Synopsis: From the back cover of the Del Rey first edition: May 22, A.D. 100 was a pleasant, sunny day in Imperial Rome, and a busy one at the Colosseum - 60 men had fought to the death by the time Jerry Pierce was ordering his honey-dipped bun. Suddenly something flashed and there was a loud explosion. When the smoke cleared from the ruins of Emperor Domitians's private box, Pierce knew he had witnessed more than just the usual bickering over Imperial succession - the ancient Romans has mastered a thousand exquisite ways to kill, but the antitank missile was not yet among them. Because Pierce was available, the Agency for Intertemporal Development ordered him to investigate the assassination. It wasn't long before he learned of the plot to steal a world... and found himself facing the best of the Colosseum's gladiators.