The Oversight

"The Oversight" by Miles J. Breuer is a science fiction novel written in the early 20th century. The book follows a group of Roman soldiers who inexplicably emerge in modern-day Nebraska, leading to a chaotic and violent confrontation with contemporary citizens armed only with traditional firearms. The intriguing premise delves into themes of time displacement and the consequences of technological and social progress. The story centers on John C. Hastings, a medical student, and his companion Celestine Newbury, who witness a surreal spectacle—an ancient Roman galley navigating the Missouri River. As they attempt to comprehend this bizarre occurrence, local farmers and armed citizens converge to confront the Roman soldiers emerging from an enormous wall constructed on Indian land. As skirmishes erupt, Hastings is swept into a whirlwind of events that escalate into an all-out battle between the Roman legions and contemporary forces. Along with an aviation lieutenant, Hastings undertakes daring missions, ultimately learning that the Romans were cultivated by a Martian scientist who had been studying Earth for centuries. Faced with this unexpected turn of events, the human characters grapple with the complexities of progress, survival, and the destructive potential of misunderstanding. The novel culminates in a blend of action, philosophical reflection, and a thought-provoking commentary on the nature of humanity and civilization. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Miles John Breuer was an American physician and science fiction writer of Czech origin. Although he had published elsewhere since the early 20th century, he is considered the part of the first generation of writers to appear regularly in the pulp science fiction magazines, publishing his first story, "The Man with the Strange Head", in the January 1927 issue of Amazing Stories. His best known works are "The Gostak and the Doshes" (1930) and two stories written jointly with Jack Williamson, "The Girl from Mars" (1929) and The Birth of a New Republic (1931).