American diplomat Brion Bayard is on assignment in Stockholm when he notices he's being shadowed. Before he can escape, Bayard is kidnapped and transported to a parallel universe: the Imperium, where history has taken a different turn and the British Empire and its allies rule the world. Yet another parallel world exists, and the Imperium has a task there for their reluctant visitor: the impersonation and assassination of a global dictator who happens to be Bayard's otherworldly double. This adventurous, action-packed novel is the work of award-winning author Keith Laumer, creator of the Bolo and Reteif stories. Science-fiction enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy alternate histories, will savour the twists and turns of this imaginative thriller. AUTHOR: American science-fiction author Keith Laumer (1925 93) created the Bolo and Reteif series of stories about self-aware tanks as well as tales of time travel and alternate realities. Nominated for two Hugo and four Nebula awards, he wrote novels, short stories, and adventure comics.