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A Romp Through Time, Space, and Ancient Rome

Two award-winning writers take us on an alternate-history adventure—a 1940s barnstorming baseball team, led by retired baseball player and spy Moe Berg, is transported from rural Illinois to Ancient Rome, just after the death of Emperor Septimius Severus.

The Romans—who actually played a game called "small ball"—put the captured team to work teaching baseball to the gladiators for a major Colosseum event…that turns into an over-the-top, life or death finale.

Baseball hijinks, a wild ride through Rome in a careening team bus, a hint of romance, and some viciously good hitting and fielding.

Will the Wandering Warriors make it home? Will the widowed empress escape the fate her evil son has in mind for her? Will the rattletrap team bus make it way through time and space (and Roman roads) back to Illinois?

Will Chicago White Sox owner Grace Comiskey show up to make an unlikely offer to the team's best player?

"Wilber and Smale (are) two literary tricksters who present for your reading pleasure a fantastical romp featuring two cultures nobody but Rick and Alan had ever thought to let clash: barnstorming baseball players and Imperial Romans. You will believe in doubleheaders in the Coliseum. You will marvel at gladiators flailing at curve balls. And you will be tickled by the historical celebrities who take part in America's … um … Rome's Pastime. Fun is hereby decreed."—James Patrick Kelly, winner of the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards.

"The tales are united in their whimsy and grit, making this a rousing series of adventures."—Publishers Weekly

"The Wandering Warriors is one of the most unusual and imaginative science fiction stories I've read in a long time. Baseball in ancient Rome? In the Colosseum? With emperors and gladiators and 20th century ballplayers? You bet. Alternate history, time travel, imperial politics, and a whole lot of fun -- Alan and Rick really throw high heat in this one!" -- Nick DiChario, Hugo and World Fantasy nominated author of A Small and Remarkable Life

"Gladiator Games meet the World Series. If you're a fan of Roman history, or a fan of the history of baseball, you're in for a treat. Well written and very funny!" – Sheila Finch, author of A Villa Far From Rome

"Penn and Teller. Simon and Garfunkel. Laurel and Hardy. And now, dear reader, I commend to you another great collaboration. Wilber and Smale. These two literary tricksters present here for your reading pleasure a fantastical romp featuring two cultures nobody but Rick and Alan had ever thought to let clash: barnstorming baseball players and Imperial Romans. You will believe in doubleheaders in the Coliseum. You will marvel at gladiators flailing at curve balls. And you will be tickled by the historical celebrities who taking part in America's … um … Rome's Pastime. Fun is hereby decreed." – James Patrick Kelly, winner of the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards

SFRevu: "Exciting and fun. A great story."

Tangent Online: "An exciting and fun romp through time with relatable and interesting characters."