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{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
|image = Warlords of Utopia (novel).jpg | |image = Warlords of Utopia (novel).jpg | ||
|series = ''[[Faction Paradox (series)|Faction Paradox]]'' novels | |series = ''[[Faction Paradox (series)|Faction Paradox]]'' novels | ||
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|featuring = | |featuring = | ||
|setting = [[Known Worlds]] | |setting = [[Known Worlds]] | ||
|writer = | |writer = Lance Parkin | ||
|cover = [[Steve Johnson]] | |cover = [[Steve Johnson]] | ||
|publisher = Mad Norwegian Press | |publisher = Mad Norwegian Press | ||
|release date = | |release date = 13 December 2004 | ||
|format = Paperback book, 180 pages | |format = Paperback book, 180 pages | ||
|isbn = ISBN 0-9725959-6-1 | |isbn = ISBN 0-9725959-6-1 | ||
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Marcus visited the old man and, intrigued, tracked down the piece of jewelry, a bracelet. Upon returning to the hospice, he now found he was able to communicate clearly with the old man, where before it was touch and go. He and the old man fought over the bracelet before being transported to a [[Roma II|different version of Rome]], meeting guards there who had "[[radio|shiners]]", and finding the man in a pool of his own blood, and then finding himself back on his own world. | Marcus visited the old man and, intrigued, tracked down the piece of jewelry, a bracelet. Upon returning to the hospice, he now found he was able to communicate clearly with the old man, where before it was touch and go. He and the old man fought over the bracelet before being transported to a [[Roma II|different version of Rome]], meeting guards there who had "[[radio|shiners]]", and finding the man in a pool of his own blood, and then finding himself back on his own world. | ||
Marcus discussed the issue of the other Rome with his brother, father, wife and her father, and decided to travel there once more. This time, he went with money, and attempted to blend in, purchasing books on world history, which diverged from theirs in part due to plague, and some of the shiners, and noticing that this world had other technology not available in his, such as [[helicopter]]s. Using the purchased shiner, Marcus and his family were able to replicate the internal workings, but not make it function, and were unable to easily acquire helicopters. As such, they | Marcus discussed the issue of the other Rome with his brother, father, wife and her father, and decided to travel there once more. This time, he went with money, and attempted to blend in, purchasing books on world history, which diverged from theirs in part due to plague, and some of the shiners, and noticing that this world had other technology not available in his, such as [[helicopter]]s. Using the purchased shiner, Marcus and his family were able to replicate the internal workings, but not make it function, and were unable to easily acquire helicopters. As such, they realised that it was time to approach this diplomatically and involve the Emperor. | ||
The Emperor was enthused at the idea of trading with other Romes, though under the utmost secrecy, and so Marcus set out to contact the Emperor of this other Rome. Upon meeting the the Emperor of this second Rome, Marcus learned that the old man had died, and his body had been incinerated. Trade deals were struck, gold, medicinal herbs and writings in exchange for the first few helicopters and shiner transmitters, and an agreement was signed between Emperors that no Emperor was to ever have authority over another. Soon Marcus' world was transformed by the new technology introduced. | The Emperor was enthused at the idea of trading with other Romes, though under the utmost secrecy, and so Marcus set out to contact the Emperor of this other Rome. Upon meeting the the Emperor of this second Rome, Marcus learned that the old man had died, and his body had been incinerated. Trade deals were struck, gold, medicinal herbs and writings in exchange for the first few helicopters and shiner transmitters, and an agreement was signed between Emperors that no Emperor was to ever have authority over another. Soon Marcus' world was transformed by the new technology introduced. | ||
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With this newfound wealth of interdimensional technology, more of Marcus' close friends and allies are able to be involved in the exploration of other Romes as well, though this is still a closely kept secret. However, the Emperor of Roma I had become frustrated by the Americanius family's continual rise in wealth, even as he prospered, allies close to him complaining about their influence and attempting to slow down their growth and limit their wealth as much as they could. | With this newfound wealth of interdimensional technology, more of Marcus' close friends and allies are able to be involved in the exploration of other Romes as well, though this is still a closely kept secret. However, the Emperor of Roma I had become frustrated by the Americanius family's continual rise in wealth, even as he prospered, allies close to him complaining about their influence and attempting to slow down their growth and limit their wealth as much as they could. | ||
This | This led to the first usage of the bracelets offensively, acquiring private documents of the Americanius family's enemies to give to the press, blackmailing key figures, or even assassinations. Eventually the Emperor decided to reveal the secret of their wealth to the public, the existence of other earths and the bracelets. However, the general populace did not care, though this announcement did cause social change, as people began to question their society and consider the societies of other Romes. | ||
Around this time, Marcus was in the [[London|Londinium]] of [[Roma DCX]], "the edge of creation", a place where no further Romes existed from. He contemplated this fact, and how there might be more worlds out there, instead of jumping from point to point though, jumping across a "great divide". The ground shook beneath him and he found himself in a new world, with screaming filling the air. He finds a shiner, turns it on, and plays it. | Around this time, Marcus was in the [[London|Londinium]] of [[Roma DCX]], "the edge of creation", a place where no further Romes existed from. He contemplated this fact, and how there might be more worlds out there, instead of jumping from point to point though, jumping across a "great divide". The ground shook beneath him and he found himself in a new world, with screaming filling the air. He finds a shiner, turns it on, and plays it. | ||
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=== Part Two: Brennt London! === | === Part Two: Brennt London! === | ||
Marcus makes the inference at first that the invaders are Rome, come to bring | Marcus makes the inference at first that the invaders are Rome, come to bring civilisation to this war-torn landscape. Marcus attempts to travel, leaving this "benighted world", and finds himself in yet another war torn world. And another. And another. And another. In this [[Germania V|last world]], one less impacted by the war, with people walking around, he walks into the street and is promptly hit by a vehicle. Upon waking up, he finds himself in a hospital, being tended to by a woman who looks exactly the same as [[Angela Scriptor|his wife]]. | ||
He quickly discovers that Rome is not the invading force, but instead the Germans, and began to get to know this second Angela. Marcus confesses to Angela and her father that he comes from a different world as the Germans attack London. The group are surrounded by German soldiers, and Marcus is wounded, forcing him to transport himself and Angela across the great divide. | He quickly discovers that Rome is not the invading force, but instead the Germans, and began to get to know this second Angela. Marcus confesses to Angela and her father that he comes from a different world as the Germans attack London. The group are surrounded by German soldiers, and Marcus is wounded, forcing him to transport himself and Angela across the great divide. | ||
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Marcus awakes to find [[Quintus Saxus]] standing over him, who informs him that his family has been told of his being discovered, as Angela begins to acclimate to the discovery of other worlds, and the fact that he's married to another version of her. The two travel back to Roma I, where Angela heads to the Americanius family estate, and Marcus to brief the Emperor. | Marcus awakes to find [[Quintus Saxus]] standing over him, who informs him that his family has been told of his being discovered, as Angela begins to acclimate to the discovery of other worlds, and the fact that he's married to another version of her. The two travel back to Roma I, where Angela heads to the Americanius family estate, and Marcus to brief the Emperor. | ||
The Emperor feels that knowledge of worlds in which Rome fell would prove | The Emperor feels that knowledge of worlds in which Rome fell would prove destabilising to the status quo, and so forbids discussion of the discovery, with all evidence destroyed. Marcus pretends to do so, but has no interest in actually complying with his wishes on this front. The two Angelas get along quite well, and the second Angela slots in somewhat naturally to life the first Angela already had, with a father and children who accept her readily. | ||
Marcus talked to his group of allies who also used bracelets and came up with a plan on how to properly act against [[Germania]], involving universe hopping sabotage, searching for [[Germania I]], and more general attempts to understand the society of the worlds across the great divide. After deploying the same sabotage technique multiple times across different worlds, the group was ambushed by German soldiers. They quickly infer the possibility that world travelling is a capability possessed by the Germans. | Marcus talked to his group of allies who also used bracelets and came up with a plan on how to properly act against [[Germania]], involving universe hopping sabotage, searching for [[Germania I]], and more general attempts to understand the society of the worlds across the great divide. After deploying the same sabotage technique multiple times across different worlds, the group was ambushed by German soldiers. They quickly infer the possibility that world travelling is a capability possessed by the Germans. | ||
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=== Part Three: Rome Wasn't Built in a Day === | === Part Three: Rome Wasn't Built in a Day === | ||
A history of the next ten years of the Greater German Reich is recited. How they used different battle tactics depending on the earth, how [[August Hitler]] was born on only Germania I, how the Germans turned their ambition towards the moon, and so on. Eventually they drew up plans to invade Roma DCX, using more | A history of the next ten years of the Greater German Reich is recited. How they used different battle tactics depending on the earth, how [[August Hitler]] was born on only Germania I, how the Germans turned their ambition towards the moon, and so on. Eventually they drew up plans to invade Roma DCX, using more generalised interdimensional transport than the bracelets. Within ten days they conquered this first Rome. | ||
At this point, sixteen years had passed for Marcus, who began his confinement by being tortured for information by the Germans, and then sought out as a source of company by Abschrift, learning from this some small minutiae of the outside world. Abschrift mentions to Marcus that he comes from the true earth, not one of these pale imitations, and works for [[House Mirraflex]]. | At this point, sixteen years had passed for Marcus, who began his confinement by being tortured for information by the Germans, and then sought out as a source of company by Abschrift, learning from this some small minutiae of the outside world. Abschrift mentions to Marcus that he comes from the true earth, not one of these pale imitations, and works for [[House Mirraflex]]. | ||
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* An [[Old man (Warlords of Utopia)|old man]] | * An [[Old man (Warlords of Utopia)|old man]] | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
* Consobrinus Patruelis is a representative of [[Faction Paradox|Partes Paradoxum]]. | * Consobrinus Patruelis is a representative of [[Faction Paradox|Partes Paradoxum]]. | ||
* Alternate "[[Germania]]" timelines included: [[Germania I]], [[Germania V]], [[Germania XII]], [[Germania LI]], [[Germania LXVIII]], [[Germania LD]], and [[Germania (beta alpha one five)]]. | * Alternate "[[Germania]]" timelines included: [[Germania I]], [[Germania V]], [[Germania XII]], [[Germania LI]], [[Germania LXVIII]], [[Germania LD]], and [[Germania (beta alpha one five)]]. | ||
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* The novel's references and use of dimensional corridors strongly implies it is a precursor to ''[[Doctor Who and the Iron Legion (comic story)|Doctor Who and the Iron Legion]]''. It contains references to alternate histories from other stories, as well, including [[Philip K. Dick]]'s ''{{w|The Man in the High Castle}}'' and {{w|Robert Harris (novelist)|Robert Harris}}'s ''{{w|Fatherland (novel)|Fatherland}}''. | * The novel's references and use of dimensional corridors strongly implies it is a precursor to ''[[Doctor Who and the Iron Legion (comic story)|Doctor Who and the Iron Legion]]''. It contains references to alternate histories from other stories, as well, including [[Philip K. Dick]]'s ''{{w|The Man in the High Castle}}'' and {{w|Robert Harris (novelist)|Robert Harris}}'s ''{{w|Fatherland (novel)|Fatherland}}''. | ||
* When Marcus and Angela watch a boxing match between [[Cassius Marcellus Argilla]] and his counterpart from [[Germania V]], Marcus remarks, "Volitat par papilio et icet par apis." This is a reference to {{w|Muhammed Ali}}'s iconic quote, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." | * When Marcus and Angela watch a boxing match between [[Cassius Marcellus Argilla]] and his counterpart from [[Germania V]], Marcus remarks, "Volitat par papilio et icet par apis." This is a reference to {{w|Muhammed Ali}}'s iconic quote, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." | ||
* ''Warlords of Utopia'' won Best Cover and, for its war between the Known Worlds, tied for Original Character or Concept in the 2004 Jade Pagoda mailing list awards.<ref>{{cite web | |||
|url=http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/jp/jpawards.htm | |||
|title=Jade Pagoda awards | |||
|year of source=2008 | |||
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922194131/http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/jp/jpawards.htm | |||
|archivedate=22 September 2008 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||