Echo Cycle by Patrick Edwards

I would like to thank Sarah from Titan for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review

Publisher – Titan

Published – Out Now

Price - £7.99 paperback £4.79 Kindle eBook

68 CE 
Fleeing disaster, young Winston Monk wakes to find himself trapped in the past, imprisoned by the mad Emperor Nero. The Roman civilization he idolized is anything but civilized, and his escape from a barbaric home has led him somewhere far more dangerous.

2070 CE 
As the European Union crumbled, Britain closed its borders, believing they were stronger alone. After decades of hardship, British envoy Lindon Banks joins a diplomatic team to rebuild bridges with the hypermodern European Confederacy. But in Rome, Banks discovers his childhood friend who disappeared without a trace. Monk appears to have spent the last two decades living rough, but he tells a different story: a tale of Caesars, slavery and something altogether more sinister.

Monk's mysterious emergence sparks the tinderbox of diplomatic relations between Britain and the Confederacy, controlled by shadowy players with links back to the ancient world itself...

In times of trouble I do enjoy listening to the musical Hamilton. Among it’s many interesting moments is the ‘Greek chorus’ of King George the Third being sarcastic and haughty at a nation declaring independence – ‘oceans rise empires fall’ how dare anyone think you can prosper outside the British Empire he wails. Well we know how that turned out (last few years notwithstanding) and a few years ago the UK itself appeared to have grown up; and we definitely know how that turned out! Patrick Edwards takes the wonderful world of Brexit and in Echo Cycle creates a time travel tale that explores the UK’s future; it’s relationship with Europe and also a reminder that Empires have risen and fallen for many many millennia – carrying with them pain, sorrow, blood and love.

In the near future the UK is now firmly out of the Europe Union; initially the EU was seeing economic ruin due to many worldwide events however by the time a public school sends Winston Monk to Rome for a school trip the differences are becoming more obvious. The ‘Euros’ as the UK call them got their act together – Latin becomes the new single language while Rome becomes the new heart of the Confederation; technology is being explored and it continues to be a tolerant culture accepting of homosexuality and freedom of expression. In the UK the privileged are once more the upper class; the drawbridge is up offering few ways to leave the country and homosexuality is once more being perceived as a moral failure and increasingly persecuted. Hence Monk gets into a fight with a school bully that explodes with violence and then guilt and flees for one night into a city he has always loved; read about and wanted to be part of. Wandering through the ruins though he slips through time and finds himself in the final days of the court of Nero – unable to talk, lost and trapped.

Back in the 21st century a further twenty years pass, and the UK’s situation has worsened. America blew up with Yellowstone; China and Russia have fallen; and the UK is turning to subsistence, riots and disease. A new movement suggests it may be time to restore relations with out largest neighbour and a trade delegation of which the middle-aged widower Lindon Banks is part of arrives in Rome to begin negotiations. A difficult meeting gets harder when Banks meets a homeless and aged Monk (a former classmate) who tells a fantastical tale of decades in Ancient Rome; of political turmoil, violence, love and magic. Then the trade delegation starts to get targeted – the past and the future are more closely linked than anyone will imagine.

What I really loved in this story is that exploration of what we all now know as ‘interesting times’ how events shape civilisations bringing some people up and some down – changing the world for good or bad. Edwards provides a highly plausible future of a insular UK that continually makes bad decisions and is too ashamed to admit it so retreats into a miniature version of itself replete with endless marching bands and armies while at the same time repressing citizens; removing rights and letting disease and hunger rise. You can easily imagine the UK falling on that path right now. The EU however learns to have greater co-operation and without its weirder neighbour has moved past the UK in terms of prosperity, technology and tolerance. There are delicious scenes of the fussy middle aged men being shown exactly how far the EU is now in front of them – some refuse to accept it but in the shape of Banks we get a man widowed thanks to the UK’s shortcomings who strikes up a blossoming friendship and something more with the Confederation aide Mariko. He is amazed at the cheap food, sense o style and also joy that can be found on the streets of Rome. I love how Edwards captures the vibrancy of that city and its geography and culture all rings true. Everything seems to be looking to go well until Winston Monks literally bumps into them and tells his story.

Initially while the 21st century thread of the plot seems future based satire you may wonder what the connection is to a man trapped in Nero’s Rome would be. Just as Edwards creates a plausible future, he also provides a fantastic and plausible time travel tale. Monk is a clever kid, but he is not however going to be able to suddenly take charge of Rome with his knowledge of history, language and technology. He quickly ends up a slave to the Emperor’s court – subject to cruel violence and disgusting tasks. His only support is Sporus – one time lover to Nero and he and Monk also start to connect and form a new relationship but one continually changed by the year of the four Roman Emperors and the two men find their fortunes whither and prosper with who is in charge. Sporus has the ear of several emperors where his ability to change form and resemble anyone an emperor desires makes him both privileged and scorned. Eventually they are separated, and Monk ends up fighting for his life in the gladiator arenas and slowly gets very good at it. I loved how Edwards makes Monk slowly grow up as the tale passes from naïve and privileged rich kid to someone who wants to survive but also is just someone who wants to get back to his lover. You really move from scorning his sneering voice to wanting him to pull through this dark time.

Here Edwards using Monk’s slightly sarcastic but also brutally honest narration that really paints a picture of Rome that doesn’t fall into parody. It is a Rome that feel real, grimy and dangerous. As we all are aware uncertain times can create ever switching regimes and cause terror for the inhabitants of them. This is an Empire based on people gaining absolute power and destroying their enemies so rampant cruelty to those felt to be on the wrong side is standard. Very hard not to see some echoes of this in our current world with countries ruled by populist despots that come and go with political disasters. Its also a good way to contrast with the Confederation that Banks is trying to negotiate with – one less focused on power and more enrichment of ALL citizens. It’s a fascinating wonderfully well told tale and one that I loved to compare with the future based storyline and then you start to see that the timelines are even more closely connected than you would expect.

Eventually the story moves into a political thriller – some forces for very personal reasons want to attack the UK delegation. The story becomes a question of exactly who can be trusted. Why does Mariko want to get involved with Banks? What led the UK to change tack and why is Monk’s story not quite adding up? All I can say without spoiling you is by the end of the tale the threads get perfectly drawn together and create a thrilling adventure as we move to startling finale in the ruins of the Empire.

This was an incredibly satisfying read that feels incredibly relevant to our times as the UK tries to work out where it wants to go next. The terrifying plausibility of our future is one that haunts me every time I see our TV screens but despite that it becomes a novel of hope; a reminder that terrifying times do change and also that its possible to move forward against our differences. A powerful story about how the past and the future always influence one another and can seed our destruction or salvation. Strongly recommended for people wanting a few signs of hope right now as well as a thrilling story.