"One moment Conrad Schwartz was suffering from a severe hangover as he hiked through the mountains of present-day Poland, the next he was running for his life from an angry Teutonic knight. Things went downhill from there, and he finally had to face the disheartening fact he had somehow been stranded in 1231 A.D.
He would have been happier if he had known less history. But there was very bad news in his new future, so he set out to turn Medieval Poland into the most powerful country in the thirteenth century. It wouldn't be easy. He would be investigated by the Inquisition (he should have expected that), be knighted, round up vassals, build a city, survive armed combat with the Champion of the Teutonic Knights, invent the steam engine and cloth factories, establish universal education, and organize an army.
He needed that army most of all, because he knew that the Mongol hordes would attack in only ten years and destroy medieval Poland—and that would really mess up Conrad's life."
One of my favorite genres is alternate history, including stories in which modern people are dropped into other times to survive. Whether its cmsix's work, Eric Flint's Assiti Shards series, or Harry Turtledove's many novels, I love 'em all.
I like the Conrad Stargard series too, but there are also several things that I just don't like about it. It all basically boils down to one point - Conrad is a bit of a dick. For some reason, I don't like him all that much.
First, though Conrad's helping advance Poland technologically, hoping to help Europe survive the oncoming mongol hordes, he has no problem taking advantage of all the young, pretty peasant girls. OK, maybe I don't have that much trouble with that, but I do have a problem with how he refuses to man up and accept some sort of commitment with any of the loving and devoted nubile young ladies. When he eventually does get married to an admittedly sexy french woman, its mostly for political reasons and he quickly becomes estranged from her.
Secondly, though he at times takes charge of the situation and people around him, most of the time he is so absorbed in his engineering work that he completely ignores the world around him. People are constantly getting pissed of at him for being absentminded.
Still, its a great story, if you can look past the flawed protagonist. Oh, also the intelligent horses who for some reason gain religion and the bio-engineered sex slaves/servants. Those things kinda ruin it for me too.
