The story takes place in a future where the Roman Empire never fell and has expanded into North America. The protagonist is a young man from a lower-class family who becomes embroiled in a plot to overthrow the Emperor. He discovers that he has a unique genetic makeup that makes him immune to a deadly disease that is sweeping through the empire, and this discovery sets off a chain of events that leads to a rebellion against the Emperor's rule.
By H. Beam Piper · First published 1952 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Political · 13 chapters