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Ranks of Bronze


They were Roman soldiers—
and they were still alive because there 
were no better killers in the galaxy.

The Galactics need fighters who could win battles without the aid of technology. That's why, when Rome's legions suffered disaster at Carrhae, secretive alien traders were waiting to buy them on the Persian slave market.

Now, virtually immortal, the Romans fight strange enemies on stranger worlds; and though they win every battle, the spoils of victory never include freedom. If the legionaries are ever to return to Earth, it must be through the beam weapons and force screens of their ruthless alien owners. But no matter the odds, two thousand years is a long time; the Romans are coming home.

Cover Art by Patrick Turner


ORDER Paperback

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

First printing, August 2001

Distributed by Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN-13: 978-0-671-31833-8
ISBN-10: 0-671-31833-0

Copyright© 1986 by David Drake

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.

A Baen Books Original
Baen publishing Enterprises
P.O. Box 1403
Riverdale, NY 10471
http://www.baen.com

Electronic version by WebWrights
http://www.webscription.net


DEDICATION

For Jerry Pournelle
For numerous kindnesses over the years —
including one off-hand comment that was worth any number of writing courses.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To Jim, who bought the story ten years ago;
to Janet, who reminded me of the BATRACHOMYOMACHIA;
and to Jo, who liked the completed result.

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