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The Imperium Game KD Wentworth 9780743487009 Books

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The Imperium Game KD Wentworth 9780743487009 Books

This is one of those books that demonstrates that SF is more of a flavor than a genre. The existence of robots, laser pistols, artificial intelligence, and holographic projectors is mostly just window dressing on this Hitchcockian thriller novel. But only "mostly", that is, because a few elements of the plot do actually directly depend on the SF attributes. In particular, the interactions between the AI "gods" and their programmer is a funny and definitely SF-ish twist.

The setting is a live action roleplaying game, where people buy their way into The Imperium as lowly freedmen and try to gather enough "authenticty points" to end up as Emperor. It's all supposed to be safe and very expensive fun, but something goes wrong and now people are really dying. The head programmer for the game's computers is forced to go into the game incognito and try to solve the mystery himself.

Does it sound a bit like "Dream Park"? Yes, but it's not. "Dream Park" was about a live action role playing game, but not one that was massively multiplayer. That actually does make a difference. And in "Dream Park" the game itself was not actually breaking down. Perhaps it might be fair to descibe this as more of "Dream Park" meets "Westworld", with some Hitchcock and Ludlum tossed in.

Like most thrillers, the fast pace and exciting action carries you over a few gaping plot holes that otherwise might have snagged your attention. The book has its flaws, and the characters are much too one-dimensional. But, like in most thrillers, those are forgiveable sins because the book is fun to read.


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The Imperium Game KD Wentworth 9780743487009 Books Reviews

The original publication date of this book I believe is 1994, so this book was way ahead of its time. It reminds me a little bit of the movie entitled "The Thirteenth Floor". I love stories along the lines of what I like to call "the Blur", where reality and virtual reality cross and the distinction between them becomes less defined. This book is right up that alley. Well written, good characters, interesting plot. Well worth the read.
Time and place New York City of the future, where role playing is taken to its pinnacle at a theme park using physically interactive computer holographic gods and goddesses. The colorful and occasionally gritty streets of ancient Rome come to life in Wentworth's intense imagery, the written equivalent of a Maxfield Parrish painting. But mystery and romance also color the pages.
A hapless programmer named Kerickson is framed for murder of the most important player of The Imperium Game, the Emperor Micio Metullus. It just so happens that Kerickson's ex-wife was Micio's wife in the game, the bewitching Demea, with emphasis on 'witch'. Kerickson soon discovers that Amaelia, the late Emperor's daughter is pursued by her jealous stepmother and by Quintis Gracchus, sinster Captain of the Praetorian Guards. Gracchus seems determined to become the next Emperor by any means and change the nature of the game to serve his own dark purpose. With the sometimes-helpful aid of the malfunctioning gods, Kerickson enters the game and strives to save both it and Amaelia as the programs run amok.
The happy ending hoist Kerickson out of his previous wretched state but leaves room for a fun sequel. The Imperium Game provides a winning combination of sci-fi, mystery and romance.
Taking place in a world where medieval role-playing games, like the popular Dungeons & Dragons, are conducted on a grand scale, K.D. Wentworth's The Imperium Game is surprisingly well written, full of twists and turns as well as elegant detail. The arena of The Imperium Game is a full-scale recreation of ancient Rome--complete with computor simulated, holographic dieties who assist players in exchange for ritual sacrafices at their temples. The players, who pay a fee to live and work in the city, are given points based on their experience and the authenticity of their role playing, competing to move up in rank and ultimately to assume the role of Emperor. Full of humor and unique creative touches, Wentworth succeeds in turning what may have been an average sf novel into a delightful, lightweight farce that reads more like a crime novel by Donald Westlake than anything else.
This is one of those books that demonstrates that SF is more of a flavor than a genre. The existence of robots, laser pistols, artificial intelligence, and holographic projectors is mostly just window dressing on this Hitchcockian thriller novel. But only "mostly", that is, because a few elements of the plot do actually directly depend on the SF attributes. In particular, the interactions between the AI "gods" and their programmer is a funny and definitely SF-ish twist.

The setting is a live action roleplaying game, where people buy their way into The Imperium as lowly freedmen and try to gather enough "authenticty points" to end up as Emperor. It's all supposed to be safe and very expensive fun, but something goes wrong and now people are really dying. The head programmer for the game's computers is forced to go into the game incognito and try to solve the mystery himself.

Does it sound a bit like "Dream Park"? Yes, but it's not. "Dream Park" was about a live action role playing game, but not one that was massively multiplayer. That actually does make a difference. And in "Dream Park" the game itself was not actually breaking down. Perhaps it might be fair to descibe this as more of "Dream Park" meets "Westworld", with some Hitchcock and Ludlum tossed in.

Like most thrillers, the fast pace and exciting action carries you over a few gaping plot holes that otherwise might have snagged your attention. The book has its flaws, and the characters are much too one-dimensional. But, like in most thrillers, those are forgiveable sins because the book is fun to read.