12

I am trying to remember a book series where the main character, a male engineer, is sent back in time to medieval Europe (it is a historical setting with no magic) and applies his knowledge, in the style of a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court. It was a multi-book series published after 1960, and in one of the books he makes an aircraft. It was not a very well known series. At least one of the books' titles was in the format "The Blank Knight" or "The Knight of Blank".

Improve this question

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
17

This sounds like The Cross-time Engineer by Leo Frankowski. #4 in the series is The Flying Warlord; #2 is The High-Tech Knight.

If I remember correctly it is inspired by Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen.

Improve this answer
7
  • And book 2 is called "The High-Tech Knight"
    – nebogipfel
    May 7, 2022 at 16:25
  • 4
    Fair warning that a lot of fans of the series felt that the quality dropped after the fourth book.
    – FuzzyBoots
    May 7, 2022 at 16:35
  • Its Leo Frankowski, but otherwise right on.
    – Logan Stout
    May 7, 2022 at 20:05
  • 1
    @InTheAbsenceOfFear: True. I mainly felt like the stakes changed massively when it went from "Conrad brings modern technology through intelligent use of modern design" to "Time travelers cave in and just make everyone resistant to all diseases" to "Conrad survives a shipwreck by suckling on the breast of his decapitated servant".
    – FuzzyBoots
    May 8, 2022 at 2:21
  • 1
    @InTheAbsenceOfFear: Anne McCaffrey managed to maintain consistent literary quality over fourteen Pern books mainly by setting low expectations from the beginning.
    – A. I. Breveleri
    May 8, 2022 at 4:13
3

As already answered, this is probably Leo Frankowski's Cross Time Engineer/Conrad Stargard series. But if it isn't, then it could also be a much older book:

L. Sprague de Camp's Lest Darkness Fall

I seem to recall that this story sends the modern man (an archaeologist, rather than an engineer) back to ancient Rome, but if you liked one, you'll probably like the other.

Improve this answer
-2

Might be "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" by Mark Twain too. Has the plot you described. An oldie but a goodie.

Improve this answer
1
  • AlanT's answer (of The Cross-Time Engineer by Leo Frankowski) was already accepted by the OP, as denoted by the green check mark to the left of it. Also, the question cites A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court as being similar in style to the story the OP was looking for, which would suggest it's not the actual story. Not to mention that that protagonist in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is not an engineer.
    – LogicDictates
    May 14, 2022 at 0:56

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.