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Make the Darkness Light #2
The Winds of Fate
Artorius and his team must race against time to thwart a looming clash between two ancient powers, navigating a treacherous landscape where their actions could rewrite history and spark a catastrophic conflict.
In a world where history can be rewritten at will, the threads of destiny intertwine in ways no one could have foreseen.
Years after their groundbreaking journey into the past, Artorius and his team stumble upon a devastating the Chinese government has dispatched five time-travelers and a trove of advanced technology back to 165 CE, during the waning days of the Han dynasty. While believed they were guiding Rome toward a new era of modernization and unity, the emergence of Chinese influence threatens to unravel everything they have fought for.
As whispers of innovation ripple through the ancient world, Artorius and his companions realize they are in a race against time—not just to protect their vision for a united future, but to prevent a catastrophic clash that could bring about nuclear war centuries sooner than they ever imagined.
With their own presence now at risk of exposure, they must navigate the treacherous waters of politics, technology, and culture in a world caught between two colossal powers. As the balance of history teeters on a knife's edge, loyalties will be tested, alliances forged, and the very fabric of fate will hang in the balance.
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
Praise for To Turn the
“Compelling time-travel adventure.” —Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of The Oppenheimer Alternative
“Move over, Martin Padway! The new world changers just hit town. To Turn the Tide is Steve Stirling at his best, which is a pretty darned high bar. I loved it!” —David Weber
“To Turn the Tide is an exhilarating return to alternate history from a grandmaster of the genre, and it shouldn’t be missed.” —Analog SF Magazine
S.M. Stirling is the New York Times best-selling author of the Draka series, the Lords of Creation series, and the Emberverse series, among others. With David Drake, he is the author of several novels in the General series. He cowrote novels in the Falkenberg’s Legion series with Jerry Pournelle. A former lawyer and amateur historian, he lives in New Mexico with his wife, Jan.
In a world where history can be rewritten at will, the threads of destiny intertwine in ways no one could have foreseen.
Years after their groundbreaking journey into the past, Artorius and his team stumble upon a devastating the Chinese government has dispatched five time-travelers and a trove of advanced technology back to 165 CE, during the waning days of the Han dynasty. While believed they were guiding Rome toward a new era of modernization and unity, the emergence of Chinese influence threatens to unravel everything they have fought for.
As whispers of innovation ripple through the ancient world, Artorius and his companions realize they are in a race against time—not just to protect their vision for a united future, but to prevent a catastrophic clash that could bring about nuclear war centuries sooner than they ever imagined.
With their own presence now at risk of exposure, they must navigate the treacherous waters of politics, technology, and culture in a world caught between two colossal powers. As the balance of history teeters on a knife's edge, loyalties will be tested, alliances forged, and the very fabric of fate will hang in the balance.
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
Praise for To Turn the
“Compelling time-travel adventure.” —Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of The Oppenheimer Alternative
“Move over, Martin Padway! The new world changers just hit town. To Turn the Tide is Steve Stirling at his best, which is a pretty darned high bar. I loved it!” —David Weber
“To Turn the Tide is an exhilarating return to alternate history from a grandmaster of the genre, and it shouldn’t be missed.” —Analog SF Magazine
S.M. Stirling is the New York Times best-selling author of the Draka series, the Lords of Creation series, and the Emberverse series, among others. With David Drake, he is the author of several novels in the General series. He cowrote novels in the Falkenberg’s Legion series with Jerry Pournelle. A former lawyer and amateur historian, he lives in New Mexico with his wife, Jan.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2025
110 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
S.M. Stirling
170 books1,654 followersStephen Michael Stirling is a French-born Canadian-American science fiction and fantasy author. Stirling is probably best known for his Draka series of alternate history novels and the more recent time travel/alternate history Nantucket series and Emberverse series.
MINI AUTO-BIOGRAPHY:
(personal website: source)
I’m a writer by trade, born in France but Canadian by origin and American by naturalization, living in New Mexico at present. My hobbies are mostly related to the craft. I love history, anthropology and archaeology, and am interested in the sciences. The martial arts are my main physical hobby.
MINI AUTO-BIOGRAPHY:
(personal website: source)
I’m a writer by trade, born in France but Canadian by origin and American by naturalization, living in New Mexico at present. My hobbies are mostly related to the craft. I love history, anthropology and archaeology, and am interested in the sciences. The martial arts are my main physical hobby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 18, 2025
I have to admit that I didn't enjoy this as much as its predecessor but, don't get me wrong, it's still an entertaining and gripping read on the whole.
the problem with our Mr Stirling is that he loves to spend ages describing the innovative technology and processes used by our time travelling adventurers (he does this in his other books, especially in "The Change" series). Thankfully there is a very interesting story accompanying the technological bits. It turns out (and this isn't a spoiler) that the nasty Chinese have also sent a team back in time and now it looks like our brave Romano-Americans have to save the world from the evil asiatics whose intentions are, duh!, evil.
Send in the cavalry.
Thank God for the entertaining bits.
the problem with our Mr Stirling is that he loves to spend ages describing the innovative technology and processes used by our time travelling adventurers (he does this in his other books, especially in "The Change" series). Thankfully there is a very interesting story accompanying the technological bits. It turns out (and this isn't a spoiler) that the nasty Chinese have also sent a team back in time and now it looks like our brave Romano-Americans have to save the world from the evil asiatics whose intentions are, duh!, evil.
Send in the cavalry.
Thank God for the entertaining bits.
August 24, 2025
If you’re waiting for plot not just descriptions of technology you’ll be left wanting
July 4, 2025
Roman Industialization
The time-displaced Americans earn their place in Rome with innovations in medicine, agriculture, and weapons. Which is all very fine, until they discover China sent a team to unify China and conquer the world. Well done. And readers who like the knowledge from the future of the 1632 series will enjoy it here.
The time-displaced Americans earn their place in Rome with innovations in medicine, agriculture, and weapons. Which is all very fine, until they discover China sent a team to unify China and conquer the world. Well done. And readers who like the knowledge from the future of the 1632 series will enjoy it here.
November 10, 2025
I have read a ton of Stirling, all the Emberverse, the Nantucket stuff, and even a few more sci-fi ones. This was by far the worst. It was just a constant digression into too much information about languages, geography, peoples, technology, etc. Every single comment or observation by a character leads to a long digression from a paragraph to a page long and stops any momentum or plot action. In fact, literally nothing happens plot wise until the last 20% of the book or so. It got hard to finish. I had high hopes for this series, and I’ll read the next one, but if the editor doesn’t step in and work hard to rein in Stirling’s desire to tell us everything thing he ever researched to write the book, I won’t finish it. Please for the sake of a great concept, get a hold on the digressions. Please!
March 25, 2025
Who doesn't love a good counterfactual/alternate history/time travel story? I enjoy the world building and technology advancements and how the what ifs branch out in all sorts of ways.
I was a little concerned the author was introducing new protagonists and how that would detract from the story I was enjoying, but I found that overall it embellished the story so I'm okay with it!
I sure hope he can keep up the pace, doing a new book about once a year.
I was a little concerned the author was introducing new protagonists and how that would detract from the story I was enjoying, but I found that overall it embellished the story so I'm okay with it!
I sure hope he can keep up the pace, doing a new book about once a year.
February 4, 2026
This book was much like the first one, except about 1/3 of the text was wasted explaining things that had already been explained. I don't need to be told that when Romans say "the City" they mean Rome even once, much less twice. I don't need to read each individual character reflecting on how great it was to have better harvest equipment, or have Colonia Ferrementa translated three times, or the "Cleopatra was actually Greek" spiel twice, or several pages repeating why rifles are better than bows (one page of Character A thinking about how much better rifles are than bows; one page of Character A explaining to Character B why rifles are better than bows; one page of Character B repeating back to Character A that rifles are indeed better than bows). I am the kind of nerd who likes thinking about historical customs and technologies, I accept and enjoy some explanations and descriptions of how the author thinks these things worked, but please, for the love of god, reread your book and cut out the repetitions! Or hire an editor to do it!
That out of the way, the story is fine. The characters don't really get characterized except that they have lengthy internal monologues explaining how various things work. Their opinions are all the same. I was a little annoyed with the sudden appearance of Evil Chinese Communist time travelers, but I accept that that's what this genre generally does. I think a story about outsiders trying to change the fucked-up internal politics of Rome would've been more interesting than this time traveler arms race situation. Stirling's solution to those problems is "The emperor should just choose a better successor". Marcus Aurelius just... realizes that his eldest son is bad and spends some more time teaching his younger son, who I guess will be good instead.
Artorius's reaction to learning about the existence of other time travelers is pretty hilarious. He learns they exist, somehow magically divines that they're Evil Chinese Communists planing to take over the world, then decides to invade and conquer the neighbors, just in case the communists send guns to them, all while bemoaning the necessity of war that the communists have forced upon him. He has a whole production line of rifles ready spin up to thousands of units a month already waiting but now it's the communists' fault and if it weren't for them he'd be building plows or whatever. The whole thing reads like a satirical indictment of US Cold War foreign policy. But it's hard to tell if the author realizes that.
Anyways, 3/5, can't wait for the next book.
That out of the way, the story is fine. The characters don't really get characterized except that they have lengthy internal monologues explaining how various things work. Their opinions are all the same. I was a little annoyed with the sudden appearance of Evil Chinese Communist time travelers, but I accept that that's what this genre generally does. I think a story about outsiders trying to change the fucked-up internal politics of Rome would've been more interesting than this time traveler arms race situation. Stirling's solution to those problems is "The emperor should just choose a better successor". Marcus Aurelius just... realizes that his eldest son is bad and spends some more time teaching his younger son, who I guess will be good instead.
Artorius's reaction to learning about the existence of other time travelers is pretty hilarious. He learns they exist, somehow magically divines that they're Evil Chinese Communists planing to take over the world, then decides to invade and conquer the neighbors, just in case the communists send guns to them, all while bemoaning the necessity of war that the communists have forced upon him. He has a whole production line of rifles ready spin up to thousands of units a month already waiting but now it's the communists' fault and if it weren't for them he'd be building plows or whatever. The whole thing reads like a satirical indictment of US Cold War foreign policy. But it's hard to tell if the author realizes that.
Anyways, 3/5, can't wait for the next book.
August 28, 2025
This has the same fascinating presentation of the history of technology--and especially military technology--as the first book of the series, but it's not as much fun. It contains extensive descriptions of "what has gone before" and extensive discourse on not only how the technology introduced in this book made the Romans more prosperous, and more deadly in battle, but recapitulations of the equivalent discourse about innovations *new things* introduced in the first book. Some of this information is repeated--almost word-for-word--in multiple places in this volume.
One major difference between this book and the first volume, is that there is seldom a sense that the characters, or the military enterprises they are engaged in, are seriously threatened. The military tech is too overwhelmingly powerful. There were several fights in the first book where the protagonists just barely squeaked out a victory, or escaped with their lives. Not so here.
Moreover, "Winds of Fate" suffers from a shallow plot arc common in middle books. There is no dramatic conflict. The overall adversary has been identified, but they have not engaged each other in a serious way.
I liked it, but it was focused on world-building and summary of the economic and societal impacts of technology, and not so much by character-driven plot.
One major difference between this book and the first volume, is that there is seldom a sense that the characters, or the military enterprises they are engaged in, are seriously threatened. The military tech is too overwhelmingly powerful. There were several fights in the first book where the protagonists just barely squeaked out a victory, or escaped with their lives. Not so here.
Moreover, "Winds of Fate" suffers from a shallow plot arc common in middle books. There is no dramatic conflict. The overall adversary has been identified, but they have not engaged each other in a serious way.
I liked it, but it was focused on world-building and summary of the economic and societal impacts of technology, and not so much by character-driven plot.
November 20, 2025
*I* really liked the book. But I don't think it's for everyone.
There is a lot of information dump in here about how the time travelers knowledge has improved the Roman Empire. That's the fun stuff! .....
But as a story? It isn't that good. It needs more story. I would have liked to have seen more of what the Chinese contingent did..... I would like to have seen more about the lives of the main characters....
Actually I'd like fewer main characters. There are 5 of them and they are getting bland.
One style from the author is LONG digressions. In the middle of a thought or a statement from one of the characters there can be PARAGRAPHS of digression description. In this book it seemed excessive.
I had trouble keeping track of who was speaking/thinking when they resume their sentence.
This style isn't unusual for the author and normally isn't distracting and can be good.... but it was excessive here.
Again.... I love this style of book so I will definitely read the next one. But I'm not certain if a normal person would like it.
There is a lot of information dump in here about how the time travelers knowledge has improved the Roman Empire. That's the fun stuff! .....
But as a story? It isn't that good. It needs more story. I would have liked to have seen more of what the Chinese contingent did..... I would like to have seen more about the lives of the main characters....
Actually I'd like fewer main characters. There are 5 of them and they are getting bland.
One style from the author is LONG digressions. In the middle of a thought or a statement from one of the characters there can be PARAGRAPHS of digression description. In this book it seemed excessive.
I had trouble keeping track of who was speaking/thinking when they resume their sentence.
This style isn't unusual for the author and normally isn't distracting and can be good.... but it was excessive here.
Again.... I love this style of book so I will definitely read the next one. But I'm not certain if a normal person would like it.
December 10, 2025
SM Stirling has delivered his second book about American time travelers in Ancient Rome, and I have to scuttle back to my Latin bookshelf and review nominative declensions.
The American graduate students have been in Rome for awhile trying to change the course of history, a Roman Empire that doesn’t disintegrate and instead solidifies the world order for enlightened white people everywhere. But you can’t sell that book so Steve has to use Americans, who can be all the races and genders.
Enter China. The Han Chinese, in particular, not the Huns and proto-Mongols or whoever was screwing up world domination for the Roman Empire. These are the present-day Han, who develop technology by stealing it, and they have their own time machine. And they brought along political officers to complicate things.
There are so many players, Steve is gonna need another chessboard.
VERDICT: Waiting for the invention of electric guitars and the British Invasion.
https://criticusbookreviews.wordpress...
The American graduate students have been in Rome for awhile trying to change the course of history, a Roman Empire that doesn’t disintegrate and instead solidifies the world order for enlightened white people everywhere. But you can’t sell that book so Steve has to use Americans, who can be all the races and genders.
Enter China. The Han Chinese, in particular, not the Huns and proto-Mongols or whoever was screwing up world domination for the Roman Empire. These are the present-day Han, who develop technology by stealing it, and they have their own time machine. And they brought along political officers to complicate things.
There are so many players, Steve is gonna need another chessboard.
VERDICT: Waiting for the invention of electric guitars and the British Invasion.
https://criticusbookreviews.wordpress...
July 12, 2025
Arthur Vandenberg and his team of graduate students barely escaped the end of the world by slipping back in time to 165 CE. Their knowledge of Roman history combined with modern technology will help make Rome strong enough to possibly prevent the end of the world 2,000 years later. That was To Turn The Tide, which I HIGHLY recommend.
Now, in The Winds of Fate, Artorius and company are accelerating the progress of Rome, aided and supported by Marcus Aurelius, the last of the "Good Emperors." But it turns out they weren't alone...
This might even be better than the first book, but it is certainly equal. I think it's some of the best that S.M. Stirling has ever written, and that is saying a lot!
(Oh, ignore the stupid cover. The publisher thinks turning Artorius into a dumb, musclebound cartoon of a soldier will sell more copies. At least Steve was able to make the artist change the tatoo from Marines to Rangers, because that's what Artorius was).
Now, in The Winds of Fate, Artorius and company are accelerating the progress of Rome, aided and supported by Marcus Aurelius, the last of the "Good Emperors." But it turns out they weren't alone...
This might even be better than the first book, but it is certainly equal. I think it's some of the best that S.M. Stirling has ever written, and that is saying a lot!
(Oh, ignore the stupid cover. The publisher thinks turning Artorius into a dumb, musclebound cartoon of a soldier will sell more copies. At least Steve was able to make the artist change the tatoo from Marines to Rangers, because that's what Artorius was).
September 10, 2025
The second book in S. M. Stirling's time travel/alternate history series. Like the first book, this summary also tells you everything you need to know about this book.
Can the future fate of the world be changed to stop humanity from destroying everything in a fiery nuclear holocaust?
Five reluctant American time travelers transported to ancient Rome have got a chance to try. At least, they do until they discover the hated Chinese government, responsible for the first nuclear launches, has also sent a team back to Imperial China. The arms race begins again. Will the world destroy itself once more?
Unfortunately, we'll have to wait for the rest of the series to release to read as the story unfolds.
Another light read if you are looking simply for entertainment.
Can the future fate of the world be changed to stop humanity from destroying everything in a fiery nuclear holocaust?
Five reluctant American time travelers transported to ancient Rome have got a chance to try. At least, they do until they discover the hated Chinese government, responsible for the first nuclear launches, has also sent a team back to Imperial China. The arms race begins again. Will the world destroy itself once more?
Unfortunately, we'll have to wait for the rest of the series to release to read as the story unfolds.
Another light read if you are looking simply for entertainment.
September 8, 2025
I hate to give one of my favorite authors a two star review. But this book really contrasts badly with the works he's written before. It's clear he's done a ton of research on the period in question, and it shows, but that's all. The information isn't integrated with the story - it's as if it's a nonfiction book about the Roman Empire with a bit of story thrown in. Not like The Emberverse books or the Nantucket books. I know he can do better.
October 27, 2025
Wonderful. I was apprehensive about the direction, knowing Sterling’s tendency towards exaggerated evil. But it was such a pleasant surprise. There were some seeming editing failures (mostly some phrases and descriptions that were repeated far too much), but in general the narrative direction was a hit for me. I am just sad knowing I will have to wait for the next book. If this is the direction of the series, then I hope it will be as long as the Emberverse :)
November 7, 2025
I really like the concept of this series and the characters. I am currently studying Latin myself and the Latin words as well as insight into the Roman mind is fascinating to me!
This book is heavier on the technology and lighter on story/characters. This would usually turn me off but getting to see the Chinese group in the mix kept me wondering and reading. I am excited to see where the next book in the series goes from here!
This book is heavier on the technology and lighter on story/characters. This would usually turn me off but getting to see the Chinese group in the mix kept me wondering and reading. I am excited to see where the next book in the series goes from here!
July 17, 2025
interesting sequel to the first novel
The theme is highly interesting, and the author’s descriptions quite detailed and accurate. In fact, my only criticism is that his descriptions of technology are too lengthy, and become quite tedious after a while. Otherwise, it’ll hold your attention.
The theme is highly interesting, and the author’s descriptions quite detailed and accurate. In fact, my only criticism is that his descriptions of technology are too lengthy, and become quite tedious after a while. Otherwise, it’ll hold your attention.
August 2, 2025
Excellent Sequel
Hard SF, time travel, complex characters, plausible plot.
History lessons galore, "The Roman Empire was an army with a government attached".
I enjoyed it more because I re-read the first book in the series.
And, gosh, I hope that there are more coming.
Stirling never disappoints.
Hard SF, time travel, complex characters, plausible plot.
History lessons galore, "The Roman Empire was an army with a government attached".
I enjoyed it more because I re-read the first book in the series.
And, gosh, I hope that there are more coming.
Stirling never disappoints.
August 24, 2025
This book was a considerable waste of time. Constantly repeating (sometime verbatim) information and backstory from previous book. Only about 3 chapters that actually advance the narrative.
I'd wait and read the next book in the series. I am sure the author will repeat everything that is in this book.
I'd wait and read the next book in the series. I am sure the author will repeat everything that is in this book.
August 26, 2025
Hate Lives On
Very much enjoyed the first two books in this series. Great characters and a great story line. Find the thought of making a world safe a very good idea. Looking forward to reading the next great book in this series. Nice to have only one government and believe a Roman would be acceptable.
Very much enjoyed the first two books in this series. Great characters and a great story line. Find the thought of making a world safe a very good idea. Looking forward to reading the next great book in this series. Nice to have only one government and believe a Roman would be acceptable.
July 11, 2025
Second Book, good as th3 first
Another great series by S.M. Sterling. Welcome to Ancient Rome. But not our Rome. Not after five Americans arrive by time machine. Enjoy. 1st book is good too, if you haven't read it.
Another great series by S.M. Sterling. Welcome to Ancient Rome. But not our Rome. Not after five Americans arrive by time machine. Enjoy. 1st book is good too, if you haven't read it.
July 20, 2025
Book 2 The Winds of Fate by S.M. Stirling in his Make the Darkness Light trilogy.
4 grad students and and their Professor time travel to escape a Nuclear Fusion war. They hope to change things in the past to avoid this destruction in the future.
4 grad students and and their Professor time travel to escape a Nuclear Fusion war. They hope to change things in the past to avoid this destruction in the future.
August 29, 2025
This series continues to work nicely. Conflicts arise that will complicate transitioning Rome to the dominant world power. The change process is logical and well-founded, given our limited knowledge of this period.
September 9, 2025
Excellent Story
Delightful story well written and developed. The characters grow, the progression is logical and it is a fun ride!!
I enjoyed thoroughly and highly recommend this series.
Delightful story well written and developed. The characters grow, the progression is logical and it is a fun ride!!
I enjoyed thoroughly and highly recommend this series.
November 6, 2025
Great book. Please finish the series.
I love it. But having waiting 50 yeats for Larry Niven's Ringworld to finish. Well I don't have much time. And yes this is just as interesting and entertaining as Ringworld.
I love it. But having waiting 50 yeats for Larry Niven's Ringworld to finish. Well I don't have much time. And yes this is just as interesting and entertaining as Ringworld.
November 22, 2025
Thought provoking and enjoyable Alt-history
This was a fun book to read. Hope the story continues…will the Romans make it to the New World and if so, what will they find? So many possible branches to this timeline; can’t wait for the next chapter.
This was a fun book to read. Hope the story continues…will the Romans make it to the New World and if so, what will they find? So many possible branches to this timeline; can’t wait for the next chapter.
December 31, 2025
Outstanding !
I had been waiting for this book to be published. It was worth the wait. It was even better than the first. Great story, love the premise of it. Finished to quickly.
I had been waiting for this book to be published. It was worth the wait. It was even better than the first. Great story, love the premise of it. Finished to quickly.
July 2, 2025
Great book
This was an excellent book. I hope the author comes out with many more books in this series very soon.
This was an excellent book. I hope the author comes out with many more books in this series very soon.
July 3, 2025
Great
Awesome can't wait for the next book to come out. I'm waiting to see how the chinese time travelers will change things.
Awesome can't wait for the next book to come out. I'm waiting to see how the chinese time travelers will change things.
July 8, 2025
good read
I love these types of stories and the author always excels in telling them though he does get lost some of the time in too much detail. Will always read more of these.
I love these types of stories and the author always excels in telling them though he does get lost some of the time in too much detail. Will always read more of these.
July 16, 2025
Good 2nd book
Good second book. The third should be very interesting. Good series so far. Enjoying it. Just about right in explaining things and action.
Good second book. The third should be very interesting. Good series so far. Enjoying it. Just about right in explaining things and action.
July 19, 2025
Great follow up, nice continuation of the story
Loved how he followed up the story of the first book, enlarging the scope of the story without jumping the shark
Loved how he followed up the story of the first book, enlarging the scope of the story without jumping the shark
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews