A Long Time Until Now

A squad of U.S. soldiers patrolling in Afghanistan finds themselves inexplicably transported back to the Paleolithic era. The soldiers must leverage their modern military training, limited supplies, and ingenuity to survive in a world populated by prehistoric threats and unfamiliar terrain. The narrative follows their efforts to establish shelter, find food, and make contact with other time-displaced groups they encounter, including ancient Roman soldiers and indigenous peoples of the era. Their military expertise proves both useful and inadequate as they face challenges their training never prepared them for. The book combines elements of military science fiction with prehistoric survival, exploring themes of adaptability and human resourcefulness in extreme circumstances. Through detailed attention to historical and anthropological accuracy, it examines how modern humans might fare when stripped of technological advantages and forced to exist in humanity's distant past.

Readers found this time-travel military fiction detailed in its historical research and survival scenarios. Many praised the accuracy of both modern military protocols and prehistoric anthropology details. Liked: - Technical accuracy of military equipment and procedures - Depth of research into prehistoric peoples and settings - Practical focus on logistics and basic survival needs Disliked: - Slow pacing, especially in middle sections - Too much detail about mundane tasks and equipment - Some found the military jargon excessive - Several readers noted underdeveloped character relationships One reader called it "a realistic take on what modern soldiers would actually face if stranded in prehistory," while another said it "gets bogged down in minutiae." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (300+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (50+ ratings) The book rates higher among military fiction fans and readers interested in survival/prepper scenarios than general science fiction audiences.

1632 by Eric Flint Modern Americans find themselves transported to 17th-century Germany where they must navigate political intrigue and warfare with their contemporary knowledge and technology.

Island in the Sea of Time by S. M. Stirling The island of Nantucket and its inhabitants are sent back to the Bronze Age where they establish a new civilization while dealing with ancient cultures and limited resources.

Destiny's Crucible by Olan Thorensen A chemical engineer from Earth crashes on an alien world with a pre-industrial civilization and uses his scientific knowledge to survive and influence their development.

Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen by H. Beam Piper A Pennsylvania State Police officer is transported to an alternate timeline where he uses his knowledge of gunpowder and military tactics to change the course of that world's history.

The Cross-Time Engineer by Leo Frankowski A modern Polish engineer travels back to 13th-century Poland and attempts to industrialize medieval society before the Mongol invasion.

🔸 The author, Michael Z. Williamson, served in the U.S. Air Force and has worked as an armorer and weapons consultant, lending authentic military expertise to his writing. 🔸 The Paleolithic era depicted in the book spanned from about 2.6 million years ago to 12,000 BCE, during which humans developed their first stone tools and mastered fire. 🔸 Roman soldiers appearing in the story would have been equipped with the iconic lorica segmentata armor and gladius short sword, technology that would have seemed almost magical to Paleolithic humans. 🔸 Modern military MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) featured in the book have a shelf life of about 3-5 years, making their eventual depletion a realistic concern for time-displaced soldiers. 🔸 The language barrier between modern soldiers and Paleolithic humans would have been absolute, as modern human language is believed to have developed only around 50,000-150,000 years ago.