Did anyone read a book when they were a kid that had two teenagers running through a forest, touching a piece of ball lightning and being transported to Ancient Rome? I remember one bit distinctly – the two boys being surprised when they realise they’re in Rome because where they come from it’s called “Reme” after the brother Remus rather than Romulus. I’m only asking because I stumbled upon a post on Fiona’s site which suggested using Amazon to find the name of dimly-remembered books. Only I can’t find it. If no one has any idea, could you someone please pop into Wroxham library and see if it’s still in the kids book section after twenty years. Thanks!
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7 replies on “On dimly remembered books from childhood…”
Terry Pratchett’s Strata.
On second thought, probably not. Terry Pratchett was one of several authors to use the Rome/Reme gimmick to define differences between parallel worlds.
It very definitely wasn’t a Terry Pratchett book.
You’re probably thinking of Fireball, by John Christopher. I may still have a copy on my bookshelf. I remember reading all of his books that I could get my hands on, after seeing a bit on The White Mountains on tv.
I can’t help you with the title but I think there was a sequel where they explore America after starting a revolution by the Christian church in Europe in the first book. It’s all to do with them introducing longbows I seem to remember.
The sequal has them escaping from Vikings into the hands of the Aztecs I think.
I don’t think this is the one you’re thinking of but… a couple of days ago I was reading ‘The Secret School’ by Whitley Strieber. Fireballs or ball-lighting crop up a lot, and being transported to Ancient Rome… but it just happens to one boy.
FWIW, I think it *is* fireball…I remember reading it. There’s a bit, IIRC, where somebody asks one of the boys if he is (what he interprets as) a “foggy tea wash”, that is a fugitivus or escaped slave.