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The Crossing
Behind enemy lines and displaced in time!
Before the Battle of Trenton, George Washington reputedly threw a coin across the river. What if that coin was a bicentennial quarter?
When a squad of ROTC cadets training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, in November 2008 find themselves transported to December 1776 in the days before the Battle of Trenton, they find a Continental Army in disarray and General George Washington contemplating the potential of a bleak future. To make matters worse, they’ve lost a modern M-16 rifle to a roving Hessian patrol. Understanding the ramifications of such a discovery, the cadets have no choice but to report to General Washington. Without ammunition or their own meager supplies, can Cadet Sergeant Jameel Mason and his friends steel Washington’s courage and set the infancy of the United States of America back on track?
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
About The Crossing :
" The Crossing is a thrilling alternate history with vivid, compelling characters and relentless action. Kevin Ikenberry is a rising star of science fiction. His military experience and diligent storytelling shine." —Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Uncharted , Clockwork Angels , and Navigators of Dune .
About Kevin
“Thoroughly enjoyed the book, and would recommend it to any who enjoy a good tale of future ground combat.”—Doug Dandridge
“[Ikenberry's] insight into the human side of the military mind has strong appeal.”— Publishers Weekly
Kevin Ikenberry 's head has been in the clouds since he was old enough to read. Ask him and he'll tell you that he still wants to be an astronaut. With more than twenty-five years of experience in space science education, including managing the U.S. Space Camp program and serving as an executive of two Challenger Learning Centers, Ikenberry continues to work with space every day. A retired Army space operations officer, he lives in Colorado with his family. His home is seldom a boring place.
Ikenberry is the international best-selling author of The Protocol War series, featuring Colorado Book Award finalist Sleeper Protocol , which Publisher's Weekly called “an emotionally powerful debut,” and the sequel Vendetta Protocol . He is also the author of six best-selling Peacemaker novels in the Four Horsemen Universe, as well as the military science fiction novel Runs in the Family and the thriller Super-Sync . His short fiction has appeared internationally across various publications and anthologies. He regularly teaches classes for aspiring writers.
Before the Battle of Trenton, George Washington reputedly threw a coin across the river. What if that coin was a bicentennial quarter?
When a squad of ROTC cadets training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, in November 2008 find themselves transported to December 1776 in the days before the Battle of Trenton, they find a Continental Army in disarray and General George Washington contemplating the potential of a bleak future. To make matters worse, they’ve lost a modern M-16 rifle to a roving Hessian patrol. Understanding the ramifications of such a discovery, the cadets have no choice but to report to General Washington. Without ammunition or their own meager supplies, can Cadet Sergeant Jameel Mason and his friends steel Washington’s courage and set the infancy of the United States of America back on track?
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
About The Crossing :
" The Crossing is a thrilling alternate history with vivid, compelling characters and relentless action. Kevin Ikenberry is a rising star of science fiction. His military experience and diligent storytelling shine." —Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Uncharted , Clockwork Angels , and Navigators of Dune .
About Kevin
“Thoroughly enjoyed the book, and would recommend it to any who enjoy a good tale of future ground combat.”—Doug Dandridge
“[Ikenberry's] insight into the human side of the military mind has strong appeal.”— Publishers Weekly
Kevin Ikenberry 's head has been in the clouds since he was old enough to read. Ask him and he'll tell you that he still wants to be an astronaut. With more than twenty-five years of experience in space science education, including managing the U.S. Space Camp program and serving as an executive of two Challenger Learning Centers, Ikenberry continues to work with space every day. A retired Army space operations officer, he lives in Colorado with his family. His home is seldom a boring place.
Ikenberry is the international best-selling author of The Protocol War series, featuring Colorado Book Award finalist Sleeper Protocol , which Publisher's Weekly called “an emotionally powerful debut,” and the sequel Vendetta Protocol . He is also the author of six best-selling Peacemaker novels in the Four Horsemen Universe, as well as the military science fiction novel Runs in the Family and the thriller Super-Sync . His short fiction has appeared internationally across various publications and anthologies. He regularly teaches classes for aspiring writers.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 2, 2022
36 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Ikenberry
122 books110 followersKevin’s head has been in the clouds since he was old enough to read. Ask him and he’ll tell you that he still wants to be an astronaut. Kevin has a diverse background in space and space science education. As an adult, he's managed the world-renowned U.S. Space Camp program and operated two Challenger Learning Centers. A retired Army officer, Kevin continues to work with space every day.
Kevin is the author of the science fiction novel SLEEPER PROTOCOL (2016) which Publisher's Weekly called "an emotionally powerful debut." His military science fiction novel RUNS IN THE FAMILY (2016) has gained a growing legion of fans. He continues to work on sequels for both novels as well as short fiction and an alternate history novel.
Kevin is the author of the science fiction novel SLEEPER PROTOCOL (2016) which Publisher's Weekly called "an emotionally powerful debut." His military science fiction novel RUNS IN THE FAMILY (2016) has gained a growing legion of fans. He continues to work on sequels for both novels as well as short fiction and an alternate history novel.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 27, 2023
Not bad!
September 24, 2022
Sometimes Alternate History is better than reality! This a great entry into the Assiti Shards universe. This alternate Battle of Trenton has interesting characters, character growth, action, historical figures who are also real people, etc. The pseudo romance where the guy gets the girl type story is not relevant here, but you might say the girl "gets" the guy in an alternate way! Read the book to understand that comment since it is a "long shot." The battle strategy of the Battle of Trenton, plus pre-cursors are very interesting and do not take away from the story line, they are needed and are well done. I highly recommend this book and I look forward to more in this new Assiti Shards vein. For those of you suddenly worried that the book is not a complete story, don't worry, this book is complete story. The potential is left for more stories to come and those stories I am looking forward to.
August 15, 2022
It's a great little "What if?" style alternate history book. It kind of reminded me of some of the rounds I have had in the Civilization computer game where my modern infantry is marching through riflemen en route to a domination victory. I am not typically a fan of the genre as a whole. I have read a few of Flint's 1632 series, but wouldn't say they were my favorite. Ikenberry really hits this one out of the park and keeps the story from falling into the completely implausible areas that can sometimes pull me out of other alternate history books.
December 16, 2025
I first read Kevin Ikenberry's The Crossing when it was released, but a recent trigger, watching the Ken Burns documentary on the American Revolution, sent me back for an immediate reread. I literally paused the documentary at the lead-up to the Battle of Trenton and read the novel cover-to-cover in one sitting.
What struck me this time was how much my understanding of the 1776 historical context had deepened. My documentary-driven knowledge of the Continental Army's desperation, the raw human toll, and Washington's precarious position made the stakes for Cadet Sergeant Jameel Mason's team feel immensely higher.
The novel is just as engaging on the second pass, but my focus shifted significantly. With the clarity of historical grounding, I found myself developing a more mixed and complex opinion on the future of key characters, particularly Dunaway. The potential consequences of their actions felt heavier, moving beyond simple plot mechanics to deep, messy questions about historical ethics and personal destiny.
A great piece of alternate history doesn't just change the past; it forces you to re-examine the real one. The Crossing succeeded in making me appreciate the true, desperate situation before Trenton and, by extension, the sheer genius of Ikenberry's scenario. Highly recommended for fans of the 1632 universe and military alternate history, and an even better book on a reread.
While the central creative driving force of the Assiti Shards/1632 and adjacent universe is gone, there’s clear evidence that Baen and the Flint estate are willing to invest where fans are invested—namely, the core 1632-verse, which has seen both a revived curated and canon “zine” and new novels. Assuming there is sufficient fan interest, and Ikenberry and other Flint collaborators in other “shards” of this universe are up for writing more content, I sincerely hope that the Flint estate and Baen will move forward with more Crossing-related content and content from other Flint multi-author collaborations.
What struck me this time was how much my understanding of the 1776 historical context had deepened. My documentary-driven knowledge of the Continental Army's desperation, the raw human toll, and Washington's precarious position made the stakes for Cadet Sergeant Jameel Mason's team feel immensely higher.
The novel is just as engaging on the second pass, but my focus shifted significantly. With the clarity of historical grounding, I found myself developing a more mixed and complex opinion on the future of key characters, particularly Dunaway. The potential consequences of their actions felt heavier, moving beyond simple plot mechanics to deep, messy questions about historical ethics and personal destiny.
A great piece of alternate history doesn't just change the past; it forces you to re-examine the real one. The Crossing succeeded in making me appreciate the true, desperate situation before Trenton and, by extension, the sheer genius of Ikenberry's scenario. Highly recommended for fans of the 1632 universe and military alternate history, and an even better book on a reread.
While the central creative driving force of the Assiti Shards/1632 and adjacent universe is gone, there’s clear evidence that Baen and the Flint estate are willing to invest where fans are invested—namely, the core 1632-verse, which has seen both a revived curated and canon “zine” and new novels. Assuming there is sufficient fan interest, and Ikenberry and other Flint collaborators in other “shards” of this universe are up for writing more content, I sincerely hope that the Flint estate and Baen will move forward with more Crossing-related content and content from other Flint multi-author collaborations.
October 30, 2022
A fascinating alternate military history. The prose flows well and I found myself intrigued by the events related in the book despite the fact that US history isn't my own. Characters are relatable and likable, perhaps a bit too much (good guys were the good guys and the bad guy was certainly the bad guy without any gray area). The military insight was a bit too much for this non-military reader, but I'm sure those who like details will be thrilled.
One thing I love about historical novels is the ability of the writer to own historical figures and read between the lines. Kevin Ikenberry does this exceedingly well, including the cadets from the 21st century interacting with famous historical figures.
The only nit I found was that the time-travel was readily accepted and while there were tons of recipes for conflict (like modern women in the military back in 1776) it was easily ironed. But once you accept that, and that the characters are okay with that, the story hooks you.
Well done.
One thing I love about historical novels is the ability of the writer to own historical figures and read between the lines. Kevin Ikenberry does this exceedingly well, including the cadets from the 21st century interacting with famous historical figures.
The only nit I found was that the time-travel was readily accepted and while there were tons of recipes for conflict (like modern women in the military back in 1776) it was easily ironed. But once you accept that, and that the characters are okay with that, the story hooks you.
Well done.
January 27, 2025
A New Twist
This novel is a new twist on the Assiti Shards multiverse created by Eric Flint. Professional and amateur authors alike have been invited to write in this multiverse. In this novel a squad of ROTC cadets find themselves dumped back in time to the days before the battle of Trenton in the American Revolution. The novel is okay but the ease with which they are accepted by General Washington struck me as very far fetched. This is doubly true when the cadets are a multicultural grouping with African-American, Hispanic and Female members in a society where the roles of women and people of color were very different from what they are today. It made the story hard for me to get immersed in and it took me a long time to finish the novel as I would put it down for weeks while reading other things.
This novel is a new twist on the Assiti Shards multiverse created by Eric Flint. Professional and amateur authors alike have been invited to write in this multiverse. In this novel a squad of ROTC cadets find themselves dumped back in time to the days before the battle of Trenton in the American Revolution. The novel is okay but the ease with which they are accepted by General Washington struck me as very far fetched. This is doubly true when the cadets are a multicultural grouping with African-American, Hispanic and Female members in a society where the roles of women and people of color were very different from what they are today. It made the story hard for me to get immersed in and it took me a long time to finish the novel as I would put it down for weeks while reading other things.
December 18, 2022
10 ROTC cadets from the University of Pittsburgh, on a weekend training assignment in December 2008, are transported by an Assisiti Shard to December 1776 Trenton, days before Washington plans to lead the Continental Army across the Delaware. As the cadets determine their whereabouts & come to grips with their fate, they encounter Washington, Nathanael Greene, Thomas Jefferson & James Monroe, as well as coming into combat with British General Charles Cornwallis. This book appears to serve as an introduction to a new series, rather than a complete narration in itself--hence the 3 stars.
August 29, 2022
In 2008, several cadets from Fort Dix are suddenly transported back to 1776 on the eve of the Battle of Trenton, this is their story. Fraught with historical uncertainty, mystery, and the struggle of 21st century folks to survive in the 18th century, it's a wonderful examination of how the modern mind might mingle with the old. Essentially told over the course of a few days, this is a short, sharp and action packed work which sees a sudden change in history.
December 3, 2022
This book held my attention from start to finish. It asks the question: what happens if eight modern US Army cadets get transported mysteriously into the middle of the American Revolution? With black and female cadets, how would they be received, how could America be different? How might technology change and the war’s outcomes?
Character-based and well-plotted, I couldn't believe this was over when it was (felt like there should be more pages). A mark of a great book.
Five stars.
Character-based and well-plotted, I couldn't believe this was over when it was (felt like there should be more pages). A mark of a great book.
Five stars.
February 2, 2024
Incredible story, both from a historical standpoint and in terms of writing and execution. The author sets up a major ripple at one of the key moments in early US history, and you're left guessing as to how it's going to play out. It's a hell of a ride, and a hell of a thought experiment, one of the best Alternate histories I've read in a long while. Fans of history and military thrillers alike will love this book!
February 24, 2024
This was a random read for me (2024 challenge, run some numbers corresponding to a book on a shelf at my local library and read one of those a month), so I wasn't sure what to expect as I'd never read anything of the like. I was pleasantly surprised at how invested I was in everything. Fast paced, well written, and intriguing, this book kept my attention better than a lot of popular titles. A good read for anyone who likes history and "what if this happened" scenarios.
January 20, 2024
A fun alternate history but one that would have benefitted from a little more careful editing to get the history a little more accurately. Some of the comments from the soldiers are so American-focused that, as a non-American, made me somewhat cringe. I would have also liked an epilogue to see where this alternate version of the War for Independence went beyond 1777.
February 4, 2024
Mr. Ikenberry has produced a very well done alternate history novel where R.O.T.C. students from the 21st century are transported back in time to the "Battle of Trenton" during the American Revolution.
The cadets are a slice of todays America and forced to make decisions that could change the future as well as deal with the personal loss of all connection to the uptime world.
The cadets are a slice of todays America and forced to make decisions that could change the future as well as deal with the personal loss of all connection to the uptime world.
April 12, 2024
Its a Toss Up!
With Eric Flint now gone we turn to the other authors in the Ring of Fire Universe that he leaves behind.
Ikenberry serves up his first course.
How will the Revolution Turn with the addition of a few Cadets Firing Blanks along the Banks of the Delaware River?
Will Washington tell the Truth about the Cherry Tree and Other Things?
The Future of 1776 is Alive in Spirit!
With Eric Flint now gone we turn to the other authors in the Ring of Fire Universe that he leaves behind.
Ikenberry serves up his first course.
How will the Revolution Turn with the addition of a few Cadets Firing Blanks along the Banks of the Delaware River?
Will Washington tell the Truth about the Cherry Tree and Other Things?
The Future of 1776 is Alive in Spirit!
July 19, 2024
A sadly disappointing book, partially due to the book's hook being, simply, "what would happen if a M-16 ended up in the American revolution?" - a question that is, in fact, completely irrelevant to the interesting plot possibilities which sadly never have the chance to develop.
If this book was ever to have a sequel, I hope the author can fully grasp the possibilities that only had moments of oxygen here - the out-of-time US soldier-cadets being officered by a black man, the skilled women, the even vague knowledge of the future constitutional questions that will vex the developing US being presented to the Founding Fathers themselves... all tease the reader in this book, and deserve more.
In the niche genre of "modern weapons in historical events", I can only point readers to Harry Turtledove's "Guns of the South" (What is the Confederate States had AK-47s?) which is a fantastic fable allowing historical personages to wrestle with their own legacies. "What if an M-16 ended up in the American Revolution?" has the seeds of that level of greatness in it. I hope Mr Ikenberry gets the chance to try it.
If this book was ever to have a sequel, I hope the author can fully grasp the possibilities that only had moments of oxygen here - the out-of-time US soldier-cadets being officered by a black man, the skilled women, the even vague knowledge of the future constitutional questions that will vex the developing US being presented to the Founding Fathers themselves... all tease the reader in this book, and deserve more.
In the niche genre of "modern weapons in historical events", I can only point readers to Harry Turtledove's "Guns of the South" (What is the Confederate States had AK-47s?) which is a fantastic fable allowing historical personages to wrestle with their own legacies. "What if an M-16 ended up in the American Revolution?" has the seeds of that level of greatness in it. I hope Mr Ikenberry gets the chance to try it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2023
The Crossing is an entertaining popcorn read in the same broad universe as 1632. The characters have promise, and some are decently developed, but others are very unevenly developed or have their storylines seemingly suddenly dropped at the end.
December 3, 2023
21st century soldiers find themselves in the American Revolution
During a winter storm, an army patrol disappears from Ft. Dix. They have arrived in Trenton, NJ, in time to help Gen. Washington.
During a winter storm, an army patrol disappears from Ft. Dix. They have arrived in Trenton, NJ, in time to help Gen. Washington.
December 15, 2023
Little ring of Patriots.
Nice to meet Washington! he needs all the help he can get. Hopefully we can see an improvement in logistics and tactics. I can only imagine working for Washington and this book gave me a small taste of that experience
Nice to meet Washington! he needs all the help he can get. Hopefully we can see an improvement in logistics and tactics. I can only imagine working for Washington and this book gave me a small taste of that experience
February 10, 2024
great sidetrack for the series
Loved this, well written and good characters with eventually action sequences to liven it up. However it is a story that needs continuing, on its own it’s a waste of
Loved this, well written and good characters with eventually action sequences to liven it up. However it is a story that needs continuing, on its own it’s a waste of
September 14, 2022
The book had serverly references for the uninformative to link with the ring of fire books by Eric Flint and other spin offs of that series.
September 19, 2022
1776 with changes
A rousing storyline and quite masterful dialog. How this all turns out is paramount to me as a reader. Superb!
A rousing storyline and quite masterful dialog. How this all turns out is paramount to me as a reader. Superb!
October 21, 2022
Ikenberry always delivers a good story and this step into Eric Flint's Ring of Fire universe is no different. There is definitely sequel potential here.
November 5, 2022
An interesting concept, well executed.
I'm hoping for a sequel.
I'm hoping for a sequel.
May 19, 2023
Alternate history about an ROTC squad going back to a few days before Washington crosses the Delaware.
July 3, 2023
Good intersection of historical fiction and military fiction. Sets up a possible sequel, which I would read.
October 6, 2023
Well worth reading
This book is a very good addition to the Ring of Fire universe. I highly recommend it even if you have not read the other stories in the series.
This book is a very good addition to the Ring of Fire universe. I highly recommend it even if you have not read the other stories in the series.
December 21, 2023
Probably a better book than I'm giving it credit for. I cared enough to finish it, but I was just skimming.
March 11, 2025
Good read
Good read. Draws on history and also develops the cadet characters well. I recommend this book for all fans of this genre.
Good read. Draws on history and also develops the cadet characters well. I recommend this book for all fans of this genre.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews