description The Gladiator Overview
The Gladiator is a young-adult alternate-history novel by Harry Turtledove and part of his Crosstime Traffic series. It is set in a version of Italy shaped by a Soviet victory in the Cold War, where official society follows a socialist system. The young protagonists encounter a hidden shop dealing in games based on capitalism, turning a seemingly ordinary discovery into a conflict involving political ideology, forbidden commerce, and the limits of what their society permits.
help The Gladiator FAQ
What is The Gladiator by Harry Turtledove about?
The Gladiator is a young-adult alternate-history novel in Harry Turtledove's Crosstime Traffic series. It follows young protagonists in an Italy shaped by a Soviet victory in the Cold War.
Why is Italy different in The Gladiator?
The novel imagines a version of Italy where the Soviet Union won the Cold War. Official society follows a socialist system, which changes the political and everyday setting encountered by the protagonists.
Is The Gladiator part of the Crosstime Traffic series?
Yes, The Gladiator belongs to Harry Turtledove's Crosstime Traffic series. The series uses alternate timelines as the setting for stories involving young characters and cross-world encounters.
What do the young protagonists encounter in The Gladiator?
The protagonists encounter a society formed by an alternate Cold War outcome and shaped by official socialism. Their experience is less about a conventional ancient Roman gladiator story and more about exploring a divergent modern history.
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