The Roc, members of an alien collective called the Collegium of Worlds, have sent representatives to study, at a distance, the newly discovered Humani of Earth. The Roc are a race of lizard-like scholars whose purpose is simply to observe and learn without interfering. That is until Dyckon, a young Roc scholar, meets Dr. John Dee.

Humani scholar, Dr John Dee, has come to Venice in 1575 with his loyal, redhaired sidekick, Edward Kelly. Dee is short in stature and arrogant, but he is also a well-respected magician, mathematician, and scientist. Not to mention spy for Elizabeth, Queen of England. But Dee has yet to realize that someone is spying on him.

Dyckon has grown impatient with his assignment to observe the Humani. The alien decides to break the strict non-interference rule. He makes contact with the brilliant John Dee in hopes of learning what he needs for his report in a shorter span of time.

Through a "magic mirror" that shows Dyckon in the non-threatening image of an angel, Roc and Humani stay in close contact for five years, until Dee is imprisoned for supposedly propositioning Francesco de'Medici's daughter.

Over these last five years, Dyckon has come to view Dee as a friend. He feels sympathy for the imprisoned, slowly dying man. Dyckon decides to break his friend out of the tower he is locked in. Dee is injured in the process, and when the good doctor awakens, it is 524 years later!

2099-- The year of Dee's awakening.

Dyckon shows the confused and suspicious doctor scenes of earth's violent history during his long sleep. The Roc explains to Dee that a weapon is being developed on earth that when activated will destroy the entire planet. Within the next two years, Earth will cease to exist!

Dee, though a violent man in his own time, is appalled at what he sees. With Dyckon's help, Dee decides to return to Earth to try to stop the planet's destruction.

Upon his return, Dee is amazed to see with his own eyes just how much the world has changed and not, in his mind, for the better. It doesn't take Dee long to adapt to this new life, though his manner of dress remains the same.

The purpose for his return is to use a diamond maker, provided by Dyckon, to quickly amass a fortune. The alien toy turns ordinary coal into flawless diamonds, which Dee then sells for enormous amounts of cash. The cash is used to pay mercenaries in Dee's personal war against a man named Royal Newton.

Newton is the richest man on the planet. He is also the man who, unless stopped, will be responsible for the annihilation of the planet. He believes that he is creating a machine of limitless energy to help the world (and his pocket). Who is the real villain? Or is there one? Can Dee stop Newton in time?

Dee, the main character, is at first lost and confused in a time he can't quite comprehend. Yet his devotion to saving earth and it's people is unstoppable. Armin Shimerman, better known as Quark from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, has developed, in my mind, one of the most likeable villains in sci-fi literature with Dr. John Dee.

The Merchant Prince is a quick-paced sci-fi adventure. It is on my list of favorite books. Read it if for no other reason than to find all the Star Trek references hidden throughout.

Other books in The Merchant Prince series are Outrageous Fortune and Capital Offense.

Book written by Armin Shimerman with Michael Scott