The Radiant Warrior

by Leo Frankowski

Book Overview

New Light on the Past. Conrad Stargard, a 20th-century Pole marooned in 13th-century Poland, had just ten years to prevent the Mongol Hordes from slaughtering everyone in Poland. So he "invented" all... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345327640
• ISBN13: 9780345327642
• Release Date: June 1989
• Publisher: Del Rey Books
• Length: 281 Pages
• Weight: 0.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful

I am a female reader and do not agree with the other review about these books. In general, I do not enjoy science fiction or fantasy. So when I was desperate for a read a few years ago, I borrowed these from a friend. What a great surprise. I have since collected the series for myself. Wonderful Stories. This is a five book series that is unfortunately out of print. If you can get your hands on one or all of these books, do so. although the books can potentially stand alone, it is much better to read them in order. They are a quick interesting read. Conrad is modern day man in Poland on a hiking trip when he happens to get transported back in time. He is able to invent things and bring some of his modern day experience into the past. It is a fascinating read. The author does not get caught up in the philosophy of time travel but instead has fun with the idea. In this book Conrad begins with, once again, dealing with his nemesis and then begins developing a new army. Excellent reading. Well worth the money. Enjoy.

Excellent 5 Book Series

This is the best time travel series in a realistic timeline ever written. Before these books, L. Sprague De Camp had held that title for decades with his "Lest Darkness Fall", but it was too short. Mark Twain may be the most famous with his "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", but that is more light hearted than serious, and disappointing at the end. The Conrad series delivers on all the promise, and even after 5 books, it still leaves you wanting more. (There is a sixth book now, but Conrad is a minor character, and I've reviewed it separately.)I say realistic timeline, because Conrad isn't really from our timeline. I was a little suspicious right from the start, but it wasn't until Conrad reminisced about the Mongols invading France that I thought "Hey, wait a minute". It turns out that it didn't happen to us (even without Conrad). But the historians I read agree that it would have, except the great Khan died and the Mongols had a war of succession which they never recovered from. This is often used as an example of the actions of one person changing history. I never even heard the story, until Conrad got me to look it up. Go figure.This is an action story, with fighting and sex, where Conrad overcomes insurmountable obstacles, and usually has a good time along the way. The author doesn't just ignore the time travel though. He writes a science fiction sub-plot about that too. In fact, the author is obviously an engineer, not just because it takes an engineer for Conrad to build the things he does, but also from the way the books were planned out and crafted. Obviously the author planned the Mongol invasion and built the series around it, but he also foreshadows romantic sub-plots 3 books in advance. I love these books, and share other reviewers disbelief that they haven't been reprinted since 1993. If you've already read them, and love them too, you might want to try "The Misplaced Legion (Videssos Cycle, Book 1)" by Harry Turtledove, about elements of one of Caesar's legions travelling into Rome's future of the Byzantine Empire. Only it's not the real Byzantine Empire, it's a parallel universe where magic works. Aside from that, it's Byzantium during the 1100's written by a Byzantine historian. And of course you'll want to read the "Island in the Sea of Time" series by S. M. Stirling, about modern day Nantucket going back in time to the Trojan War. These works are different, but also 5 stars.

Boot Camp!

This was a fun read! Infidel Moslems, and the return of the insufferable Sir Stefan make up the first half of the book, but the Radiant Warrior really shines (no pun intended) in the second half when Conrad attempts to build a US Army-style boot camp for his new Army. Highly recommended!

One of my all-time favorites

If you can find it, GET IT! Well-written, thoughtful, and entertaining. Love and joy, sadness and pain, the adventure of time travel gets lost behind the story of the daily life of an ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances.

great book, loved it, went and bought the sequal

made me think, taught me about midevil poland, and moderen day science, and all around enjoyable read