The Roman Future

De: ROBERT ALLEN MILTENBERG

Narrado por: Hal Sinden

It's the Golden Age of Rome. Pax Romana! A vibrant, modern time of peace and prosperity. Emperor Augustus reigns wisely and benevolently. And Scatius Commodius Lavatorius is its greatest scientist. He alone has given the Empire every conceivable modern convenience and wonder of the day that Rome has to offer.

Despite his wealth and position, Scatius is driven by one thought: Will all he has brought to Rome help Rome stay Rome throughout the ages and stand the test of time? Or will it make one damn bit of difference? There's only one way to find out.

Come along on the adventure. See if you can read the signs any better than a brilliant scientist can. Prediction? Science Fiction? Allegory? National Glory? Satire at its most gladiatorial, center stage in the Circus Maximus of your mind.

That's the Roman Future. A story of time machines and timeless politics, strange Roman cuisine and gambling parlor tricks, spinning gold, rolling manhole covers, all at the same time foretold -yesterday, today and tomorrow.

©2023 ROBERT ALLEN MILTENBERG (P)2026 ROBERT ALLEN MILTENBERG

Transports the listener!

The Roman Future transports listeners into a version of Rome where scientific innovation and political power collide in dangerous ways. Brilliant scientist Scatius Commodius Lavatorius dares to push society beyond its limits, but every advancement threatens to destabilize the empire itself. The characters feel layered and believable, each struggling with loyalty, ambition, fear, and the personal cost of progress. As alliances fracture and tensions rise, the emotional stakes become just as powerful as the political and societal conflicts surrounding them. Blending immersive world-building, political intrigue, and science fiction, the novel explores the fragile balance between societal advancement and destruction.

Author Robert Allen Miltenberg demonstrates a strong command of science fiction storytelling, blending immersive world-building, political tension, and thought-provoking technological concepts into a compelling narrative. The richly detailed setting feels believable and layered, creating a futuristic world that draws the reader fully into the story. The characters are intriguing and well-developed, while the dialogue feels authentic to both the emotional stakes and the high-pressure situations unfolding around them. Miltenberg effectively explores how innovation can simultaneously threaten established social structures while remaining essential for society’s survival and advancement. His descriptive writing creates a vivid atmosphere without slowing the pacing, allowing the larger themes of progress, fear, and societal evolution to emerge naturally throughout the novel.

The narrator Hal Sinden delivers a strong performance overall, bringing both emotion and tension vividly to the story while helping maintain the novel’s dramatic atmosphere. His delivery is deliberate and measured, allowing the political intrigue, scientific concepts, and emotional conflicts to unfold clearly for the listener. The distinct character voices help differentiate personalities effectively, and for the most part, his speech remains clear and engaging throughout the audiobook.

There are moments, however, where one particular character voice sounds somewhat slurry, making portions of the dialogue slightly difficult to follow. In addition, the narration occasionally has to compete with background sound effects and music, which can distract from the spoken performance at times. Even so, the narrator captures the emotional intensity of the story well, conveying fear, urgency, ambition, and conflict in a way that keeps the listener invested in both the characters and the unfolding tension.

The Roman Future is an engaging blend of science fiction, political intrigue, and emotional conflict that offers listeners a thought-provoking look at the cost of progress and the fragile nature of societal stability.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.