Dr. Bryan Litfin is a theological scholar who mined his expertise of the ancient Roman Empire to imagine an epic adventure saga about what he describes as “one of the most pivotal eras in all history.” The first story in the series, The Conqueror, takes place in the early years of the fourth century A.D. when Constantine is fighting to reunite the divided empire under one rule.

Bryan’s multiple trips to Italy and throughout the Mediterranean region also grounds his writing in authenticity. He shares what it’s like to take students to ancient sites such as the Catacombs. We chat about another scholar/author, J.R.R. Tolkien and a blog post Bryan wrote called “Man Up” which lists “J.R.R. Tolkien’s Six Models of Masculinity in the Lord of the Rings.” (My favorite example was Legolas! So we talked about that, too!)

We also talk about Bryan’s writing journey from scholarly “publish or perish” articles to nonfiction books such as Getting to Know the Church Fathers and Early Christian Martyrs Stories to his first foray into fiction with The Chiveis Trilogy.

Connect with Bryan on his website. Be sure to check out the trailer for his new book!

Purchase Links: The Conqueror and The Sword

The Conqueror

It is AD 312. Rome teeters on the brink of war. Constantine’s army is on the move. On the Rhine frontier, Brandulf Rex, a pagan Germanic barbarian, joins the Roman army as a spy and special forces operative. Down in Rome, Junia Flavia, the lovely and pious daughter of a nominally Christian senator, finds herself embroiled in anti-Christian politics as she works on behalf of the church.

As armies converge and forces beyond Rex’s and Flavia’s controls threaten to destroy everything they have worked for, these two people from different worlds will have to work together to bring down the evil Emperor Maxentius. But his villainous plans and devious henchmen are not easily overcome. Will the barbarian warrior and the senator’s daughter live to see the Empire bow the knee to Christ? Or will their part in the story of Constantine’s rise meet an untimely and brutal end?

Travel back to one of the most pivotal eras in history–a time when devotion to the pagan gods was fading and the Roman Empire was being conquered by the sign of the cross.

The Sword

Four hundred years after a deadly virus and nuclear war destroyed the modern world, a new and noble civilization emerges. In this kingdom, called Chiveis, snowcapped mountains provide protection, and fields and livestock provide food. The people live medieval-style lives, with almost no knowledge of the “ancient” world. Safe in their natural stronghold, the Chiveisi have everything they need, even their own religion. Christianity has been forgotten—until a young army scout comes across a strange book.

With that discovery, this work of speculative fiction takes readers on a journey that encompasses adventure, romance, and the revelation of the one true God. Through compelling narrative and powerful character development, The Sword speaks to God’s goodness, his refusal to tolerate sin, man’s need to bow before him, and the eternality and power of his Word. Fantasy and adventure readers will be hooked by this first book in a forthcoming trilogy.