All Dale McAndrew wanted was his doctorate in Alternate World Studies. His plan seemed simple; find the quantum signature for one of the lost books of Livy, travel through a worm hole to the library that has the book, and take the book back to Earth. Instead he finds himself trapped on a world where Rome never fell and now rules a galactic empire. High school athletes fight in the arena with electronic scoring swords, spears, nets, and tridents. Dale struggles to adapt to his environment while searching for a way to escape back to Earth. All the while becoming more involved with the romance between the number one rated gladiator and the school's head cheerleader.