2024 the best of times cast review

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(as of Dec 16, 2024 13:19:08 UTC - Details)

An engineer finds himself in an alternate reality, Cornwall, in the year 715 A.D. He awakens in the body of a young Baron.

Retired Lieutenant General, former head of the Army Corp of Engineers, lies dying at the age of ninety-two. Leading a full life, he is a decorated veteran of World War II, Korea, and Viet Nam.

His love of engineering has him taking university courses his entire life. When his health falters, and he can no longer continue his education, MIT awards him an honorary PhD in Professional Studenting.

After a long illness, he lies dying. His last thought is, "What a waste of such wonderful knowledge."

As he fades to black, the fun begins. He is to build a modern civilization without being burned as a witch!

Reviewer: Bonny Fuller-Fells
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A 92 year old man is given a new life in a new body
Review: James dies and wakes up in the body of a young baron in 715 A.D. With 92 years experience he starts changing things to make life better.

Reviewer: D. Springer
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Good Tale of a modern man in a medieval world
Review: Overall good story where a modern man is reborn into the body of a young baron in a version of earth roughly dated the 800s England. Clever use of modern knowledge from concrete to crossbows to better crop rotation. Fairly realistic on the details and how quickly something new can be adopted. Avoids the common trope of creating guns/cannon/trains by having the setting be too early.Negative is that the author made things SO EASY for the main character* Body of young Baron with no family to wonder about his change of personality* MC has a strong military background + extensive engineering work experience + a massive number of relevant college degrees + experience working in primitive conditions/tools* Baron has a massive treasury, easily 10X that of any other Baron* Baron has a second in command who becomes very loyal very quickly* Nearly everybody in the area is very open to adopting new ideas and customs* The only powerful lord in the area is very old and his only heir is a daughter who he is looking to marry to a promising lord.* All the other lords are terrible, willing to starve their workers to near/actual death in a non-famine year* The powerful lord's daughter is extremely capable, very intelligent, beautiful and progressive.* All the roads to the main trade center/city must pass through his territory* His first conquest allows him to befriend a powerful and unusually honest merchant in the main trade city.

Reviewer: Jon Svenson
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great storytelling but poor editing
Review: As with all of Ed Nelson's books, he is a great storyteller but suffers from poor editing. This first book in a new series is no different.An Army engineer and professional student dies and is sent back in time to Dark Ages Wales. He takes over the body of a local baron and finds decrepitude all around. The village is in ruins and the former baron only cared about himself.What ensues is an engineering marvel. I won't spoil what these are but the MC gets busy turning around the fortunes of his village. He makes enemies with other barons and friends with a baron in a large city. I did think a lot was overlooked here because of the focus on engineering. Would the townspeople really get on board with doing things differently from how they were taught? I don't know but that doesn't happen.As I said earlier, the editing is poor but it's not anything we haven't seen before. With Richard Jackson behind us, I'm looking forward to future volumes in this series.5/5*

Reviewer: Placeholder
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: for those that love western civ, time traveling possibilities and an engineering background
Review: This is a great “what if” scenario story. It’s not at all meant to be historically accurate in many ways but meant to be enjoyed as a simple entertaining story for those that love western civ, time traveling possibilities and how one can possibly use today’s known engineering knowledge in far past cultural situations. Pleasant simple entertainment not to be over-thought or over-analyzed — just enjoyed for what it is.

Reviewer: AJA
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Genre comparison
Review: Ancient alternative history books and stories (up to the end of the first millennium) have been my go to for a while now and although not the most popular segment of the genre, I find interesting and often compelling ideas in the concept of 'what if…'.This book (and series) joins with a few other publications that uses the premise of one person traveling to the past, establishing a sphere of influence by using knowledge and technology, and expanding on it.I won't include classics like 'Connecticut Yankee' but offer my personal views of some publications from the last decade including this book. I have ordered them by era from the oldest to the newest…'Tom'. A complete 8 book series. Well written, well edited and very well researched. In my favorites and I read it annually.5 stars - total immersion!'Gaia Reborn'. A complete 4 book series. Well written, well edited and very well researched. In my favorites.5 stars - cohesive, innovative and thought provoking.'Imperium - The Sword of Jupiter'. An ongoing 5 book series. Well edited and researched but the writing is long winded and often preachy. It would have been a top shelf recommendation if condensed into 3 books.3.5 stars - intriguing, alternative look at our known history.'Arturo Sandus - On The Rocks'. A complete 8 book series. Very interesting story. Editing could use professional help. Can get a little technical. In my favorites.4.5 stars - fast pace, gripping and unputdownable through the first 5 books, the rest are less so.'Cast in Time - Baron'. An ongoing 5 book series. Familiar concept. Amazing similarities to the "Arturo"' series which is a much better written story. Editing and writing could use help.3.5 stars - fast pace… maybe too fast.I hope this comparison will provide some new options to the readers.

Reviewer: Jason Smith
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I picked up the book thinking it sounded interesting, and in the first few pages, I knew it would be good. I was not disappointed. Great city building story. I couldn't put the book down.

Reviewer: Sangeeta Pandya
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Initially I was a bit sceptical about the reincarnation as a noble, but the progression was smooth and there was genuine thought behind word building. The storyline is unique, and is a good deviation away from magic or rpg game like elements. Instead it has settlement bulder type strategies, but it is not so obvious as to distract from a good story.

Reviewer: Highlander
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I don’t know Ed Nelson, but I do know the stuff he writes about… and he knows what he writes about. That alone does not make a good tale, but he also writes about emotions and family and action and suspense.This is a book worth reading independent of the genre you prefer!

Reviewer: Kindle Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Terrific rebirth story , it's excellent and the MC has an excellent backstory to explain his competence in improving his people's standard of living and his introduction of new building and farming methods , he's also a decent guy who doesn't abuse or take advantage of those less fortunate.

Reviewer: Cliente de Kindle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Good book about cast in timeMaybe a bit more perspective form the other people of that time will improve the book