Lest Darkness Fall

Author: L. Sprague De Camp

Throw away your hallucinogens (or don't, but I'm not going to suggest you do anything illegal here), because Lest Darkness Fall is one of those science fiction novels that begins with a dreamy, surreal quality to it that makes you feel like you're on drugs. American archaeologist Martin Padway visits the Pantheon in Rome in 1938. A crack of lightning, and a thunderstorm takes him to Rome, 525AD. Padway wonders if he's dreaming or delusional, but is resigned to his new life. Padway decides to make a copper still and sell brandy for a living, convincing a banker, Thomasus to assist with this venture. Padway then ventures into the communications industry, developing a printing press, publishing newspapers and building a telegraph system. When Italy is invaded by the Imperials and threatened by other influences, he becomes involved in Italian state politics, using strategic military tactics never used in the ancient world. By the end of the novel, Padway has stabilized the Italo-Gothic kingdom, established a constitution, and ends serfdom. Thanks to Padway, Europe never suffers the Dark Ages. An alternate history sci-fi novel written in 1939, this book is considered one of the prime, influential examples of this genre, shaping the form of the subgenre that it still retains over 70 years later. Even Harry Turtledove, the prolific alternate history writer (who controversially isn't on this list because of his two dimensional characters and blinkered focus on war), has said it sparked his interest in writing in this genre. Aside from being influential, contemporary readers all comment on how amusing the writing is. My personal favorite element is how the female characters aren't moronic stereotypes, which is unusual for a book written in the 1930s.