Worlds of the Imperium: A Positronic Book

By Keith Laumer

Book Overview

Parallel worlds collide in this ambitious and fast-paced exploration of alternate history and interdimensional war.

In Worlds of the Imperium, Brion Bayard discovers that his familiar Earth is only one strand in a vast network of parallel realities. Across these branching worlds, empires rise and fall under different historical outcomes-some prosperous, others tyrannical. When he is drawn into a conflict that spans dimensions, Bayard must navigate political intrigue, shifting loyalties, and the strategic complexities of interworld power.

Laumer combines speculative physics with geopolitical imagination, crafting a narrative that moves confidently between alternate histories and large-scale confrontation. The novel stands as a foundational entry in parallel-universe science fiction, blending intellectual premise with decisive action and military tension.

Explore other exciting Positronic Books devoted to classic science fiction, fantasy, and mystery.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1515445062
• ISBN13: 9781515445067
• Release Date: August 2023
• Publisher: Positronic Publishing
• Length: 170 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Really very good

Worlds of the Imperium is a parallel-universe novel, and one of the first to use this idea effectively. It creates the idea of a continuum (today we would call it a multi-verse), where we have counterparts in worlds with different histories. Once humans learned to travel between worlds, the common flaws of greed, avarice, and lust for power of course came into play. We follow a character named Brion Bayard as he is recruited into service by an intelligence service that patrols these parallel worlds. But things are not what they seem. An excellent novel by my favorite author. A real page-turner full of intrigue and fascination. Why couldn't *I* get recruited to travel between worlds, you will ask yourself.

Nearly Forgotten Work

The book deals with the concept of parallel universes. The concept is relatively well thought out by Laumer and given to us in more detail then I expected he would do in such short novels. The story deals with the conflicts played out between the worlds of these parallel universes and how they impact each other both knowingly and unknowingly. Overall I thought this was a really good read. The pace of the story was fast and what one would expect of a tightly written story. It always amazes me how much thicker today's science fiction novels tend to be versus those of 30 or 40 years ago. Could it be as simple as the art of tight writing and a strong editor are lost today? The characters are not that strongly developed and this seems to be the sacrifice Laumer makes to keep the stories to the point. The characters are developed only as absolutely necessary to the story so of course the only character we are attuned to is the single main character. I recommended and if you enjoy the genre at all I think you will enjoy the novel as well.

Well-written parallel universe story

Brion Bayard, a perfecrly normal guy from our world, isn't too amused when he is trapped and kidnapped by the inhabitants of a parallel universe inhabited with the same persons as ours, but with another history. His mind changes, as he learns to know what essential task he is needed for: The peaceful world of his hosts is in danger of being atomically devastated by invaders from another parallel world. This world is ruled by an evil dictator, with the name and the look of - Brion Bayard. The kidnapped Brion is destined to replace the dictator, but this is anything else but an easy task - and nothing is like it seems to be... This isn't one of the best Laumers (and definitely not as good as his Retief stories), but worth a look or two. For Laumer fans a must.

His mission: assasinate his alternate self

The first in the adventures of Colonel Brion Bayard and the Imperium. The Imperium is a force that keeps parallel universies in check from their own world in Zero Zero Stockholm. When war faces the Imperium from an alternate reality they find their only chance in traveling to our "earth" and finding the duplicate of the person who leads the army of the attacking universe. Enter Brion Bayard. In order to ensure that his world and the Zero Zero line can remain in existance he must go on a thrilling adventure and assasinate his alternate self. Sequels include: The Other Side of Time, Assignment in Nowhere, and Zone Yellow.

The 1962 ace double novel version.

I have not read any other editions of this novel other than the 1962 Ace Double Novel edition. Worlds of the Imperium is a classic story of alternate worlds and what one man must face when confronted by his alternate self. A short but nicely done story that heralded Laumer's later works.