argued...
But the lack of reference to Wessex (the ancient kingdom), the references to Rome including a miller who must be at least 200 years old to have served in the Roman legions in Germany but still be alive in 715 are less ambiguous.
Also as a well read chap with some sort of educational award for civil engineering I find it surprising that he is using sink holes to get rid of waste. I'm sure there must be a pithy saying about fouling your own water sources...
Too many seeming anachronisms, to make the setting terribly realistic. A "Viking" found in the village at least 100 years before the raiding really got started. Coffee available in trade before the Sufi monks first discovered it... etc. Those two could be argued...
But the lack of reference to Wessex (the ancient kingdom), the references to Rome including a miller who must be at least 200 years old to have served in the Roman legions in Germany but still be alive in 715 are less ambiguous.
Also as a well read chap with some sort of educational award for civil engineering I find it surprising that he is using sink holes to get rid of waste. I'm sure there must be a pithy saying about fouling your own water sources...
December 26, 2023
Almost as exciting as a text book.
A few moments of almost adventure buried in engineering exposition and social commentary. I'll start the second in the series to satisfy my curiosity. Maybe this book was just "set the scene" for the real story.
A few moments of almost adventure buried in engineering exposition and social commentary. I'll start the second in the series to satisfy my curiosity. Maybe this book was just "set the scene" for the real story.
April 21, 2025
DNF. I'm sorry but it's unreadable. Another reviewer pointed out that even just managing to get a manuscript published these days is worth noting, so there's that. But this stuff is so incongruent, and just jars the mental appliances of science, technology, history, social culture and advancement, and, let's face it, religious disagreement.
The MC is a much-lettered (many advanced degrees) engineer with a somewhat checkered pattern of military promotion regardless of time-in-service and time-in-grade strictures. One doesn't go from being a "Butter Bar" second lieutenant (the lowest officer grade) to a General, one star or above (think Patton or McArthur for modern equivalences) within a few short years. Also, there is a timeline oddity, if age is a determining factor-between serving in WW2, then Korea, then Viet Nam. The guy would be 60+, if the math is correct. Far too old to be in-forces for Viet Nam. I know this because I was stationed in-country, at Long Bihn, in 1970. I was 20. That war was over by 1973.
Now that's a moot point for anyone not a veteran or interested in understanding armed forces structure and staffing, during the cold war era. I put it out there because it made some jarring conclusions as to the research done to promote the story development.
I thought there was some oversight and some stretching of the imagination, but that's what a good story is supposed to do. In this sense, this makes the concept of good story-telling farcial. It felt that I was reading insert material, designed to fill copy page requirements, not flesh out a tale of time-travel or reincarnation. IF that's what this was supposed to be. That conclusion was never reached.
The text reads like an advanced reference point summation for an undergrad engineering student. MC has every degree imaginable. Has 'been there and done that', for literally every life experience. Including finding himself dismayed at the failure that is the Peace Corps. In that, I tend to agree. But that's a political and social statement, so not germane to the book, per se.
My point is that the MC never does anything. He simply thinks it should be thus and so, and it comes into being. Simple blacksmiths perform complex mathematics, construction of implements take but a day or so, construction of roadways, septic systems, carriages, temples, castles, and schools are so simplified that they happen almost overnight. This is a nice idea, but just unrealistic. Even a time-traveler with advanced skills and knowledge would have to present concepts and ideas, source materials, create labor pools and develop records systems, in the moment, not bring systems that haven't been conceptualized for 1000 years to the more primitive pre-millennial era and have it all be immediately successful. It wasn't realistic. It wasn't even primary fantasy. I was disappointed.
Finally, there was simply zero character development. No one questioned the new "Baron". No one argued that the church suspected (as they would) witchcraft or devil sanctioned behavior. No one thought to oppose the changes or subvert power for their own causes. Everyone just went along because it was suggested? Nope, not buying that.
There was very little interpersonal communication and almost zero discussion of alternative processes. No one seemed to have any opinions, and more importantly to my point of view, no one seemed to have difficulty learning the concepts, processes, structures, policies, or programs. Once it was demonstrated, it was done. How did that happen? Was no one a bit odd, or slow to understand, or angry to be seen as possibly lower on the totem pole? How did the social strata function, with 100% agreement, 100 % of the time? It wasn't logical.
The people in the book are flat, one dimensional and boring. If they're dirty on Monday, they're suddenly clean and spiffy on Tuesday. If they can't read or write on Wednesday, by Thursday they are composing their own ledgers and diaries. On Friday, if they are suspicious, by Saturday, they are convinced. It's just not congruent with the theory of change and acceptance by a populace. Learning takes place in a vacuum; but this population lacks the very essence of needing knowledge until the modern concepts are presented, and then by miracles unknown, everyone goes along because they suddenly understand their ignorance. It just made reading awkward and unconventionally odd.
Others have pointed out the editorial flaws and mishaps so I won't belabor the points. To be blunt, if there were editing efforts, they failed. There couldn't have been much stress applied to the editing, because the text is choppy and sloppy. Grammar and poor spelling, along with the assumption that the language spoken in 700-something Cornwall is English is just poor research. As for geographical names and places? Who did that research? They need to go back to school.
I can't finish this book, and I won't bother to read further into the series. I am not a stickler for details, but I do like some accuracy and some well-formed literary structure. I prefer fictional settings, not theories of engineering or combat formations.
If there were a story here, I missed it.
Not for me.
The MC is a much-lettered (many advanced degrees) engineer with a somewhat checkered pattern of military promotion regardless of time-in-service and time-in-grade strictures. One doesn't go from being a "Butter Bar" second lieutenant (the lowest officer grade) to a General, one star or above (think Patton or McArthur for modern equivalences) within a few short years. Also, there is a timeline oddity, if age is a determining factor-between serving in WW2, then Korea, then Viet Nam. The guy would be 60+, if the math is correct. Far too old to be in-forces for Viet Nam. I know this because I was stationed in-country, at Long Bihn, in 1970. I was 20. That war was over by 1973.
Now that's a moot point for anyone not a veteran or interested in understanding armed forces structure and staffing, during the cold war era. I put it out there because it made some jarring conclusions as to the research done to promote the story development.
I thought there was some oversight and some stretching of the imagination, but that's what a good story is supposed to do. In this sense, this makes the concept of good story-telling farcial. It felt that I was reading insert material, designed to fill copy page requirements, not flesh out a tale of time-travel or reincarnation. IF that's what this was supposed to be. That conclusion was never reached.
The text reads like an advanced reference point summation for an undergrad engineering student. MC has every degree imaginable. Has 'been there and done that', for literally every life experience. Including finding himself dismayed at the failure that is the Peace Corps. In that, I tend to agree. But that's a political and social statement, so not germane to the book, per se.
My point is that the MC never does anything. He simply thinks it should be thus and so, and it comes into being. Simple blacksmiths perform complex mathematics, construction of implements take but a day or so, construction of roadways, septic systems, carriages, temples, castles, and schools are so simplified that they happen almost overnight. This is a nice idea, but just unrealistic. Even a time-traveler with advanced skills and knowledge would have to present concepts and ideas, source materials, create labor pools and develop records systems, in the moment, not bring systems that haven't been conceptualized for 1000 years to the more primitive pre-millennial era and have it all be immediately successful. It wasn't realistic. It wasn't even primary fantasy. I was disappointed.
Finally, there was simply zero character development. No one questioned the new "Baron". No one argued that the church suspected (as they would) witchcraft or devil sanctioned behavior. No one thought to oppose the changes or subvert power for their own causes. Everyone just went along because it was suggested? Nope, not buying that.
There was very little interpersonal communication and almost zero discussion of alternative processes. No one seemed to have any opinions, and more importantly to my point of view, no one seemed to have difficulty learning the concepts, processes, structures, policies, or programs. Once it was demonstrated, it was done. How did that happen? Was no one a bit odd, or slow to understand, or angry to be seen as possibly lower on the totem pole? How did the social strata function, with 100% agreement, 100 % of the time? It wasn't logical.
The people in the book are flat, one dimensional and boring. If they're dirty on Monday, they're suddenly clean and spiffy on Tuesday. If they can't read or write on Wednesday, by Thursday they are composing their own ledgers and diaries. On Friday, if they are suspicious, by Saturday, they are convinced. It's just not congruent with the theory of change and acceptance by a populace. Learning takes place in a vacuum; but this population lacks the very essence of needing knowledge until the modern concepts are presented, and then by miracles unknown, everyone goes along because they suddenly understand their ignorance. It just made reading awkward and unconventionally odd.
Others have pointed out the editorial flaws and mishaps so I won't belabor the points. To be blunt, if there were editing efforts, they failed. There couldn't have been much stress applied to the editing, because the text is choppy and sloppy. Grammar and poor spelling, along with the assumption that the language spoken in 700-something Cornwall is English is just poor research. As for geographical names and places? Who did that research? They need to go back to school.
I can't finish this book, and I won't bother to read further into the series. I am not a stickler for details, but I do like some accuracy and some well-formed literary structure. I prefer fictional settings, not theories of engineering or combat formations.
If there were a story here, I missed it.
Not for me.
July 9, 2024
This is very much like the Destiny's Crucible series by Olan Thorensen, though it takes place 1000 years before that series. Also, it seems like the scope of Thorensen's novels have the "bigger picture" in mind given the Narthani antagonists seeking global domination, while Ed Nelson's novel has a much narrower focus (while still always acknowledging how much further ahead Cornwall is from the rest of the planet). I am presently on book 3 in this series, so I now have more foresight into the series than I did when I first read this book.
The other significant distinction between teh two series is the length of the novel. Thorensen's seem much more detailed, but that may simply be because his novels are about 3x the length of each of the Ed Nelson novels. Also, Thorensen's novels focus more on the societal adjustments that the protagonist has to make in living in a brand new "backwards" society, while Ed Nelson's novels focus more on the innovations. By book 3, Ed Nelson has introduced about 2 dozen innovations, while Thorensen had less than half a dozen by book three. Thorensen's novels focus more on overall strategy in keeping Cadellium safe, while Nelson's novels focus more on Cornwall advancing by leaps and bounds above the rest of the world. Obviously, there is significant overlap between the series, but they are told from two very different perspectives, with completely different societal implications. Finally, Thorensen's series has the protagonist 200-300 years ahead of the planet, while Nelson's has the protagonist 1200 to 1300 years ahead of the planet. So there are many more, and diverse accomplishments that the Baron can make based on just the level of technology in his new era.
If you like this, then you'll love Destiny's Crucible, and vice versa.
The other significant distinction between teh two series is the length of the novel. Thorensen's seem much more detailed, but that may simply be because his novels are about 3x the length of each of the Ed Nelson novels. Also, Thorensen's novels focus more on the societal adjustments that the protagonist has to make in living in a brand new "backwards" society, while Ed Nelson's novels focus more on the innovations. By book 3, Ed Nelson has introduced about 2 dozen innovations, while Thorensen had less than half a dozen by book three. Thorensen's novels focus more on overall strategy in keeping Cadellium safe, while Nelson's novels focus more on Cornwall advancing by leaps and bounds above the rest of the world. Obviously, there is significant overlap between the series, but they are told from two very different perspectives, with completely different societal implications. Finally, Thorensen's series has the protagonist 200-300 years ahead of the planet, while Nelson's has the protagonist 1200 to 1300 years ahead of the planet. So there are many more, and diverse accomplishments that the Baron can make based on just the level of technology in his new era.
If you like this, then you'll love Destiny's Crucible, and vice versa.
November 1, 2023
My system was based on arbitrary units, which were the best estimates of the true metric measures , and I hated the metric system in my former life . Why was I trying to impose it now ?
The metric system itself is entirely based on an arbitrary definition of the meter. The original definition of 1/40,000,000 of the circumference of the Earth is both arbitrary and literally un-measurable. The modern definition of the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299792458 seconds demonstrates the arbitrariness. One could easily define a foot as the distance light travels in 1/983571056s and wind up with a similarly accurate base unit. There is a more modern definition of some non-integer number of wavelengths of a cesium isotope which was solely selected to match the early arbitrariness.
So , we used the common names for units based on my finger widths . Contrary to popular belief , the foot used didn't reflect any other body parts.
Lies! My foot is about a foot long, as is the inside of my forearm from bent elbow to wrist. The distance from the tip of my nose to my extended arm is about a yard, it is common to see clerks in fabric stores using this method to rough measure bolts of fabric. The US Military is taught to march using a 1 yard stride, this allows troops to reasonably estimate distances. 440 cycles of hup-two-three-four is a mile. At the level of technology available to an 8th century baron in Cornwall feet and inches make the most sense.
December 9, 2023
Baron, the first novel in Ed Nelson’s Cast in Time series, offers an intriguing approach to alternate history. New histories require new timelines, so how do we get the multiverse going? Here are some of the usual options: a dream, a time machine, a magic portal, or a natural split in the timeline. Nelson puts them all in a pot and stirs. Our hero, James Fletcher, is a combat engineer, West Point class of 1939, who retires as a general and, after a stint in the Peace Corps, spends most of his golden years in MIT graduate programs. When he dies, he unaccountably wakes in the body of a 24-year-old 8th-century Cornish Baron who was knocked unconscious in a fall.
Like Twain’s Connecticut Yankee, he sets out to upgrade the technology of his holdings. His backstory makes him the ideal guy for the job. He sets about improving his small barony's sanitation, agriculture, and armed forces. He makes as much use of his Peace Corps experience as he does his military training. Nelson keeps a narrow focus, so a reader needs little knowledge of early Cornwall. Reviewers have noted some anachronisms, but these are waved away by a difference in the timeline. My main complaint is that most people accept his rational changes without much fuss. Their religion or political assumptions seldom get in the way. Would it were so.
Like Twain’s Connecticut Yankee, he sets out to upgrade the technology of his holdings. His backstory makes him the ideal guy for the job. He sets about improving his small barony's sanitation, agriculture, and armed forces. He makes as much use of his Peace Corps experience as he does his military training. Nelson keeps a narrow focus, so a reader needs little knowledge of early Cornwall. Reviewers have noted some anachronisms, but these are waved away by a difference in the timeline. My main complaint is that most people accept his rational changes without much fuss. Their religion or political assumptions seldom get in the way. Would it were so.
January 20, 2025
I like the novel. Personally, I like stories where a person is set back in time or on another world. Preferably during a Medieval period. Now while the MC has a good memory. It’s not perfect. And he does have a ridiculous amount experience and degrees, but it makes sense in a way. He didn’t want to sit around. So he decided to have a hobby of learning new things. As for his revolutionary ideas and technology. I still don’t see why he couldn’t do it. And it’s not like everything was handed to him. He defended and fought his way through many battles. Using tactics and strategies no one has heard of before. Add on rotten leaders. Well it becomes predictable they would lose. People don’t realize how fast technology can jump. For instance as an example the horse and buggy to spaceships point. Was done in a matter of decades. Now imagine someone that didn’t need to test or experiment to figure out things. Or having any red tape to slow him down. Also let’s consider they’re not building computers, but simple machines. It becomes all to possible. Unlikely, but possible to do. It’s a very enjoyable read. I highly recommend it
January 6, 2024
First off, I need to acknowledge that I am a sucker for these kinds of time travel books. From Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court to 1632 to this book, I love these types of stories. So, understand that this review is likely written through rose colored glasses.
That said, I really enjoyed this book. The author tells more than shows, which is one knock against it, but it's a light, easy-to-read story otherwise. If you're even a minor science nerd, you'll enjoy the simple-yet-accurate descriptions the author provides on how to accomplish one technological feat or another. And the story moves along at a good clip, never really feeling as though it gets bogged down anywhere.
The cover is terrible and is a great example of why you shouldn't judge a book by it. To me, it looks like one of those Frommers Travel Guides, only gloomier. Still, a minor quibble overall.
All in all a very fun book.
That said, I really enjoyed this book. The author tells more than shows, which is one knock against it, but it's a light, easy-to-read story otherwise. If you're even a minor science nerd, you'll enjoy the simple-yet-accurate descriptions the author provides on how to accomplish one technological feat or another. And the story moves along at a good clip, never really feeling as though it gets bogged down anywhere.
The cover is terrible and is a great example of why you shouldn't judge a book by it. To me, it looks like one of those Frommers Travel Guides, only gloomier. Still, a minor quibble overall.
All in all a very fun book.
September 22, 2023
World Building Adventure
I enjoyed the writing and the story in this book. It has a very fast-paced world building theme. (Maybe slightly unrealistic in its speed.)
I have always enjoyed the almost "Robinson Crusoe" theme of bringing modernization to an ignorant, but not stupid, society.
Even though the author doesn't spend a lot of time on his characters, you still see them as whole people and wish you knew more about them. If you prefer a story that is carried mostly by events and action, you will definitely enjoy reading this book.
I would rate this book PG. I think there was mild language, sexual references - but nothing explicit, and medieval violence.
I recommend this book.
(Read with Kindle Unlimited subscription and listened to with Alexa Android app. )
I enjoyed the writing and the story in this book. It has a very fast-paced world building theme. (Maybe slightly unrealistic in its speed.)
I have always enjoyed the almost "Robinson Crusoe" theme of bringing modernization to an ignorant, but not stupid, society.
Even though the author doesn't spend a lot of time on his characters, you still see them as whole people and wish you knew more about them. If you prefer a story that is carried mostly by events and action, you will definitely enjoy reading this book.
I would rate this book PG. I think there was mild language, sexual references - but nothing explicit, and medieval violence.
I recommend this book.
(Read with Kindle Unlimited subscription and listened to with Alexa Android app. )
December 7, 2023
I only read maybe 6 chapters of this before putting it down.
So look, anyone who can get a book published deserves praise. And the author has published many, many books which seem to be enjoyed by many people. So well done there.
For me, it really did not work, mostly due to the writing style. The chapters I read were mainly exposition with no character development at all. The dialogue was stilted to the point of sounding like puppets having a conversation. And there were a few times where the tense changed suddenly, from past to present and back to past again - and I don't mean that in the sense of time, but in the sense of grammar. These things suggest a lack of good editing.
I'm afraid all of that pulls me out of the story. I just wasn't enjoying it enough to persist. I am genuinely glad that other people enjoy these stories. But I wont be reading further.
So look, anyone who can get a book published deserves praise. And the author has published many, many books which seem to be enjoyed by many people. So well done there.
For me, it really did not work, mostly due to the writing style. The chapters I read were mainly exposition with no character development at all. The dialogue was stilted to the point of sounding like puppets having a conversation. And there were a few times where the tense changed suddenly, from past to present and back to past again - and I don't mean that in the sense of time, but in the sense of grammar. These things suggest a lack of good editing.
I'm afraid all of that pulls me out of the story. I just wasn't enjoying it enough to persist. I am genuinely glad that other people enjoy these stories. But I wont be reading further.
December 15, 2023
Highly historically incorect story. Coffee, tea, paper, sugar and crossbows were unknown in Western Europe in this era. The Roman empire had left Britannia about 300 years earlier.. There existed no English language by then, just different Celtish plus Saxon and Denish languages. England was NOT united at that time and a feudal system as described did not exist the society still was rather tribal..
The entirety of the social interactions in the story are totally historically incorrect and highly naive. The absurdely huge riches stolen from the predecessor of the protagonist and his perfect memory are way too convenient to make a good story. It is hillarious that his defeated enemies only have absurdely small families so the protagonist can easily replace them..
The entirety of the social interactions in the story are totally historically incorrect and highly naive. The absurdely huge riches stolen from the predecessor of the protagonist and his perfect memory are way too convenient to make a good story. It is hillarious that his defeated enemies only have absurdely small families so the protagonist can easily replace them..
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