Product Description

The Soviet Union won the Cold War. The Russians were a little smarter than they were in our own world, and the United States was a little dumber and a lot less resolute. Now, more than a century later, the world's gone Communist, and capitalism is a bad word.
 
For Gianfranco and his friend Annarita, a couple of teenagers growing up in Milan, life in a heavily regimented, surveillance-rich command economy is just plain dreary. The eventual withering-away of the state doesn't look like it's going to happen anytime soon.
 
Annarita's a hard-working student and a member of the Young Socialists' League. Gianfranco is a lot less motivated--but on the other hand, his father's a Party apparatchik. The biggest excitement in their lives is a wargame shop called The Gladiator, which runs tournaments, and stocks marvelous complex games you can't find anywhere else.
 
Then, abruptly, the shop is shut down. Someone's figured out that The Gladiator's games are teaching counterrevolutionary capitalist principles. The Security Police are searching high and low for the shop's proprietors, who've not only vanished into thin air, but have left behind sets of fingerprints that aren't in the records of any government on earth.
 
Only one staffer is left: Gianfranco and Annarita's friend Eduardo. He's on the run, and he comes to them in secret with an astonishing story: he's a time trader from our own timeline, accidentally left behind when the store was evacuated. The only way Eduardo can get home to his own timeline is if Gianfranco and Annarita can help him reach one of the other time trader sites in this world--and the Security Police will be on their tails all the way there.

Customer Reviews (15)

A Dark View
Mr. Turtledove is a supurb writer and this book shows his technical ability.What it lacks is a 3 dimensional character and some motion.He bogs down in replicating some of the aspects of a Heinlein juvenile and makes his points with a sledge hammer, where a nudge would have been sufficient.His criticism of Soviet Communism is too shallow.There was a lot more wrong with the system than he presents and he seems to equate Capitalism with personal freedom.His characters live in a totalitarian state with little realization of what that means to them.This was far from his best work and the editing was sloppy.I do not recommend "Gladiator" to anyone not familiar with Mr. Turtledove.He is one of my favorite writers and even I found it tedious.

Ok. Nothing special
I thought this book was fine, but it was a bit repetitive. The characters weren't particularly engaging, nor was the narrative. It was good enough to read once, but not good enough to take up space long term on my bookshelf.

Ayn Rand meets Die Weisse Rose
This is the weakest novel yet of the crosstime traffic series. The mechanical (!) symbol/linking device of the elevator is a little tooobvious (although the character Gianfranco's refusal to take it at the end is delightfully ambiguous). I agree with the reviewer who noted that there just isn't any real crisis in the novel. In particular, I expected jealous backstabbing or at least repressed tension as there would be in a real world threesome, but Turtledove only provides a few lame suggestions and then closes that thread, even at the repression level. Casablanca it ain't.

Still, while the novel doesn't reach the level of Philip Pullman or Orson Scott Card (I know, Ender's Game isn't supposed to be juvenile fiction, but just try prying EG out of the hands of the next 12-year-old you see reading it), The Gladiator is better than the pap of JK Rowling.

First of these I've read
I was not familiar with the Crosstime Traffic series when I picked up this book (although I've seen other books in the series) but I was pleased with the storyline and the content of the Gladiator.

In this future communism dominates the world, thanks to the decline of the United States following the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War. The main characters in the book learn about real capitalism the only way they can in this Soviet-dominated world... playing board games at a mysterious shop.

I will almost certainly look for more of these books the first chance I get!

More Turtledove
HT's newest angle on his Crosstime Traffic theme is a refreshing change of pace from the previous (good but overused) story lines. ... Read more

Product Description
For seven decades, L. Sprague de Camp was a giant in both science fiction and fantasy, renowned for his fast-moving action-adventure tales with a strong humorous element. Now, Hugo-winner and best-selling author Harry Turtledove has gathered together top writers in SF and fantasy to write stories in the same humorous adventure vein which de Camp practically invented. On board are Poul Anderson, Frederik Pohl, David Drake, Judith Tarr, Esther M. Friesner, S.M. Stirling, Michael F. Flynn, Turtledove himself and more, including a remembrance of de Camp by Robert Silverberg. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nice tribute but for L. Sprague de Camp fanatics only
The late L. Sprague de Camp was a formidable figure in mid-20th century science fiction. Two of his works (at least) have become classics in the field, THE INCOMPLETE/COMPLEAT ENCHANTER and LEST DARKNESS FALL. Both have withstood the test of time and can be read today with as much enjoyment as when they were first written. Under the editorship of alternate history master Harry Turtledove(who credits LEST DARKNESS FALL for his own interest in history and alternate history), a number of authors create short stories inspired by (and in some cases using characters from) de Camp's own work. Who woudn't want to see how the future unfolds, for example, after Padway fights off the Byzantine invasion of Italy but must now confront the Franks, more Byzantines, and Lombards?

Turtledove assembles a number of top names in contemporary science fiction and fantasy (including Judith Tarr, David Drake, S. M. Stirling, Frederick Pohl and Lawrence Watt-Evans (to name only a few of my personal favorites) and lets them go to work following their own muse. Thus, while the title relates to the Compleat Enchanter, the stories actually follow many of de Camp's worlds.

I found the quality of the writing to be high, but the stories themselves were mostly only adequate. Fans of de Camp, like myself, will enjoy seeing some of our favorite characters (including the author and his wife) in new situations. Those who haven't read much of de Camp's work are likely to find these stories flat. For the most part, they read like something a talented author dashed off in an afternoon as a favor for a friend...which I suspect is exactly what these stories were. ... Read more

Product Description
Abrivard, marshal of Makuran, has been given an impossible task by his King: destroy the mighty Empire of Videssos. Even as he pondered how to obey, Videssos's legions are on the march, attacking Makuran first. Abrivard finds himself fighting a defensive war, putting his great battle skills to the task of driving the invaders from his home, the land of the Thousand Cities. But even as he struck back at the invader, he realized that force of arms alone would not carry the day, for Videssos's powerful sorcerers were the stuff of legend, and a strong sword arm could not stand against potent battle spell which could strike the mightiest warrior dead, from miles away... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Videssos Fignts Back
The Time of Troubles II (2005) is the second omnibus edition of the Time of Troubles series, including The Thousand Cities and Videssos Besieged.In the previous volumes, Avtokrator Likinios of Videssos assisted Sharbaraz, the rightful heir, to regain the throne of the Marukaner Empire from an usurper.Later Likinios and all his family were executed by a rebellious general and then Sharbaraz tried to put a puppet on the Videssian throne.

After years of misrule, Maniakes, son of Maniakes, led a revolt against the usurper and was crowned as the Avtokrator of the Videssian Empire.Then Maniakes had to fight against the Marukaner King of Kings that he had helped to restore to his throne.Unfortunately, the Videssian army was understrength and had lost its confidence after continuous losses against the Makurans.

Avtokrator Maniakes concentrated on the Kubratoi, using the hammer and anvil technique against the nomads with great success.Then Maniakes started landing troops on the coast of the westlands to hit the Makuraner troops and flee back to the ships.The Videssian troops regained their confidence during these operations.

In The Thousand Cities (1997), Abivard is still within Across staring at Videssos the City and cursing the domon patrols in the strait.He is determinely trying to make the priests of Phos preach the heretical doctrines of the Vaspurakaners, but he believes the religious policies of Sharbaraz King of Kings will cause more trouble than otherwise.In Vaspurakan, the Makurans are having even more trouble trying to get the local priests to teach the doctrines of the Makuraner religion.

Soon Abivard receives word that Vaspurakaners are revolting. Vshnasp marzban is dead at the hand of the Vaspurakaners and his successor-- Mikhran marzban -- needs assistance to put down the revolt.Abivard gathers up all the troops in Across and rides off to Vaspurakan.

He doesn't try to take the Vaspurakaner fortresses on the way, but does fight forces deployed against him.He also burns the fields outside any fortification that tries to oppose his march.Then he breaks the siege at Poskh, but now he has to stop the revolution.

After discussing the events with Mikhran and various locals, Abivard travels to Shahapivan to speak to Hmayeak, the senior priest in the Vaspurkaner sect.Tatul -- the nakharar of Shahapivan -- refuses to let holy Hmayeak come to Abivard's tent, so Abivard asks to be admitted into the city.Tatul is dumbfounded at the request, but goes to consult Hmayeak.

Although Abivard is allowed within the city, he is not permitted within the shrine itself lest he defile it with his bloody presence.He talks to Hmayeak outside the doors and agrees that the Vaspurakaners can continue to worship Phos.Now he only has to convince Sharbaraz King of Kings.

In this story, Maniakes lands his troops in Lyssaion on the southern coast of the westlands.Then he takes his troops to the northwest to attack the Thousand Cities.Abivard is sent to the land between the rivers to stop Maniakes.Yet he only has the cavalry escort that accompanied him to Mashiz and the sole troops in the area are the local city guards.

As Abivard moves through the Thousand Cities, he musters the local militias, but initially finds only dregs and incompetents.Moreover, they are armed only with knives and clubs.Eventually, he reaches Harpar, just east of the Tib, where the local troops are half competent and armed with bows.

Abivard gathers more troops and trains them as they march.When he finally reaches the vicinity of the Videssian army, his troops are numerous and fairly competent.Still, they are only infantry facing Videssian cavalry.

Abivard starts harassing the Videssians with a night attack.When Maniakes moves off the next morning, Abivard follows him, but the Videssian cavalry can move faster than his infantry.So Abivard puts his soldiers on rafts and sails after the Videssians.

In Videssos Besieged (1998), Avtokrator Maniakes learns that Kubratoi nomads are observing his troops within Videssos the City.He briefly wonders why, but then gathers his soldiers and sails away to Lyssaiion.From there, he leads his troops into the land between the rivers.

Abivard waits for news of the third invasion of the Videssians into the Thousand Cities.As soon as he is learns of the Videssian presence, Abivard takes the field army through the westlands toward Across.Of course, he leaves the infantry behind to delay Maniakes.

Maniakes finds only infantry, with just a few cavalry, facing him in the land between the rivers.He puts out scouts even further than usual looking for Abivard, then settles down to attacking the mud brick walls of the cities and advancing toward Mashiz.Sometimes he wonders what is holding up the boiler boys, but he mostly concentrates on his ultimate goal.

The infantry finally catches up with the Videssians at the Tib, but Maniakes defeats them and bridges the river.Mashiz is now only a few days away.Then a courier reaches him with news of the investment of Videssos by the Kubratoi and the presence of the Makurans in Across.Maniakes immediately realizes the threat, abandons the advance on Mashiz, and turns his army back to the coast.

In this story, Maniakes loads his troops back on the ships and sails back to Videssos the City.A great storm sinks some of his ships north of the Key and the Kubratoi treeboats attack the survivors.However, the Videssian domons handily drive off the crude nomad boats with only slight losses.

Now Maniakes has his troopers manning the walls of the city and the Makuraner troops are still across the strait.With the assistant of a little timely magic, he learns that the Makurans are expecting the nomads to ferry their troops across the Cattle Crossing in their treeboats.Unfortunately, he doesn't know what signal will be used to signal the gathering of the nomad boats at Across.

The Kubratoi try to take the city by storm, but the walls are too high and too well defended.Then the nomads bombard the walls with catapults, but the walls are too thick and shrug off the minor damage.Then the nomads work the siege towers into position and cross the planks over the moat.The Videssians retaliate with arrows, bolts, spears and firepots, burning several of the towers.Yet some Kubratoi gain the walls for a time.

Highly recommended for Turtledove fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of classical warfare, political intrigue, and brave soldiers.

-Arthur W. Jordin

A repackaging of two older Videssos novels
With this book and The Time of Troubles I, the 4-book Time of Troubles novels are being republished. Volume II contains The Thousand Cities, which is told from the Marukaner General Abivard's point of view, and Videssos Besieged, which is told by his counterpart (and foe) the Videssian Emperor. Abivard has comeup in the world since the first book in the series (see Time of Troubles I for The Stolen Throne).Now the General to King Sharbaraz, Abivard finds his problems have gotten more difficult.While he has successfully invaded all the Westlands of Videssos, he cannot find a way to cross the sea into the capital.Meanwhile the Videssan army is now striking back, using their navy to place troops wherever they wish.King Sharbaraz expects Abivard to win more and more battles while offering fewer resources and troops.And his wife Roshnani, while always offering able counsel, contines to urge big changes in Marukan society.

Videssos Besieged is again told by now-Emperor Maniakes, who is losing support as the war continues to falter.Tax revenues are almost non-existant with the Marukan army occupying most of the West, and the Kubrati invading from the North.Now he's losing the support of the priests and the people for committing incest; he married his first cousin and he's quite happy about it.Turtledove shows us his background as a technical writer in spending far too long describing a magical spell in forging a document that's just a fantasy version of cut and paste using an actual (squeak!) mouse.

Once again the books closely follow the history of the Byzantine Empire, with magic overlayed here and there. This is the same formula, history meets fantasy, used in the Darkness series (which retold World War II as a sword and sorcery epic) and the Peachtree trilogy (The US Civil War). Turtledove, as always, does it well.

I can't give the book (the two novels) five stars because the characters are too similar to Turtledove's other heroes: logical-thinking straight-talking types married to women much like themselves. The characters observe repeatedly that war kills people, that women do battle in the birthing bed, and that people are people the world over. The books are enjoyable but don't make the leap to profound. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (38)

First and last turkeydove
This is the first Turtlredove book that I had read. So juvenile and chidish, as in Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew, but no-where as interesting and entertaining. It must be a simple money-grab, or how else would this have seen the light of day.

A good read
This is my first Harry Turtledove book that I have read and I am glad I did. It is a very interesting and exciting topic that he has written on. The suspense he created as well as the general story line was well thought out. It took me about 6-7 hours to read it and it kept me turning the pages the whole time because I kept wanting to know what was going to happen.

Inculcating Young Readers?
I enjoyed this book (and Harry's other Crosstime Traffic novels).Remember those old Winston SciFi books back in the 1950's?Same genre here.There are a lot of "teaching points" in this series.If the Young Adult (most likely anywhere from a 9 year old to an older teen) really gets into the subject material, he or she could develop into a Sociologist, an Historian, or an Eco-Terrorist.

The amount of blunt-force Leftist Al Gore Ecology Sky-is-Falling stuff is overwhelming at times.And in every single book, there are always a teen boy and a teen girl .. not a single Gay-Lesbian-Bi-Sexual-Transgendered Emo in the whole cast of thousands.Now what is Harry thinking about?I mean, come on Harry, if we are going to write Propaganda for the New Age, take it all the way.

Ahhh, but I digress, when you read this book and others of the series, take them for what they are worth -- entertainment for young people who like to read.The rest, ecology, global warming, minority rights, terrorists, and "doing the right thing", will come along with the entertainment.The kids will stop and pnder what they just read about and then the questions will follow.And Questions are good.

I recommend this novel and all of Harry's other works to everyone.Harry Turtledove is a gifted and talented writer.

Super Slow, ugh...
Well, had moderately high hopes for this, my first Turtledove book. Sadly, i will likely never read another.

I'd really rate it 1.5001 stars, but i rounded up b/c i didn't hate it. It was a speck above that; i needed a distracting read so i picked it up and had nothing else to fill so gap, so i shouldered on.

The science is all wrong; the plot is sickeningly predictable. The characters are insipid. Really, the only good thing is i successfully killed some time; otherwise, i would have given it half a star and never written this review.

Rumor has it the author can do better, but i'm sure i'll never find out.

A bit disappointing
If you've read and loved Turtledove's other series as I have, you will probably be disappointed with this take on alternate reality. There is none of the gritty tooth and nail conflicts that made his other works, The Worldwar Saga and The Great War books just to name a few, totally immerse you in their plots. I got the distinct feeling that I was being talked down to and perhaps this is the crux of the issue.
Not far into the book I came to realize that this was written for a juvenile audience. Looking at it from that point of view, the characters which were not fleshed out as they usually are and the more simplistic storyline became far more palatable to me. I believe that this would be a great book for young people who are just exploring the genre. Two teens trapped in an alien environment with no adults for support. It is unquestionably written with great talent, just don't expect the raw, real world environs so predominant his other books. ... Read more

Product Description
When Avram became King of Detina, he announced his intention to liberate the blond serfs from their ties to the land. This noble assertion immediately plunged the kingdom into a civil war that would prove long and bloody, and set brother against brother. The northern provinces, dependent on the labour of their serfs, seceded, choosing Avram's cousin, Grand Duke Geoffrey, as their king. To save the kingdom, Avram sent armies clad in grey against the north, battling Geoffrey's army, arrayed in blue. Though King Avram held more land and wealth than Geoffrey, Geoffrey's men were better soldiers and the north had better and more powerful wizards. Still, as the war raged on, the tide turned against the north. Even so, the war is far from over. Earlier, the north had held an almost impregnable position - but was overrun when an overconfident sorcerer's spell went awry. Use of sorcery was often unpredictable, and in the more mundane aspects of the war, battle plans could also go awry. The south seemed to be winning, but the outcome was far from certain... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

History with Find and Replace
This is not Turtledove's best work -- in fact it is one of his weakest.He has simple taken actual history and done a find and replace, changing north to south, east to west, and most character and place names with puns (some obvious, as Nathen Bedford Forrest = "Ned of the forest"; some rather more obscure as New York = "New Eborac" {old english place name for the site of York}) This game of name replacement seems to be the main point of the book, and might have supported a short story, but not three novels.

The puns draw from a wide set of languages and references, although this causes a linguastic mishmash in the resulting names, with no internal explanation.

The magic is a simialr find and replace of technology, with no consideration given to how actual magic would change things.

I think the author should have done a straight historical novel about the Civil war, skipping the replacements of names and tech. this would have been a rather better book, IMO.

Great Writer but merely a VeryGood Book
This is the sequel to Marching Through Peachtree and it is a serviceable addition to Harry Turtledoves repertoire of alternate history or thinly veiled historical fantasy novels.

This book and its predecessor are very good in the sense that any of Harry's full-length novels are a love it or hate it relationship. Either you love a historical perspective with a high degree of descriptive writing or you hate it. This being said I think this particular series of Mr. Turtledoves is turning out to be my least favorite of his many ongoing series. Maybe it is because it is a basic retelling of the American Civil War through the eyes of its Generals and in a few cases common soldiers. The Civil War has been rehashed perhaps more then any other time in alternative fiction and this time since Harry did not change the order of events there was little to surprise us. A little magic was thrown in and generals had last names like Heated Ham and other silly names. A good book but one without any true innovation. The South was the North in the book and the North the South. The swarthy invaders play the part of Caucasians in our world and "blonds" reprise the role of African slaves in our world.

An interesting book but one that does not quite measure up to his other works. What this book lacked is what Harry does so well. That is to take a chain of historical events and twist them and show us the outcome. This is more like reading a retired generals memoirs in our world and changing the names. I bought it and don't regret it and would gladly pay hardcover prices again but I look forward to his other works more.

Last book in a weaker series
Harry Turtledove is an excellent writer of alternative history.That genre deals with a divergence from our own history, by changing one or more events, and then surmising what would follow.His recent "Ruled Brittania" concerns what England would be like after the success (instead of the failure) of the Spanish Armada, and eventual invasion of England by the Spaniards.

This book is not alternative history.Advance and Retreat, the third book in the "Detina" series, is Altered History.Turtledove takes real US Civil War history, maps it into a new fantasy world, and retells the story with magic instead of technology and monarchy replacing democracy.In Detina, South is our North, East is our West, and both people and places have names that are excuses for punnery.Thus, the Cumbersome River (instead of Cumberland) or Summer Mountain (which is really Spring Hill).Some of the names are easy to figure out (Peachtree = Georgia), some require knowledge of Latin, Greek or Hebrew (Parthenia = Virginia, King Avram = Abraham Lincoln), some are cutesy (Peterpaulandia = Maryland), others are completely baffling (New Eborac = New York, Dothan = Alabama).

Turtledove does some things well in this book.The story is engaging, the battle scenes are riveting, and the characters are fascinating (for the most part).Even knowing how the events will turn out, since it corresponds with the US Civil War in 1865, I never lost interest.Even when Turtledove tells us sixty times that Doubting George isn't ready to invade, or Bell used to be a mighty warrior before he lost an arm and a leg, I kept going.

But some things are done poorly.Turtledove loved the punning more than keeping his world consistent, and many of the names simply rang false.Some walked out of Masterpiece Theatre, like Duke Edward of Arlington and Ned of the Forest, others arrived from mysterious lands with odd tongues (Generals Hesmucet and Peegeetee), yet no mention was ever made of this linguistic clash.At least in Turtledove's "Darkness" series, which is a similar fantasy remapping of World War II, each of the countries has consistant people and place names within their own borders.

While deciphering the puns and anagrams can be fun, they should not get in the way of the story.Yet the names do clash, a continual reminder that this novel is simply a retelling of a different land, far away.And one of the important parts of the story does not map correctly, for Turtledove has created swarthy "Detinans" from across the Western Ocean, who have defeated and enslaved native "blonds."More blonds remain, on on the other side of the Great River (Mississippi) -- ah, you see the problem!He's amalgamated Africans and Native Americans into one people!This off-note jars in an otherwise faithful (though upside-down) retelling of American history.

Recommended for Turtledove fans and Civil War buffs.Others take your chances.

Rambling On Down to Ramblerton
Advance and Retreat (2002) is the third novel in the War Between the Provinces fantasy series, following Marching Through Peachtree.This series closely reflects the events of the American War Between the States, but uses dramatic license to create thoughts and words for the characters.Moreover, it uses punny names for persons and places and reverses most everything from directions to uniform colors.

This volume covers the period after the fall of Atlanta to Sherman through the destruction of the Army of Tennessee as an effective force.It portrays the generals on both sides as human beings with both strengths and weaknesses.While the characterizations are frequently based on the remaining documents of that period, nobody now or then knows for sure what went on in the privacy of these minds.Some traits are fairly well established from documentary evidence, but others are more like SWAGs.Read some of the many published histories and biographies covering this period and make your own guess.

Certain characters are treated more sympathetically in this novel -- i.e., George Thomas and Bedford Forrest -- than they were by their own professional peers;both displayed a competency that was not acknowledged by their ultimate commanders.On the other hand, Hood was totally belittled by his superiors, yet regained his reputation by blowing his own horn in his memoirs and speeches.

This novel is fun, but can be frustrating if you aren't a Civil War buff.Some of the punny names are really obscure.Nevertheless, I still wish Harry Turtledove would write nonfictional history books.Maybe a study guide for this series?

Recommended for Turtledove fans and all alternate history buffs who also like fantasy.

-Arthur W. Jordin

THE CIVIL WARTHROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
Science Fiction since its inception has speculated about time travel and the possibility of changing the present by meddling in the past.Harry Turtledove writes about radically altered pasts without resort to time machine in a genre known as "alternate history".Blurbs on his books proclaim him to be the master of this genre.In support of that title he has had two hefty tomes published in as many months by two different publishers.Ruled Britannia is the more conventional of the two, working from a single "what if..." premise, i.e. that the Spanish armada had succeeded in 1588 in subjugating England.Advance and Retreat is the fourth book in Turtledove's "war between the provinces" series which projects events in the US Civil War through a very convoluted looking glass.

The agricultural northern provices of Detina are battling to establish a nation separate from the industrial southern provinces.Grand Duke Geoffrey has been named king of the north where blonds are enslaved.King Avram rules the south from the Black House.The east is a wilderness peopled by savages while most of the population of the warring regions live along the edge of the western ocean.For good measure, medieval weaponry (like crossbows) replace Civil War muskets and wizards with magic substitute for 19th century technology.It is a clever conceit.

Turtledove coyly claims any resemblance to historical persons and places is coincidental, but the book's title just happens to match that of a memoir by Confederate General John Bell Hood of Texas.The real names of Civil War figures and places are transformed by pun and transposition.Decoding them will keep civil war buffs, already familiar with the events described, occupied and happy.The commander-in-chief of the southern armies is Marshall Bart (Grant's middle name was Simpson).He has Edward of Arlington (Lee) bottled up in the trenches around Pierreville (Petersburg).General Hesmucet (Sherman's middle name was Tecumseh)is marching through Peachtree province toward the western seaport of Veldt (Savannah).You get the idea.

Meanwhile, in the eastern theater of war (locus of Advance and Retreat), southern General Doubting George (George Thomas) has replaced General Guildenstern (Rosencrans).He must stop the advance of one-armed, one-legged General Bell (Hood) upon Ramblerville (Nashville).Bell's feared unicorn riders are led by Ned of the Forest (Nathan Bedford Forrest).The plot follows the 1864-65 campaign in Tennessee quite faithfully.Even without the Dungeons and Dragons element, it is a rip-snorting, action-packed story.Both commanders are tragic figures of Shakespearian proportion. Events are seen through the eyes of the commanders, their subordinates, and a handful of the common soldiers.Turtledove even slips in a twist about one of the northern foot soldiers, but readers familiar with classical mythology will have anticipated him. ... Read more

Product Description
A dazzling new fantasy for all the fans of the Videssos Cycle!

As the sun gleamed off the gilded domes of Videssos the city, Abivard, marshal of Makuran and son of Godarz, pondered the impossible. How could he carry out the command of Sharbaraz, King of Kings, to destroy the invincible Empire of Videssos?

Then, against all expectations, the Emperor of Videssos invaded Makuran itself. Abivard was thrust on the defensive, forced homeward to drive the invaders from the fabled land of the thousand cities.

Abivard needed not only his greatest battle skills but his most powerful magicians, for no one doubted that Videssian military strategy would be accompanied by the finest sorcery. Yet even as reality reversed itself and renegades plotted Abivard's ruin, the undaunted warrior vowed never to surrender . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Videssians Between the Rivers
The Thousand Cities (1997) is the third novel in The Time of Troubles series, following Hammer and Anvil.In the previous volume, the Makurans raided through the westlands with little opposition.Yet they couldn't get across the Cattle Crossing to attack Videssos the City.

The Videssians concentrated on the Kubratoi, using the hammer and anvil technique against the nomads with great success.Then Avtokrator Maniakes started landing troops on the coast of the westlands to hit the Makuraner troops and flee back to the ships.The Videssian troops regained their confidence during these operations.

In this novel, Abivard is still within Across staring at Videssos the City and cursing the domon patrols in the strait.He is determinely trying to make the priests of Phos preach the heretical doctrines of the Vaspurakaners, but he believes the religious policies of Sharbaraz King of Kings will cause more trouble than otherwise.In Vaspurakan, the Makurans are having even more trouble trying to get the local priests to teach the doctrines of the Makuraner religion.

Soon Abivard receives word that Vaspurakaners are revolting. Vshnasp marzban is dead at the hand of the Vaspurakaners and his successor-- Mikhran marzban -- needs assistance to put down the revolt.Abivard gathers up all the troops in Across and rides off to Vaspurakan.

He doesn't try to take the Vaspurakaner fortresses on the way, but does fight forces deployed against him.He also burns the fields outside any fortification that tries to oppose his march.Then he breaks the siege at Poskh, but now he has to stop the revolution.

After discussing the events with Mikhran and various locals, Abivard travels to Shahapivan to speak to Hmayeak, the senior priest in the Vaspurkaner sect.Tatul -- the nakharar of Shahapivan -- refuses to let holy Hmayeak come to Abivard's tent, so Abivard asks to be admitted into the city.Tatul is dumbfounded at the request, but goes to consult Hmayeak.

Although Abivard is allowed within the city, he is not permitted within the shrine itself lest he defile it with his bloody presence.He talks to Hmayeak outside the doors and agrees that the Vaspurakaners can continue to worship Phos.Now he only has to convince Sharbaraz King of Kings.

Abivard drafts a letter to Sharbaraz and Mikhran cosigns it.Although he explains that the Vaspurakaners will be allowed to worship in their own way, he makes that news sound less significant than putting down the revolt.They only hope that Sharbaraz will focus on the good parts and overlook the bad parts of the message.

As Abivard waits for Sharbaraz's response, the first blizzard roars into Vaspurakan from the northwest.He makes sure all the men are adequately sheltered against the cold.During a lull, a courier rides in with a message from Sharbaraz.Abivard is to come to Mashiz at once.

In this story, Maniakes lands his troops in Lyssaion on the southern coast of the westlands.Then he takes his troops to the northwest to attack the Thousand Cities.Abivard is sent to the land between the rivers to stop Maniakes.Yet he only has the cavalry escort that accompanied him to Mashiz and the sole troops in the area are the local city guards.

As Abivard moves through the Thousand Cities, he musters the local militias, but initially finds only dregs and incompetents.Moreover, they are armed only with knives and clubs.Eventually, he reaches Harpar, just east of the Tib, where the local troops are half competent and armed with bows.

Abivard gathers more troops and trains them as they march.When he finally reaches the vicinity of the Videssian army, his troops are numerous and fairly competent.Still, they are only infantry facing Videssian cavalry.

Abivard starts harassing the Videssians with a night attack.When Maniakes moves off the next morning, Abivard follows him, but the Videssian cavalry can move faster than his infantry.So Abivard puts his soldiers on rafts and sails after the Videssians.

Abivard's troops stand firm when attacked, but still cannot move as fast as the Videssians.He sends a message to Romezan in Vaspurakan, with a copy to Sharbaraz, requesting him to bring the cavalry to assist him in the Thousand Cities.Sharbaraz responds with a message that he is countermanding Abivard's request, but Romezan comes anyway.The Makuraner cavalry and two rivers infantry jointly drive Maniakes out of the land between the rivers.

This story tells of the two years of war within the Thousand Cities and the gradual comprehension by Sharbaraz of the necessities of such warfare.Abivard slowly builds the two rivers infantry into a solid military force.They even become competent in joint operations with the Makuraner cavalry.

One thing that Sharbaraz learns from these failures is the importance of a navy.His countrymen are not sailors and they have no shipyards, for the Empire of Makuran is completely landlocked.All their rivers and streams are inland waters.Still, he starts to wonder how they can overcome this lack.

Highly recommended for Turtledove fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of land combat, military ingenuity, and political intrigue.

-Arthur W. Jordin

"Time of Troubles" part three of four

In which Abivard has to defend Makuran against Maniakes of Videssos ...

This is the third of the original four books of the "Time of Troubles" quartet. It is set in the same world as the "Misplaced Legion" books, but several hundred years earlier. Anyone buying the books of this sequence has to be careful because of a change in the way the volumes are organised in more recent printings.

As originally published, the four books of this story were:

"The Stolen Throne"
"Hammer and Anvil"
"The Thousand Cities"
"Videssos Besieged"

"The Stolen Throne" and "Hammer and Anvil" have also been published together as "The Time of Troubles Part I"; similarly "The Thousand Cities" and "Videssos Besieged" are published together as "The Time of Troubles Part II".

The "Time of Troubles" series works best if you read the components in chronological order, but it does not particularly matter whether you read them before or after the "Misplaced Legion" or "Krispos" books.

"The Thousand Cities" is told from the viewpoint of Abivard, now the principal general of Makuran. Maniakes, son of Maniakes, who helped Abivard put the rightful King of Kings back on the throne of Makuran in the first book, and became Emperor of Videssos in the second book, invades Makuran seeking to recover the territory his empire has lost. Abivard has to fight off the attack from his old friend and ally - while the King of Kings who owes Abivard his throne is becoming dangerously distrustful of Abivard ...

This series alternates between books told from the viewpoint of Abivard the general of Makuran, and books told from the viewpoint of the Emperor of Videssos, Maniakes.

I enjoyed "The Time of Troubles" sequence and recommend ir.

There are currently 12 novels set in the "Videssos" universe of which "The Thousand Cities" is chronologically the fourth. The full list is as follows (dates assume that years in Videssos correspond to those in our world.)

c. 850 BC - "Bridge of the Separator"

c. 700 BC - The Time of Troubles series

"The Stolen Throne"
"Hammer and Anvil"
"The Thousand Cities"
"Videssos Besieged"


c. 550 BC - "The Tale of Krispos" trilogy

"Krispos Rising"
"Krispos of Videssos"
"Krispos the Emperor"

56 BC - "The Misplaced Legion" quartet

"The Misplaced Legion"
"An Emperor for the Legion"
"The Legion of Videssos"
"Swords of the Legion"

Times of Troubles or is it May you live in interesting times
Harry Turtledove does brilliantly what very few can do well. He takes history and says what if...

In Time of Troubles, Turtledove takes the Oriental-like Empire Makuran and leads you through the struggles ofAbivard, Marshal of the Makuran Army, to uphold his ruler's, the King ofKing Sharbaraz, orders.

Reintroducing Abivard (the hero of the first bookin the series) is a lesson in change. Life has gone very well for Abivard,but you can tell how much he has changed and matured in his years of warwith Videssos. But not just Abivard has changed... his entire empire haschanged. Having regained the upper hand against Videssos, all Makurancharacters seem to exude a confidence in their superiorability.

Turtledove brilliantly shows what can happen to an army and anation when their confidence is shaken and what happens when they gain thatconfidence.

As all of his Vidissian stories are, Turtledove one againsets the tale in the lifetime of Avshar.

I, for one, would like to seehim take up a tale several years after The Videssos Cycle and start a newtale, post-Avshar. ... Read more

Product Description
At the sun-drenched dawn of human history, in the great plain between the two great rivers, are the cities of men. And each city is ruled by its god.

But the god of the city of Gibil is lazy and has let the men of his city develop the habit of thinking for themselves. Now the men of Gibil have begun to devise arithmetic, and commerce, and are sending expeditions to trade with other lands.

They're starting to think that perhaps men needn't always be subject to the whims of gods. This has the other god worried.

And well they might be...because human cleverness, once awakened, isn't likely to be easily squelched.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Deity vs. Destiny
In a world were the gods control every aspect of life, men struggle for the right to think for themselves. The resulting conflict pits city against city and god against god.

It is the dawn of history and Sharur, master merchant's son, must find his way in the changing world around him. If he can turn a profit while doing it, so much the better. In the course of his journey he will come face to face with foreign gods, none of them friendly to his cause. He will find obstacles at every turn but he will prove that human ingenuity is superior to the time honored dogma of the great city gods.

Harry Turtledove has crafted a unique novel using traditional Fantasy elements. Which is more important; Man's belief in a higher power or Man's belief in himself? And are the two mutually exclusive?

In the past decade or so Harry Turtledove has made for himself a grand reputation as a master of alternative history. But alternative history is only a small part of the Science Fiction and Fantasy genre. Between The Rivers shows that he is not limited to any sub-genre. He is an SF&F master in every respect.

Slow Going
Between the Rivers is the story of Sharur, son of a master trader from a city called Gibil, in a semi-fantastical Mesopotamia at the dawn of civilization. The premise of the book is that each city-state has its own patron god, who interacts directly with the people of the city. The god controls and affects the daily life of every individual person in his city and the outlying area, and as a result, the people of each city-state are dull-witted and dependent, relying on their god to make decisions for them. In recent generations, Engibil, the god of the city of Gibil, has grown lazy, and has allowed his people to think for themselves. The result has been a slow increase in technological advancement. The people of Gibil have discovered how to make bronze, and how to keep records that live longer than a man's memory - the secret of writing.

As the novel begins, Sharur is beginning to lead a trade expedition outside the land between the rivers. He meets with unexpected resistance, and his caravan fails to make a profit. The reason for this initally seems to be that the gods of other lands have decided that the people of Gibil carry dangerous ideas and thoughts, which might cause the foreign gods' own people to leave them behind. However, as we find out later, and which comes off as a hastily rewritten premise by the author, the real reason is that a divine artifact has been unwittingly taken from these foreign gods into Gibil.

At the time of this story, writing had been invented only a couple generations ago. I recall reading in my history textbooks that most of the cuneiform writing that has been discovered has been trading invoices and inventories, and that's exactly how Turtledove has his characters using it. As a son of a master trader, Shurur keeps track of customers' debts and counts trade inventory. Other aspects of early Bronze-age life is depicted in the story. Turtledove writes about marriage customs, slave-keeping practices, and day-to-day activities of the inhabitants of this ancient city. I enjoyed the descriptions of life in the city, as well as the battle between the two nations as the gods came out to fight alongside their people.

The novel was interesting as a scenario of the dawn of civilization. However, the story moved along very slowly. The failed trade expedition took up about a quarter of the book, and was heavily redundant in places. Also if this is supposed to be Mesopotamia, a map of the cities under the names Turtledove gives would have been nice. If it's a non-earth fantasy-world, it would have been nice to have that confirmed with a map. None of the city names bear a resemblance to any places I'd known, so it didn't really matter if the story was set in Mesopotamia, or ancient Indiana. Another thing that took away from the story was that much of the plot hinges on Sharur's ability to trick the gods, and this seems to me to be a little too easy for him.

Though there is much about the premise to recommend the novel, it was a bit too slow for me. It's not that there's no action, because there is. It just seems like a formality to the story. Turtledove had a good concept for the setting, but could have developed a better story to set in it.

Before the Bicameral Mind
This is a fantastic book. I was overjoyed to discover that Turtledove took the trouble to imagine the hypotheses of Julian Jaynes, a psychologist who suggested that once, men really did hear the gods speak to them. Jaynes suggested that humans have evolved significantly over the last 8 to 15 thousand years, primarily in terms of the integration of their cerebral hemispheres. In earlier times, when poor integration was more common, most people could hear the words spoken by their gods; really their own learned rules and beliefs spoken compellingly and very hard for them not to listen to because it was actually the things they themselves were conciously thinking. Jaynes said that the only people today who hear such things are called schizophrenics. Be that as it may, Turtledove's book makes this come alive in ancient Mesopotamia. Besides all that, this book is an excellent story!

Original fantasy, believable history
I teach ancient history and regularly recommend this book to my students as a fun accompaniment to our course. Turtledove's usual meticulous scholarship works wonderfully in Between the Rivers where he creates a believable take on Bronze Age Mesopotamian society (with a fantasy twist, of course). Some idiosyncracies can only be appreciated if you know the history: for instance, the characters' habits of restating key phrases reads just like some early Sumerian texts. There are many wonderful historical tidbits about daily life, dining, business and housing that Harry Turtledove has worked into this book.

That said, this is a historical fantasy and, by giving these cities "real" gods, Turtledove deftly works in the fantasy elements to his story. The conflict between humans and the gods, starting with the people of Gibil and spreading to the other cities (through trade and example) is a bit predictable and the hero's character might seem one-dimensional, but Between the Rivers still makes for a rollicking good read!

It was alright
Welcome to the Dawn of the Bronze age!!God's rule the world, demons cause illness and your dead relatives can talk to you.Very fun book, really like it and I wish Harry would have continued to write books in this universe.There is of course what I have dubbed THE TURTLEDOVE FACTOR(Sex for no reason at all).However barring that this is still a very good book.I particularly liked the ghost of the grandfather

Overall-Just fun fanstay, however I didn't like the habit the characters had of saying everything twice, lots of redundant dialogue. ... Read more

Product Description
For hundreds of years, the rulers of Avornis sought to reclaim the Scepter of Mercy, their only protection from the fallen god known as the Banished One. They all failed. Now, the burden rests on the shoulders of two kings, divided by pride, but united in duty. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Concludes Turtledove's "Sceptre of Mercy" trilogy

This is the third volume and climax to the "Scepter of Mercy" Trilogy, which consists of the following books:

1) The Bastard King
2) The Chernagor Pirates
3) The Scepter's Return

Although he used the pen-name Dan Chernenko, these books were actually written by Harry Turtledove. Apparently he felt the books were different from his usual subject matter and wanted to see the reaction they would get without his name. The most recent printings actually do have his name on the cover, followed by "writing as Dan Chernenko".

In the previous volumes, unusual political manouvers result in the situation where the Kingdom of Avornis had two kings at the same time: King Lanius, descended from a long line of kings, and King Grus, the son of a guardsman.

The Kingdom of Avornis is beset by enemies on all sides, particularly by barbarians to the south, in territory ruled by the immortal "Banished one" who used to be a God before the other Gods expelled him from heaven. King Lanius has discovered that the Banished one was previously worshipped as Milvago, the principal god. Milvago has stolen from Avornis a powerful talisman for peace, the Scepter of Mercy, which had been given to the Kingdom of Avornis by the Gods who supplanted him.

Strong rivalry remains between Lanius and Grus, but neither wants to tear the country apart in civil war when they have so many dangerous enemies: both would like to get the Scepter of Mercy back from the Banished one. But strife between Lanius and Grus is not the only possible threat to the peace of Avornis: King Grus has been watching his fellow King like a hawk as long as they have shared the throne but neglected to consider a possible threat from even closer to home.

Meanwhile Lanius has thought of an ingenious scheme to recover the Scepter of Mercy ...

Some readers absolutely hated this series, other, of whom I was one, greatly enjoyed it. There books do have both the strengths and weaknesses of many of Harry Turtledove's books. For example, there is a strong storyline, well crafted and believable characters - but he does tend to repeat things an awful lot. I also had some difficulty with the fact that the Banished One seems to have a kind of selective omniscience: if that sounds like an oxymoron it's because what he knows and doesn't not do not quite make sense.

Milvago has enough awareness of what Lanius and Grus are plotting to be able to send both the kings themselves, and also one of the key players in their plans, horrible nightmares to try to put them off. Yet he doesn't seem to know enough to give his supporters some fairly simple instructions by which he should have been able to make the plan impossible. I suppose since his heroes were up against a defrocked God, Turtledove had to put some limits on how their enemy could use his powers to give the heroes a chance.

Apart from these minor flaws this is a really enjoyable trilogy.

The Scepetrs Return
A good ending to the trilogy. As with the other novels, not a brethless pace but it gets there, albeit sometimes through the back door. The interplay of the kings, the family interplay and the court intrigue amke this better thn average.

better than the first 2 books, but still not great
This third book in its series appears better written than the first two. Perhaps Turtledove pulled his socks up and paid more attention to the writing. At times in the book, there are actually interesting plot developments of some sophistication.

However, if you really do like Turtledove's writings, you will see better in his other series, like the Civil War tomes.

You might wonder about the previous reviewer, Craig, who commented how this is a good first work by Chernenko. Was that tongue in cheek, or did he even read the book? It says on the front cover that it is by Turtledove. Probably because the publisher wanted to attract more readers. Who unfortunately may not get all that they hoped for.

Masterful
Dan Chernenko pulls off a great finale to the Scepter of Mercy trilogy with his final volume, The Scepter's Return.The author sticks to the style that worked so well in the first two books, and keeps the story interesting for the reader right to the end.

What really struck me about this series is the stark humanity of the central characters.No glorious heroes here, just men and women with all of the foibles and flaws that make us all who we are.Some of the interchanges between these characters are funny enough that I had to stop reading because I was laughing too hard.

Chernenko tops off his achievment here in the fashion I have come to expect from him.The theme of people not necessarily getting what they deserve plays an important role in finishing this tale, and so do the weight of difficult decisions that surround the love-hate relationship between the two Kings that are central to the story.

A masterpiece, and doubly impressive for being Mr. Chernenko's first effort. ... Read more

Product Description
With the arrival of spring, the Emperor Maniakes vows to unleash his troops against the enemy capital, where a hated despot sits arrogantly upon the throne. But from the moment Maniakes reaches the land of the Thousand Cities, he is plagued by a question no one can answer. Where is his nemesis, the ruthless commander whose cavalry no opposing force can withstand?. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Climax and Aftermath
Videssos Besieged (1998) is the fourth fantasy novel of the Time of Troubles series, following The Thousand Cities.In the previous volume, Sharbaraz King of Kings finally told Abivard and Tzikas why they were not allowed to kill each other.Two years before, Sharbaraz had sent two emissaries to the Kubratoi to coordinate an attack on Videssos the City.The nomads would provide boats carved out of tree trunks to ferry the Makuraner troops across the strait and the Makurans would provide siege engines to attack the walls.

In this novel, Avtokrator Maniakes learns that Kubratoi nomads are observing his troops within Videssos the City.He briefly wonders why, but then gathers his soldiers and sails away to Lyssaiion.From there, he leads his troops into the land between the rivers.

Abivard waits for news of the third invasion of the Videssians into the Thousand Cities.As soon as he is learns of the Videssian presence, Abivard takes the field army through the westlands toward Across.Of course, he leaves the infantry behind to delay Maniakes.

Maniakes finds only infantry, with just a few cavalry, facing him in the land between the rivers.He puts out scouts even further than usual looking for Abivard, then settles down to attacking the mud brick walls of the cities and advancing toward Mashiz.Sometimes he wonders what is holding up the boiler boys, but he mostly concentrates on his ultimate goal.

The infantry finally catches up with the Videssians at the Tib, but Maniakes defeats them and bridges the river.Mashiz is now only a few days away.Then a courier reaches him with news of the investment of Videssos by the Kubratoi and the presence of the Makurans in Across.Maniakes immediately realizes the threat, abandons the advance on Mashiz, and turns his army back to the coast.

In this story, Maniakes loads his troops back on the ships and sails back to Videssos the City.A great storm sinks some of his ships north of the Key and the Kubratoi treeboats attack the survivors.However, the Videssian domons handily drive off the crude nomad boats with only slight losses.

Now Maniakes has his troopers manning the walls of the city and the Makuraner troops are still across the strait.With the assistant of a little timely magic, he learns that the Makurans are expecting the nomads to ferry their troops across the Cattle Crossing in their treeboats.Unfortunately, he doesn't know what signal will be used to signal the gathering of the nomad boats at Across.

The Kubratoi try to take the city by storm, but the walls are too high and too well defended.Then the nomads bombard the walls with catapults, but the walls are too thick and shrug off the minor damage.Then the nomads work the siege towers into position and cross the planks over the moat.The Videssians retaliate with arrows, bolts, spears and firepots, burning several of the towers.Yet some Kubratoi gain the walls for a time.

This story relates the final efforts of the Makurans and Kubratoi to take Videssos the City.The fighting is fierce, but the morale of the Videssian troopers is very high.Most citizens are supporting the defense, although some are still condemning Maniakes for marrying his cousin.Videssos the City is a tough nut to crack.

Highly recommended for Turtledove fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of classical warfare, political intrigue, and brave soldiers.

-Arthur W. Jordin

"Time of Troubles" last of four instalments
In which Maniakes has to defend Videssos against Abivard of Makuran ...

This is the concluding volume of the original four books of the "Time of Troubles" quartet. It is set in the same world as the "Misplaced Legion" books, but several hundred years earlier. Anyone buying the books of this sequence has to be careful because of a change in the way the volumes are organised in more recent printings.

As originally published, the four books of this story were:

"The Stolen Throne"
"Hammer and Anvil"
"The Thousand Cities"
"Videssos Besieged"

"The Stolen Throne" and "Hammer and Anvil" have also been published together as "The Time of Troubles Part I"; similarly "The Thousand Cities" and "Videssos Besieged" are published together as "The Time of Troubles Part II".

The "Time of Troubles" series works best if you read the components in chronological order, but it does not particularly matter whether you read them before or after the "Misplaced Legion" or "Krispos" books.

"Videssos Besieged" is told from the viewpoint of Emperor Maniakes of Videssos. Invading Makuran seeking to recover the territory his empire has lost, Maniakes finds no sign of the main Makuraner Army. Then he hears why - Abivard has taken it to attack the City of Videssos while the main Videssian Army is in the land of the thousand cities ...

We also find out the meaning of the final part of the prophecy given to Abivard as a young man.

This series alternates between books told from the viewpoint of Abivard the general of Makuran, and books told from the viewpoint of the Emperor of Videssos, Maniakes.

This is an excellent conclusion to the highly entertaining "Time of Troubles" quartet and I highly recommend ir.

There are currently 12 novels set in the "Videssos" universe, of which "Videssos Besieged" is chronologically the fifth. The full list is as follows (dates assume that years in Videssos correspond to those in our world.)

c. 850 BC - "Bridge of the Separator"

c. 700 BC - The Time of Troubles series

"The Stolen Throne"
"Hammer and Anvil"
"The Thousand Cities"
"Videssos Besieged"


c. 550 BC - "The Tale of Krispos" trilogy

"Krispos Rising"
"Krispos of Videssos"
"Krispos the Emperor"

56 BC - "The Misplaced Legion" quartet

"The Misplaced Legion"
"An Emperor for the Legion"
"The Legion of Videssos"
"Swords of the Legion"

praise and critique
Turtledove once again is trumphant in this series.He succinctly tells the tale of a siege and revolt while also imparting a good view of the inner thoughts of the main characters.My main criticism is the lack of amap.The earlier novels in this series suuply a map (however, bad they maybe).A map gives the reader easy reference materials.A map of the Citywould also be advantageous.All people interested in Byzantine historywill enjoy this series as well as his earlier Byzantine modeled series.

Once again, Turtledove has hit the mark
With an eye toward history and another on fantasy Turtledove has allowed us to walk in the Empire once again.His Time of Troubles series has continued his fictional history of the Big V, and I am struck at the lackof "common" plot themes.The heroes are enemies, the victory iswon by chance and cunning, and the story takes the reader far past thetypical end point of "we win."Well done, and keep them coming! I am wondering just WHO will rise on the Shield as the nextAvtokrator........

Turtledove Brings Series to Satisfying Conclusion:
Harry Turtledove's "Videssos" books are among the classics ofthe fantasy genre -- solidly grounded in history (albeit intriguinglywarped!), meticulously backgrounded, and narrated through living, vividcharacters.

"Videssos Besieged" brings the latest (buthopefully not last) Videssian series to a satisfying conclusion.It hasintrigue, suspense, and a pair of sympathetic antagonists -- the VidessianAvtokrator and the great Makuraner general Abivard.Both of them are humanbeings, complete with crotchets, faults, virtues, and a three-dimensionallife away from the battlefield and council-chamber.

The action scenes areas vivid and gripping as Turtledove's high standards lead us to expect, andthe final resolution is both satisfying -- full closue -- and realistic. Life goes on after the end of the book... ... Read more

Product Description
As they faced one another in a duel of survival, the Roman tribune Marcus Scaurus held the spell-scribed sword of a Druid priest, and the Celtic chieftain Viridovix held a similar sword, bespelled by a rival Druid sorcerer. At the moment they touched, the two found themselves under a strange night sky where no stars were familiar and where Gaul and Rome were unknown. They were in an outpost of the embattled Empire of Videssos--in a world where magic and dark sorcery would test their skill and courage as no Roman legion had ever been tested before.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Lost Among the Timelines
The Misplaced Legion (1987) is the first fantasy novel in the Videssos Cycle. It is initially set in northern Gaul during the later days of the Roman Republic.Not everything was recorded in Julius Caesar's history of the Gallic War.

In this novel, Marcus Aemilius Scaurus is a military tribune presently commanding three cohorts in a scouting column for Caesar.His family is from Mediolanum in Northern Italy, so he is as tall and blonde as any Gaul.He also carries a longsword that he had taken from the corpse of a Gallic Druid.

As with most officers of his rank, Marcus is a fairly young man with little experience in military affairs.He is serving for a time in the military to enhance his political chances.He has already served as magister in his hometown and has further ambitions.

Gaius Philippus is the senior centurion of the command.He has had much experience in military affairs, particularly in guiding young officers.The young tribune relies on his experience, asking for advice as needed.A very proper officer in Gaius's opinion.

Viridovix is a Gaul and the leader of the opposing Gallic force.He too has a Druid longsword.

In this story, the Romans discover that they are being observed by Gallic scouts.They close up and hurry toward a relatively nearby clearing.Unfortunately, the Gauls enter the clear shortly after the Romans arrive.

Since there is not enough time to build the standard earthworks, the Romans form in three rows, with skirmishers in front.The Gauls, of course, form their normal mob.Both leaders address their troops and then the battle begins.

Viridovix is very proficient with his longsword.Yet Marcus has sharpened the tip of his sword so that it can be used as a thrusting weapon.When the two leaders meet, Marcus figures that he has almost an even chance of winning.

As the two swords near each other, the runes on the blades begin to glow.Then the blades clash together with a thunderous sound.A golden dome comes into existence around the weapons.After it dissipates, the Romans and Viridovix are gone from the clearing.

The dome takes the surviving Romans and Viridovix to another place.The stars are arranged differently.The Romans make camp and then the Videssians appear with the dawn.

This tale presents many difficulties and challenges to the Romans and the single Gaul.The Videssians are equipped similarly to the Romans, but have not yet learned to fight in formations.In that regard, they are more like the Gauls.

The Romans become mercenary troops for Videssos.Their style of fighting astounds the Videssians and earn the Romans a high reputation.Soon, the Videssian troops are imitating Roman ways.

This story combines several types of stories created by the author.It contains fantasy elements, but is also one type of alternate history.While his academic training was focused on Byzantine Rome, the author obviously knows quite a bit about the earlier Roman republic.

The author wrote two more subseries and a standalone novel in the Videssos series.This is the second subseries in internal chronology, following the Time of Troubles tetralogy by 150 years and preceeding the Tale of Krispos trilogy by 500 years.

This tale and subseries are among the first -- and best -- works by the author.The next volume in this subseries is An Emperor for the Legion.Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Turtledove fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of ancient battles, fantastic journeys, and alternate history.

-Arthur W. Jordin

From Turtledove's quality period of writing, this is a fun series
Turtledove's style changed sometime in the last 5-8 years or so, becoming much more repetitive in exposition while his characters became even more typecast than before and page counts went up - I have wondered if he is using dictation software to write his current books, as basic establishment comments are repeated dozens of times through them.I would say that by the mid 90's some serious formulaic and realism problems started showing up in his work - he has published 5+ books a year for years now, and the quality gap shows.This series predates this and is a fun book to read.

The general setting in this story is a few roman cohorts, along with a gaulish chieftain/warlord, are magically transported to a world that resembles an inverted map of the byzantine empire well over a thousand years later.In this new world, magic is real and ever-present, and one enemy faction is controlled by honest-to-god demon/devil worshippers.The remaining roman troops are conscripted as mercenaries, and the tribne, Scaurus, becomes embroiled in court politics despite his efforts to avoid them.

Readers of Turtledove's King of the North/Tales of the Fox series will recognize many character stereotypes here, particularly the boisterous fun womanizing gaul (cannot remember how to spell his name).That said, this starts a 4-book series which is well worth the time to read, despite being a bit cliche and in many ways not gritty enough for my taste. (having just read most of glen cook's published work in the last few months, 'gritty realistic fantasy' has become a new concept for me).

Turtledove went on to write 7 more novels in the Videssos enviroment beyond this series, none of which are particularly great and IMHO all are skippable.This series is the one to read.

An epic Roman Adventure
Although this is catagorized as a fantasy, this is more of an epic tale of ancient Rome and the Byzantine empire.Thanfully, Harry Turtledove stuck to his strength in one of his earliest works and that is his knowledge of history, in particular ancient Rome.I say this after having read several of his "fantasy" efforts, and although they are not that bad they are nowhere near as good as his alternate history novels which is what this comes closer to being.

The premise of this novel is that a Roman legion is transported to an alternate universe through the contact of two magical swords. In this alterante universe, which possesses a more than passing resemblence to the Byzantine empire, there is limited magic as well.What makes this novel work is Turtledove's incredibly passionate attention to detail which brings the Roman Legion to life and transports the reader to the Kingdom of Videssos.The only complaint I have with this novel was it was a bit difficult keeping track of all the characters as they were introduced. I belive that had Harry Turtledove written this novel later in his career it would have been quite a bit longer (ala the Darkness books.) but as a fledgling writer his editors probably wanted him to keep the page count down. With the greater development of the characters this would have been a five star book but is stll a very gritty and realistic tale with a true taste and feel of the Roman Empire to it

Best Harry Turtledove ever
Once upon a time there was a man named Harry Turtledove and when he put his mind to it he could write a very good book.This one is about sorcery and magic, armies of light and soliders of darkness.All the good things in life basically.

The book is fantastic and tragic at the same time.Great for what it is, this book fills me with great sadness when I consider how much Harry's writting style has slipped in recent years.

I wish he would get back to this serise and stop writting crap.

historical, alternate history, and a different world
Stop me if you've heard this one before: A Roman Legion is fighting a band of Celts when somehow some magic spell is activated that transports the Legion (plus one Celt) to some strange new world.The Legion and Celt are forced to cooperate to stay alive and not knowing how to get back or even if it is possible, the Legion takes service in with the local empire as a mercenary band.They are, of course, some of the finest fighters that this Empire has seen and they know battle tactics that the world has never seen.

This is the premise of "The Misplaced Legion."There are, I understand, ties to the Byzantine Empire in how this novel is constructed.If one has knowledge of that era then perhaps this novel will resonate more, but coming into "The Misplaced Legion" without that knowledge of history I was able to appreciate Turtledove's craft just as well.

This new Empire of Videssos is one where magic works and is fairly common.Marcus Scaurus, the Legion Commander finds himself mixed up in the politics of Videssos simply by being a talented mercenary commander and being for a foreign world.He finds himself in opposition to an evil sorcerer and helps lead Videssos against this sorcerer.

Much of this novel deals with the Romans in a new world and their adjustments, but with the battles against the sorcerer and the Yezda (the people the sorcerer belongs to, and leads) the storyline is one that looks to stretch across multiple volumes.This was a very interesting beginning to the Videssos Cycle and while I had never read any of Turtledove's work before, this is a series i plan on investing time into.

-Joe Sherry ... Read more

Product Description
In our world, the Mediterranean basin has dried up several times, only to refill. If it hadn't, it would have become a savage desert. But in his world, that's just the way mild-mannered Radnal vez Krobir likes it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

If the Bottomlands were more Pugnacious
The first novella, Bottomlands, is a brilliant idea for alternative history.Turtledove is often seen as the master of Alternative History, but I must say, after reading many of his books, he is more the master of the Alternative History idea.He comes up with a lot of great ideas.It's the follow-through that he has more difficulty with.His dialogue tends to be uninteresting and unrealistic, his characters not engrossing, and his plots feeling contrived.Not to say that all of his writing is bad, but the trend tends towards the less enlightened.Bottomlands is in keeping with this trend.The idea that the Mediterranean didn't refill, but in historical human times, is a great idea to explore, but I found myself having to skim sections of this novella because the characters felt so unrealistic.I cared not a whit about any of them.

"Wheels of If" is a different story.This was a great twist on the alternative history genre, but sadly it wasn't written by Turtledove, but rather de Camp, and in the 40s.I was engrossed by the story and characters, and intrigued to discover what might happen next.Far too little attention has been paid to the what if of Irish Christianity surpassing Roman Catholic Christianity.De Camp plays with this idea, with novel explanations for alternative universes and how they are entered.

The final novella, "The Pugnacious Peacekeeper", is a follow-up to "Wheels of If", written by Turtledove.The writing isn't as snappy as that of de Camp, but is still engrossing, for de Camp's brilliance still comes through the original idea, extended out a year in time.Turtledove has applied the greater Western knowledge of Islam in the late 20th century to de Camp's world, to understand what a South America might be like.Turtledove gives us an intriguing understanding of multiple religious faiths and the nature of religion itself, while accurately reflecting some key aspects of Islamic jurisprudence, theology, and the Qur'an.

A tale of an alternate Earth
This is a good novel of an alternate Earth where the Straits of Gibraltar are blocked by a mountain range and the Mediteranean Sea is smaller and below sea level, allowing mining and petroleum production on the margins ofthe smaller sea.The hero is a guide in a park down in the bottomlands,and the villains are enemy agents set on flooding the area.It is a welldeveloped tale, and interesting to read.

Very enjoyable.
The Turtledove stories here (especially Bottomlands) are excellent, and "The Wheels of If" was like meeting an old friend who has aged very well.DeCamp hasn't stayed in the spotlight as much as many sciencefiction authors of his era.That's too bad because he was great.I'm gladto see Turtledove keeping his name alive.

Allways fun to revisit old friends
The title story is an excellent piece of allohistory, a world in which the Mediterrean Sea never reflooded.A world where Neanderthals (Strongbrows)have not only survived, but hold their own with modern type humans(Highheads) in an atomic age present.A couple of lines in the story makeme suspect Turtledove is slipping in a small tribute to Randall Garrett'sGandalara saga, which was about a humanity evolved for the the"Bottomlands". The second story is a classic, de Camp's"The Wheels of If", while the the third is a sequel to 'Wheels'written by Turtledove. A nice salute to a classic, but Turtledove's smoothdialouge clashes oddly with de Camp's two-fisted '30s style speech.

above average Turtledoves - 3 Alternate time line stories
In the title Novella the Mediterranean is cut off from the Atlantic and is thus a below sea level depression like the Dead Sea. Turtledove's hero, a biologist, acting as expedition chief and National Park Ranger, has tosolve a deadly puzzle against time. There are two other stories (Wheels ofIf and Pugnacious Peacemaker) about a Norse American timeline and a US DAwho is translated to it. Usual Turtledove characters, if you liked the Fox,you will like these, if you haven't read an Fox book (Wisdom of the Fox, 2in one just out) try them first. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Not Free SF Reader
This book, as it suggests is mostly an historical fiction sort of anthology, but as you would expect, not all mainstream, being bookended by a couple of SF stories, and having the odd fantasy story complete with centaurs, and even one extended modern day political ramble.So don't expect straight alternate non-fantastical alternate history, either.

Certainly a pleasant surprise to find Poul Anderson at the end of this, that I didn't expect.


First Heroes : The Lost Pilgrim - Gene Wolfe
First Heroes : How the Bells Came from Yang to Hubei - Brenda Clough
First Heroes : The God of Chariots - Judith Tarr
First Heroes : The Horse of Bronze - Harry Turtledove
First Heroes : A Hero for the Gods - Josepha Sherman
First Heroes : Blood Wolf - S. M. Stirling
First Heroes : Ankhtifi the Brave is dying - Noreen Doyle
First Heroes : The God Voice - Katharine Kerr and Debra Doyle
First Heroes : Orqo Afloat on the Willkamayu - Karen Jordan Allen
First Heroes : Giliad - Gregory Feeley
First Heroes : The Sea Mother's Gift - Laura Frankos
First Heroes : The Matter of the Ahhiyans - Lois Tilton
First Heroes : The Bog Sword - Poul Anderson


Time's myth labours sealed.

4 out of 5


Ringing martial endorsement.

3.5 out of 5


Transport hard dealing.

3 out of 5


Mythological metallurgy massacre.

3.5 out of 5


Dragon slayer goddess lust.

3 out of 5


Sea leg strategy.

3 out of 5


Falcon hero destiny.

2.5 out of 5


Aeneas wife trial.

3 out of 5


Inka brother destiny.

3.5 out of 5


Sumerian Blish unattained.

3.5 out of 5


Sheepy goodness.

3 out of 5


The Troia destroyer.

2.5 out of 5


Ancestral memory experiment.

3.5 out of 5

A great book!
This book is a collection of fourteen stories of Bronze Age heroes, each written by a different author, and set in a different setting. Overall, I found this to be a fascinating book. So few books take the Bronze Age as a setting, and it is a wonderfully interesting time! The stories are great, with my favorites being The Gods of Chariots, A Hero for the Gods, and The Matter of the Ahhiyans.

This is a great book, one that I highly recommend to all history buffs, and all fans of great fantasy literature!

In case you are interested, the stories included are:

The Lost Pilgrim by Gene Wolfe - When a time traveler finds himself in a different age than intended, he little realizes the importance of this journey of Argonauts!

How the Bells Came from Yang to Hubei by Brenda Clough - In Zhou China, an apprentice metal artisan learns the gentle wisdom his master lives. Now, if they can just stay alive...

The Gods of Chariots by Judith Tarr - The Mesopotamian city of Uruk is in danger from barbarians, but it is said that to the north there lives a strange new god who fashions weapons of great power.

The Horse of Bronze by Harry Turtledove - When the tin stops arriving from the Tin Isle, Chreiron the centaur leads an expedition to find out what happened. It seems that there is a new race abroad in the world - man.

A Hero for the Gods by Josepha Sherman - Hittite soldier Hupasiya is just trying to keep his family alive, but to save his family he will have the save the gods themselves!

Blood Wolf by S.M. Stirling - In alternate history Nantucket, warrior Kreuhu Wolkwos is looking for fame and honor, but in this strange new world, he may have to use his head to gain it.

Ankhtifi the Brave is dying by Noreen Doyle - During the First Intermediate Period, after Egypt's Old Kingdom, many local lords sought to be proclaimed Pharaoh. But, one man stands true to the gods and the Pharaoh, Ankhtifi the Brave!

The God Voice by Katherine Kerr & Debra Doyle - Lawinia, wife of Aeneas (hero of the Aeneid) has a tale of her own, a tale that only the priestess of Dian can tell.

Orqo Afloat on the Willkamayu by Karen Jordan Allen - Two brothers, sons of Inka Wiraqocha, war over who will be king of the Inkas - but who will win, and what will be the cost?

The Myrmidons by Larry Hammer - A poem that tells of the origin of the Myrmidons.

Giliad by Gregory Feeley - The arrival of a new computer game sends Leslie and Trent into a look at fiction and reality and history.

The Sea Mother's Gift by Laura Frankos - The days are growing colder, and the people of Dett's Orkney island don't yet realize that disaster is staring them in the face. But, Dett is a man of vision...and a man of visions.

The Matter of the Ahhiyans by Lois Tilton - When the Hittite king get word of the Achaean attack on his subject Troy, he sends an emissary to report on the course of the war.

The Bog Sword by Poul Anderson - When a history professor journeys back in time to Bronze Age Denmark, he sees a pivotal time, when the Celts came to Europe bringing their iron weapons with them.

superb fourteen short story collection
The contributors to this superb fourteen short story collection consist of a who's who of speculative fiction.The tales can easily be classified as fantasy (with a mythological feel) or historical with little or no fantasist elements.Personally this reviewer found the fantasy shorts more intriguing though the historical ones like that scribed by Judith Tarr are superbly written.Each contribution is original and creative and also included one of the last if not the final work by the legendary Poul Anderson who brings a wisp of sci fi to his entry.Fans of Homer, the mythos, or strong fantasy will appreciate this terrific compilation in which everyday people encounter the Gods and species like centaurs in the era of Odysseus and Achilles.

Harriet Klausner

Stories from the dawn of history
This book, with stories all set in the Bronze Age, will appeal to SF readers even though there's precious little SF about it.It is the authors themselves that are well-known to the genre.Co-Editor Harry Turtledove has an entry with an explanation for where the centaurs, fauns, and other mythological creatures went, which is one of the stronger stories in the book.Other big SF names are Gene Wolfe, with a time-traveler who finds himself aboard the Argo instead of the Mayflower; Judith Tarr, whose tale illustrates how a city's fortune can rise or fall based on its weapons rather than its deities; S.M. Stirling, with a short story from his Nantucket universe, where the modern island is transported back to the Bronze age to dominate trade and warfare; and Poul Anderson, closing the collection with another time-traveler who wants to study the Bronze Age but faces instead the rise of the Age of Iron.

Tarr has previously collaborated with Turtledove in their novel "Household Gods." Laura Frankos ("The Sea Mother's Gift," a purely historical tale of the Orkney Islanders) is married to him.Co-editor Noreen Doyle is an historian, and her Egyptian tale, based on an actual inscription, is also straight history.

All the stories are worth reading; there isn't a stinker in the collection.Doyle and Turtledove also included some useful introductory material before each story.This ought to be standard in books like these, where not every reader has a Ph.D. in that era, but in Turtledove's last stint as editor he neglected to give a setting for the stories in _Alternate Generals II_.I was pleased to see these necessary lead-ins when I finished their introduction to the book.

Best stories are Turtledove's "A Horse of Bronze," featuring Meditteranean Sea-faring centaurs who discover humans in the British Isles; "Blood Wolf" by Stirling, which made me want to read the Nantucket novels, and Frankos' "The Sea Mother's Gift," which was the most evocative and had the best sense of character and place.The story that failed did so in an interesting way: Gregory Feeley's "Giliad" seemed like it was the result of a hard disk erasure gone awry.I think what he was trying to do was give the sense of an incompletely erased clay tablet that he uses as a metaphor for his Bronze Age literary stand-in, but this story that takes place right before and after 9/11/01, in Manhattan, never seemed to catch on with me.There is also a confusing segment with a possibly gay couple who is never mentioned again, while the erudite modern family (including an eight-year-old daughter who talks more like a 15 year old) and the Sumerian girl intertwine throughout the story.This tale is thus literary experimentation, and I commend Feeley for the attempt but this needs the love and care of a stronger editor. ... Read more

Product Description
THE BORDER WARS
An uneasy peace had prevailed these last few years between the Empire of Videssos and rival Makuran. But now Makuran's King of Kings alerted his border holdings--even the small fortress where Abivard's father was lord--to prepare for barbarian raids. But Abivard himself received a warning of a different sort: an eerie prophecy of a field, a hill, and a shield shining across the sea.
Before a season had turned, his father and his King lay dead upon the field of battle--the very place foreseen in the vision. Abivard hastened home to defend his family and his land. To his dismay, the most urgent danger came not from marauding tribes, or from Videssos, but from the capital. An obscure and greedy bureaucrat had captured the crown; the rightful heir had disappeared, and no mortal man would say where he might be found.
Abivard's strange fate would lead him to his King, though, and on through peril to the very brink of greatness--and of doom!
FIRST TIME IN PRINT
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

An Uncivil War
The Stolen Throne (1995) is the first fantasy novel in the Time of Troubles series.This series is set in a world where plains dwelling nomads had long ago conquered the civilization between the two rivers. This Makuran empire is ruled by the King of Kings from his capital in Mashiz.Their traditional, and most powerful, enemy is the Empire of Videssos.

In this novel, Abivard is the son of diqhan Godarz of the Vek Rud domain.He asks for insight into the future from his local soothsayer and receives a strange foretelling.Tanshar isn't even aware that he had spoken and so cannot explain his own words.

The Klamorth nomads are stirred up and war is expected.Then the red flag is brought to Vek Rud and Abivard is allowed to ride to war with his father.All the Makuran noble castes are warriors, so naturally he is excited and pleased to be going to war.

Yet Peroz King of Kings loses this war.Peroz is killed, along with most of the warriors in his army.Abivard escapes death by a fluke and survives to return home.

His mother Burzoe advises him to do two things:marry his betrothed Roshnani and arrange the marriage of his older sister Denak.He sends messages to both domains and both marriages are consummated.Abivard is pleased to learn that his new wife is both good looking and smart.

Soon a messenger comes asking Abivard to swear allegiance to Smerdis as King of Kings.At first he is puzzled, for his father had mentioned Sharbaraz as the heir. After the messenger explains that Peroz's son had abdicated the throne, Abivard swears fealty as diqhan of Vek Rud.

Denak had married Pradtak, diqhan of the Nalgis Crag domain.About a month later, Abivard receives a letter from her stating that Sharbaraz is being held prisoner at Nalgis Crag and that he claims to be the rightful King of Kings.Suddenly affairs are no longer simple.

In this story, Abivard and Denak, with help from Tanshar, liberate Sharbaraz from his cell and return to Vek Rud.They send messengers to all diqhans in the northwest province and set a date to discuss the upcoming civil war.Most of them are already angry with the usurper due to the Klamorth raids on their domain.

At the meeting, Sharbaraz stirs up the diqhans and almost everyone agrees to follow him to roust Smerdis from the throne.One diqhan, however, tries to assassinate Sharbaraz, but what can you expect from rural diqhans?Still, Prypat goes to his execution with dignity.

This story is obviously loosely based on the Sassanid and Byzantine empires, probably about the sixth or seventh century AD.Yet the geography is reversed and otherwise distorted and the major cultural themes differ significantly.For example, the Makuran religion involves four Prophets instead of a single Prophet -- Zoroaster -- and the Videssian religion has Phos -- the Sun God -- as its major deity.Still, the everyday occurrences of daily life in both empires are much the same.

This series takes place in the same universe as the other Videssian series.It occurs about 150 years prior to The Misplaced Legion and about 650 years before Krispos Rising.

In many respects, this series is similar to the War Between the Provinces fantasy trilogy.It is alternate history of a sorts, but with fantastic aspects.It is also loosely based on history, but less so than Sentry Peak.

Highly recommended for Turtledove fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of alternate history, exotic cultures, and unexpected romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

"Time of Troubles" part one of four

This is the first of the original four books of the "Time of Troubles" quartet. It is set in the same world as the "Misplaced Legion" books, but several hundred years earlier. Anyone buying the books of this sequence has to be careful because of a change in the way the volumes are organised in more recent printings.

As originally published, the four books of this story were:

"The Stolen Throne"
"Hammer and Anvil"
"The Thousand Cities"
"Videssos Besieged"

"The Stolen Throne" and "Hammer and Anvil" have also been published together as "The Time of Troubles Part I"; similarly "The Thousand Cities" and "Videssos Besieged" are published together as "The Time of Troubles Part II".

"The Stolen Throne" is told from the viewpoint of Abivard, who at the start of the book is the son and heir of a frontier noble or "Dihqan" in the Kingdom of Makuran, the great rival of the Empire of Videssos. At the start of the book he hears a prophecy:

"Son of the Dihqan, I see a broad field which is not a field, a tower on a hill where honour will be won and lost, and a silver shield shining across a narrow sea."

Shortly after this, Abivard goes to war for the first time, and takes part in a disastrous battle, the effects of which will throw both Makuran and Videssos into years of bloodshed, war, rebellion, and chaos ...

Abivard tries to follow an honourable course during the years of war and betrayal which follow. He learns that good and bad men are to be found in both Videssos and Makuran. The first part of the prophesy quickly comes true - but what does the rest mean?

The first and third parts of the quartet are told from the viewpoint of Abivard, the second and fourth from the viewpoint of a Videssian general, Maniakes.

There are currently 12 novels set in the "Videssos" universe of which this is chronologically the second. The full list is as follows (dates assume that years in Videssos correspond to those in our world.)

c. 850 BC - "Bridge of the Separator"

c. 700 BC - The Time of Troubles series

"The Stolen Throne"
"Hammer and Anvil"
"The Thousand Cities"
"Videssos Besieged"


c. 550 BC - "The Tale of Krispos" trilogy

"Krispos Rising"
"Krispos of Videssos"
"Krispos the Emperor"

56 BC - "The Misplaced Legion" quartet

"The Misplaced Legion"
"An Emperor for the Legion"
"The Legion of Videssos"
"Swords of the Legion"

Another great series from the world of Videssos
Turtledove wrote the "Legion of Videssos" series and the "Krispos of Videssos" series from the Videssan side of the world he created.This time he has crossed to "the enemy" in Makuran and is telling the stories of that side of the world.

This book tells the story of Abivard, a lord from a small but loyal family who makes a king and marries his sister to the king.As a result he finds himself thrown into a senior military command and enmeshed in the complex politics of the world of Makuran.As he becomes increasingly distanced from his ruler Abivard must prove his loyaly, keep his holdings and protect his family.

It sets up the plot nicely for the second book of the series.

Turtledove does well with this one
Having enjoyed the books in H.Turtledove's WorldWar series, I picked up The Stolen Throne.The setting apparently is in the same world as his Videssos and Krispos novels, though the tale here occurs several hundredyears before either of those series. The setting reminds me of descriptionsof the Middle East, a dry landscape dependent on irrigation systems forfarming witha steppe-land to the north. The main character is a youngnoble thrust into a leadership role by political events between hiscountry, Makuran, and its main rival, Videssos.I found myself more thanmildly interested in him but was only occasionally emotionally stirred byhis trials. Plot progress varies throughout with numerous interludesexamining women's life in a very male-dominated society.I found theseenlightening of themselves and they helped push the story forward. Sometwists occur but mostly the action is predictable. Turtledove'sdescriptions of war here, as in other of his stories, deals in reality anddoes not glorify it, an aspect of his writing that I wholeheartedlyapprove. Magic is present in this world though it is rarely depended on foreffects or plot advancement. The ending chapters are a little disjointed,in part I think because he's trying to tie things up for this book whileintroducing the crisis that starts the second book in the series.I hopethat one is at least as good as this one. ... Read more

Product Description
Against all expectations, Krispos had won the crown of Videssos. But how long could he hope to keep head and crown together?

For trouble was brewing in every, quarter. Civil war erupted under Petronas, the late Emperor's uncle. A brilliant general and a canny politician, Petronas had a very personal score to settle against the upstart Krispos.

And even as rebel troops took the field against the untried Emperor, outland raiders swept down from the northlands in a tide of carnage. The power stemmed from foulest sorcery, and Videssos' wizards could not counter its evil curse.

Krispos reign showed every sign of being brief -- and very bloody... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Five Stars in Not Enough
The Tale of Krispos series, is actually a two book set about youngKrispos, followed by a stand-alone third book about a mature Krispos andhis kids.The Tale of (young) Krispos begins with "KrisposRising", and continues seamlessly with "Krispos ofVidessos".This is a classic rags to riches story, perfectly done,with the added adventure of a sword and sorcery tale.Krispos is born intothe humblest of beginnings, then his life gets even worse.Just when youthink things might be turning around for him, things get even worse thanthat.Finally he is left with nothing, and sets out to seek his ownfortune in the world.You get to enjoy Krispos' rise from the very depthsof the low, to the utmost pinnacle of his world, every step of the way.Itis thoroughly enjoyable, not only because Krispos so richly deserves hisreward, but also because his world of Videssos is a better place with himat the top.

The spellbinding detail of the world of Videssos waspainstakingly developed in the author's first series, The Videssos Cycle,beginning with "The Misplaced Legion". This is a story aboutelements of one of Caesar's legions travelling into Rome's future of theByzantine Empire.Only it's not the real Byzantine Empire, it's a paralleluniverse where magic works.Aside from that, it's Byzantium written by aByzantine historian. In his first series, Harry Turtledove is contrastingthe vigor of an expanding Roman Empire under Caesar with the decadence ofthe Byzantine Empire in decline.In his Tale of Krispos series, he iscontrasting the industrious work ethic of the rural peasants with the jadeddebauchery of the Empire's noble elite.With 1000 years of Byzantinehistory at his command, the author is able to richly describe detailedcolorful characters, places, and events in this series, the same way he didin the first.They all ring true, because they are based (sometimesloosely) upon real historical fact.The realism of Videssos isunsurpassed.

The Tale of (young) Krispos is a must read for anyone wholikes to read a gripping tale about a young man's struggle to reach thetop.It is also a must read for anyone who is fascinated by the innerworkings of ancient empires, particularly the Byzantine and Roman. Finally, it is a must read for anyone who likes sword and sorcery stories,because there is an evil wizard to defeat, and a barbarian invasion to turnback.

Go get them Krispos
Krispos is just a poor farm kid, or is he?The stars seem to have other ideas.As I followed Krispos from his rural and slave beginings to wearing the red boots of Avtokraor the intrigue and action was non-stop.AnotherHarry Turtldove must read!

INTRIGUE and ADVENTURE are the keywords here!
The story continues in book 2 with more fast-paced intrigue and adventure.This sequel is impossible to put down. So what if you miss a little sleep! ... Read more

Product Description
The sequel to the Krispos trilogy, the second series of the author's Videssos books, pits peasant-turned-emperor Krispos against a band of rebels that includes his eldest son, Prince Phostis. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Satisfying, but slow and dry in places
The Tale of Krispos series, is actually a two book set about youngKrispos, followed by a stand-alone third book about a mature Krispos andhis kids.The Tale of (young) Krispos begins with "KrisposRising", and continues seamlessly with "Krispos ofVidessos".This is a classic rags to riches story, perfectly done,with the added adventure of a sword and sorcery tale.The Tale of (mature)Krispos is continued in "Krispos the Emperor".

Thespellbinding detail of the world of Videssos was painstakingly developed inthe author's first series, The Videssos Cycle, beginning with "TheMisplaced Legion". This is a story about elements of one of Caesar'slegions travelling into Rome's future of the Byzantine Empire.Only it'snot the real Byzantine Empire, it's a parallel universe where magic works. Aside from that, it's Byzantium written by a Byzantine historian. In hisfirst series, Harry Turtledove is contrasting the vigor of an expandingRoman Empire under Caesar with the decadence of the Byzantine Empire indecline.In his Tale of Krispos series, he is contrasting the industriouswork ethic of the rural peasants with the jaded debauchery of the Empire'snoble elite.With 1000 years of Byzantine history at his command, theauthor is able to richly describe detailed colorful characters, places, andevents in this series, the same way he did in the first.They all ringtrue, because they are based (sometimes loosely) upon real historical fact. The realism of Videssos is unsurpassed.

In the third Krispos book, theauthor moves on to explore two new themes: the differences between childrenand their parents, which is especially important in dynastic empires; andthe difficulties of heresy in a single theology state.Krispos raised hischildren on his stories of growing up as a lowly peasant, but they remainthe pampered sons of the richest most powerful man in the world.What is afather to do?At the same time that his family is giving him trouble, hispeople (one people, one faith, one nation) develop a particularly nastyheresy.It is his duty to exterminate it, root and branch.

This ispossibly the most realistic novel Harry Turtledove has written yet, sinceevery King and Emperor has had to face these worries about their children,and this particular heresy broke out more than once in both Greek Orthodoxand Catholic Europe.I would say this is a must read for anyone withteenage children (or maybe for teenage children who have parents), and amust read for anyone with an intense interest in theology and how itaffected the Greek Orthodox or Roman Catholic churches.Since I don't fitinto any of these categories, I bumped it down to fourstars.I reallyfeel that this is not so much due to any inadequacies on the author's part,so much as inadequacies on my part as a reader.

Please write a fourth book in this series, Mr. Turtledove!
The third book follows the lives of an aging Krispos and his three sonswho are trying to reach adulthood. Dangerous religious fanatics are loosein Videssos during this adventure. Fanatics make very dedicated warriors,and make this book a truly compelling read. ... Read more

Product Description
Leadership makes a difference, as history demonstrates. But there are other factors at work. How would Sir Francis Drake have handled the Spanish Armada if a typhoon hadn't softened up the enemy first? What if history were given a twist or two, and great commanders on land and sea fought their greatest battles under difference circumstances? Turtledove and his colleagues turn the past upside down and inside out, and the possibilities are endless... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Relevance, please
I would say that only 2 or 3 of the stories were for the alternate history fan, where the difference in the story would be a large visible difference in the world today.Maybe the other stories needed a blurb on what actually happened for a better appreciation by readers with a lack of knowledge of that person or event.

An enjoyable collection of alternate history short stories
Though Harry Turtledove's name is listed on the cover, he authors just one of the thirteen short stories in this collection of alternate history tales.Though the settings range from ancient Egypt (in Noreen Doyle's "Horizon") to twentieth-century Istanbul (the setting of James Fiscus's "American Mandate"), the theme uniting them all is the different paths events might have taken should the people, choices, and settings have been any different.Like most collections, the stories are a mixed bag in terms of quality, with some working better than others.Readers will undoubtedly differ as to which stories these are, but just about any fan of the alternate history genre will find something to enjoy within the pages of this book.

Those who do not learn from history
are doomed to repeat it.

2.5 stars

Here Turtledove does not learn from the mistakes of the first volume and repeats them. I could, changing story details, almost cut and paste my review of Alternate Generals I.

Again, without an author or editor's foreword to these stories explaining the actual historical background in most cases the casual but well educated reader will be lost at sea reading some of these stories.

Obscurity aside, most of the stories are languid, slow-paced with really no interest to catch the reader's attention. Including a ridiculous story about a 3 year pregnant Japanese empress. Turtledove may enjoy quiet interlude pieces about the crusades as he has included them in both volumes but I miss the appeal of them.

There are again a handful of good stories saving this from being abysmal. Teddy Roosevelt and Pancho Villa together, Napoleon the Emperor of New Orleans both succeed not on the strength of their premise but by the talent of the storyteller who makes the charatcters likeable and engaging. Too many though are long, dry and feel like they were written to fill a word count with no emotional involvement from the author.

I am generally a fan, and advocate, of the shorter form of storytelling but this volume just doesn't work for me.

Could have been MUCH better . . .
In the past decade or so, a small group of science fiction authors and editors have made a sort of cottage industry of original anthologies of alternate history stories. Some are quite good, some are exceedingly mediocre. Several in this latest collection feature both an excellent grasp of historical cause and effect and writing of high quality, including "American Mandate," by Jim Fiscus, in which Gens. Smedley Butler and John Pershing find themselves trying to carry out the League of Nations mandate in the old Ottoman empire against the revolutionary forces of Mustapha Kemal. Another is Joel Richards's "In the Prison of His Days," which tells of the 1916 Easter Uprising in Dublin and William Butler Yeats's part in it. "George Patton Slept Here," by Roland S. Green, shows a close grasp of the details of the Italian campaign in 1943, this time led by a Patton who kept his job by managing not to slap around battle-fatigued soldiers. Chris Bunch's "Tarnished Glory," on the other hand, is the sort of quasi-alternate history that just irritates the hell out of me. He has George Armstrong Custer being born in 1885 so as to take part in WWII in the Patton role -- except that Custer's buddy Patton died in the influenza epidemic of 1918 and Custer screws up in the Battle of the Bulge instead of Sicily. The thing is, you can't just snatch a historical personage out of his proper time and plunk him down otherwhen, and pretend that his personality will still be what it was! Nurture matters at least as much as nature, and context counts! Anyway. There are a couple of other stories here of particular interest, especially Michael Flynn's "Southern Strategy," about a League of Nations incursion into the American South, and "Devil's Bargain," in which Judith Tarr allows Richard the Lion-Hearted to succeed in his quest for Jerusalem. "Horizon," by Noreen Doyle, though, is a confused and not very readable story of Akhenaten as a military conqueror, written in a style presumably meant to be reminiscent of the Book of the Dead. Susan Schwartz's "And the Glory of Them," about Behemond's conquest of Antioch, portrays the 11th century king as having almost 20th century attitudes. As much as I enjoy this particular sf theme -- when it's well done --maybe it's time we gave it a rest.

Very slow
with the exception of
"Southern Strategy",
"George Patton Slept here"
"American mandiate"

Which are excellent.I think all of these stories suffered froma total lack of drive and focus.It wasn't that the est were bad its just that the rest aren't the kind of stories that you want to read twice. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (18)

Good Juvenile Fiction
Harry Turtledove has done some really excellent alternate history novels. I found this one entertaining, if not entirely innovative.It will be a good read for younger people in their teens, and for some of us oldsters.Not greatly challenging, but also not bad.Not bad at all...

What a horrible book
Harry Turtledove takes a very interesting concept ... and butchers it.The writing is beyond bad, it's horrible!Simple concepts are beaten to death, cliche phrases are overused, the "characters" appear to have no basis in reality.

I give it one star for an original idea but I would never ever recommend anybody actually spend money for this book.

The Disunited State of America
This book is not one of Harry Turtledove better books -- it is really simple to good reading

Decent Turtledove
Whether you like it or not, Turtledove is the master of American "alternate history." While this isn't to the epic par of his Timeline-191 series, it's worth a read, and even if you're not a teenager (I'm 24,) as a paperback, it's a fun weekend diversion. It's fast paced, like the rest of this series (unlike Timeline-191 or Guns of the South,) and pretty straightforward. Crosstime Traffic kid meets local kid, and goes through a local snapshot of another "what could have been." If you want Turtledove at his best, start with How Few Remain and Great War: American Front. If you want a easy way to happily kill a weekend, the less than $10 for this book will do.

Wasted opportunity
In the unlikely event that scholars decide to study Harry Turtledove's fiction, they will certainly note the frequent mismatch between the author's inventive ideas and failures in execution.As with so many other recent Turtledove books, The Disunited States of America is a virtual primer on those deficits.

This book, obviously intended for a younger reader but not so labelled, is part of Turtledove's "Crosstime Traffic" series.The premise is that by the end of the 21st centry, the world has solved few problems -- most have gotten worst -- but does know how to travel to "crosstime" alternate realities.These parallel universes are exploited for their resources in a merchantilistic way, while the authorities at Crosstime Traffic make sure that the more advanced of these worlds do not stumble upon crosstime travel themselves.

In this volume, the alternate world is a very high tech version of the United States that never stayed united.The action, such as it is, centers around two older teenagers, Beckie, a politically correct native of the powerful nation of California, and crosstime traveler Justin.Both have been stranded in a tiny town in the racist nation of Virginia, which is under attack by aggressive Ohio.Ohio, for what we are told are generally economic reasons, has gone so far as to unleash a deadly plague on its neighbor, while cynically stirring up a doomed insurrection by Virginia's oppressed blacks at the same time.From Ohio's over the top behavior, you would almost think that there was a football rivalry at stake.Either way, virtually none of Turtledove's largely passive characters react in a realistic way.

Leaving aside that very little of this hangs together, this book represents about the worst Turtledove writing I've seen in years.Here you will find all of the mind-numbing repetition, cliches, tepid pacing, bland characters and lack of satisfying resolution the made the World War series so painful to read.

Turtledove has written nice things in the past several years -- but not too many.Whatever is going on, and my bet would be overproduction, the "Master of Alternative History" may need to take a sabbatical.
... Read more

Product Description
When the Viking lander on the planet Minerva was destroyed, sending back one last photo of a strange alien being, scientists on Earth were flabbergasted. And so a joint investigation was launched by the United States and the Soviet Union, the first long-distance manned space mission, and a symbol of the new peace between the two great rivals.

Humankind's first close encounter with extraterrestrials would be history in the making, and the two teams were schooled in diplomacy as well as in science. But nothing prepared them for alien war -- especially when the Americans and the Soviets found themselves on opposite sides... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A disappointingly conventional sci-fi novel
This was a book that I read both because of its author and its premise.With dozens of alternate history novels, novellas, and short stories to his credit, Harry Turtledove is the acknowledged master of the genre, and I have enjoyed many of his works.The description of the story also had much to offer, moving away from the standard Civil War/World War II setting of far too many alternate histories to pose a much more refreshing one - what if the fourth planet from our sun was capable of sustaining life?

Much of what Turtledove does with this is imaginative.No longer the "red planet" we know, he bestows upon it a different name - "Minerva" rather than Mars.To make it habitable, then planet is larger, though its distance from the sun means that it is still a cold place.He also devises an ecology based around entirely different premises, imagining evolution producing radial rather than symmetrical species with their own cycles and habits.After this life is discovered by an American probe in 1976, the two superpowers of the United States and the Soviet Union race to send manned missions to Minerva to explore it for themselves, with the story itself being a tale of the two missions' simultaneous arrival on the planet.

Yet as I read this book, I was struck by how conventional it was.Once the premise is outlined, the plot quickly develops along the lines of the American-versus-Soviet space contests typical of many sci-fi novels produced during the Cold War.Propping up the story with an alternate-history setting allows Turtledove to get away with this, but it gives the entire book a prematurely dated feel.Moreover, too many of the characters are underdeveloped, sometimes leaving them indistinguishable from one another.The "Minervans" suffer from similar flaws, with only a few of them clearly defined in any way and none of them ever coming across as truly alien.

As a result, the book might disappoint readers familiar with Turtledove's later work.While not a bad novel, it lacks the distinctive characters and immersion into detailed alternate Earths that are hallmarks of many of the author's subsequent writings.Fans of Turtledove's other novels will find the absence of such elements leaving them wanting more, as it fails to provide what they have come to expect from this notable author.

inpluasible plot & characters in a "sci-fi" bore
Mr. Turtledove, being an author of alternative history books, has produced this aweful piece of work about an alternative "Mars" planet. If you want to read the plot, read other reviews. If you want to get down to the jist of the story, read here.

The human characters presented (mainly the Americans, rather than the Russians) are shallow. Shallow in charcter depth and in morals. Reading about the back-stabbing cheating partners of two of the crew of six made my stomach turn. The sleezy sex provides nothing to the storyline whatsoever. The dialogue between humans doesn't reflect their humanity, they seem more like robots sent from each earth millions of miles away. The human just aren't "human" enough.

Now when it comes to the aliens, they seem TOO human. Yes, that is correct. The human language and alien languages are quickly (and unbelievably) learned quickly. The aliens have the same emotions as humans do and reflect it in their speech.

The entire scenerio seems like hogwash. Turtledove hardly wrote any good science into this book, rendering the plausability of the whole trip to the planet into the waterbasin (to put it nicely). I found this book a bore to read through, even when the alien clans finally went to war. I say, "If you like sci-fi, stay clear of this book." Turtledove could have done so much with the idea but drove it deep underground... where it should have stayed and never been published.

A fatastically simple and entertaining story
As far as storytelling goes, this is Turtledove at his best. The idea in this book is a fresh one, departing from the usual fantasy worlds and civil war epics the author is known for. What initially grabbed me about this book was the orginality of concept. Replace Mars with an Earth-like planet named Minerva, keep the rest of Human History the same (at least pre-1990 history) - and you have a believable, yet entirely fantastic story.

Humans travel to Minerva to follow up on a lost probe sent by the Americans. That probe, Viking I, landed on Minerva and snapped a picture of a seemingly intelligent alien before being destroyed by said alien. Naturally, this kicks off a space race between the Americans and Russians (still Soviets in this timeline) to see who can get to Minerva first. As fate would have it, they both land at the same time, but on opposite sides of an impossibly large canyon separating two nations of Minervans about to go to war (in all their 12th century techno-level glory).

Americans side with good Minervans, Russians with Bad guys. Like I said, simple. However, it's drawn very well. The Minervans are described very well, giving the reader a sense of their radical differences from humans. In fact, it's the gradual understanding of the Minervan culture that makes this book a true science fiction classic. Few authors have pulled off describing a truly alien civilization so well.

But beyond that, the human characters are done decently enough to keep the reader from rolling their eyes. Another reviewer here compares them to characters in an Analog short story. That's a good description. They are real, but the way a plastic toy is real. I think most readers will forgive this simplicity in order to tell a bigger story.

Overall, the book is extremely fun to read. It's not too scientific (which saddened me, as a hard sci-fi fan), not too deep... but it's just, well, COOL. The story is cool.

In the end, you'll honestly wish we had a Minerva in our skies instead of boring old Mars. I just wish Turtledove would have continued this book instead going crazy with WWII Lizards and 1960's Confederate America...

A Different Mars
"Alternate Histories" can by be fascinating and nobody does it better than Harry Turtledove but most suffer from a seemingly insoluble problem. From the point of departure from "recognized" history, the stories of necessity diverge more and more. In this book Turtledove gets around this problem in a novel way. He moves it off planet.

In this story, earth history is just like we all know right up until the Viking lander. In this universe, though, Mars is not our planet. It is more massive, it has an atmosphere and intelligent life. It is also called Minerva. The last photos taken by the Viking lander on Minerva are of a native Minervan attacking it. This naturally spurs all sorts of efforts to send a manned mission. Since the period is the 70s, the cold war is in full swing and the Soviets and Americans are determined to beat each other. They land at different but nearby sites and befriend tribes antagonistic towards each other. The cold war has moved to the red planet.

The story is interesting enough but Turtledove's real talent is to present ideas in new and differing ways. The Minervans of this story are utterly strange and different from humans. Still, he manages to convey their alien sensibilities in a credible, believable and understandable manner. He also makes us laugh at ourselves.

This is an excellent story and lots of fun.

Sci-fi like only Harry can do
I absoluetly loved this book. So very realistic and compelling. Thecharacters, both human and minervan, are engaging and well devloped. Thestory could very easily be considered both alternate history or straightsci-fi. This book has been overlooked by many sci-fi fans by Turtledove'smore well-known books. That to me is a shame. I would love to see a sequelto this book to see how Earth and Minerva grow together and how eachaffects the other's societies.

Read this book once and then read itagain. You will enjoy it from cover to cover. This book is proof that HarryTrutledoveis one of the masters of Sci-fi/Alternate History. ... Read more

Product Description
Foul sorcery had slain the Emperor. Now the army of Videssos, betrayed by one man's craven folly, fled in panic from the savage victors. But there was no panic in the Legion, mysteriously displaced from Gaul and Rome into this strange world of magic.

Wearily, Tribune Marcus Scaurus led his men through the chaos and enemy hordes in search of winter quarters, to regroup and seek to join up with Thorisin Gavras, now rightful ruler of Videssos.

But in Videssos the city, capital of the beleaguered realm, Ortaias Sphrantzes, whose cowardice had caused their defeat, now sat upon the throne. There, behind great walls that had always made the city impregnable to storm or siege, he ruled with the support of evil sorcery. Overthrowing him seemed impossible.

Grimly, Marcus Scaurus began the long march through hostile country toward that seemingly hopeless attempt. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

politics through the filter of the a roman legion
"An Emperor for the Legion" is the second of four volumes in the Videssos Cycle.At the end of "The Misplaced Legion", the Emperor had been killed by the Sorcerer of Yezda and the Videssan army had been routed due to the failure of Ortaias Sphrantzes to hold his section of the line.The army has been split into several parts, each with no contact with the others.Ortaias has one part, the Thorisin Gavras has another.Gavras is viewed by many as the rightful heir to Videssos.The rest of the army is under the command of Marcus Scaurus, the misplaced Roman Legionary.The plot of the first book in the series took a Roman Legion and through an accident of magic transported the legion to another world.They hired on with the Empire of Videssos as a mercenary company and with the murder of the emperor, Marcus is seeking the one man he is willing to follow: Thorisin Gavras.

Much of "An Emperor for the Legion" is one long march.Marcus and his Romans, plus the rest of the army, is on the march through lands controlled by the Yezda and have to deal with random attacks.After finally meeting up with Thorisin, they return to the capital city of Videssos only to find it occupied by Ortaias, claiming to be the new Emperor.Marcus and Thorisin need to decide if they can accept the rule of Ortaias, or if attempting to assault the nearly impenetrable fortress city is worth the cost.

This book is the logical extension of the story after "The Misplaced Legion".We do not see much character development of the Romans (or anyone else), but by spending more time with the Romans we get a better sense of who the men are.Call it "character explanation".The initial intrigue of sticking a Roman legion in a completely alien world in which magic is fairly commonplace has worn off by this point, but Turtledove is able to tell an interesting story with these characters.After this novel, the focus seems to be on the politics of Videssos seen through the filter of the Roman Legion.It's good, and very detail orientated."An Emperor for the Legion" is a slower moving tale, but the series is an interesting one.

-Joe Sherry

Five Stars in Not Enough
Harry Turtledove has said that his life was shaped and molded by reading "Lest Darkness Fall" by L. Sprague De Camp.To my mind thisfirst series by the master of alternate history is a time travel book basedloosely upon that previous classic.Elements of one of Caesar's legionsare transported forward in time to the Byzantine Empire.Only it's not theByzantine Empire, it's the Videssos Empire in another universe where magicworks.Aside from that, it's the Byzantine Empire written by a Byzantinehistorian.Aside from just surviving, the hero must prevent his newhomeland from being overrun by barbarians "Lest Darkness Fall". For this reason I consider this the best time travel series to a fictitiousuniverse ever written, as well as the best series about a Roman Legion.Itis a must read for anyone interested in the Roman Empire, the ByzantineEmpire, or time travel.

One of the many things which make this seriesinteresting is that the heroes are from Caesar's Rome.Rome is youngenergetic vibrant and, most of all, expanding at this time.They aretransported to the Byzantine/Videssos Empire while it is in a period ofdecline. (If it were the real Byzantine Empire, it would be the finaldecline, but we can still hope for a revival of the Videssos Empire.)Thedecadence brought by a thousand years of Empire is sharply contrasted withthe vibrant patriotism of our heroes who remain unknowing that this is thedestiny of their empire too.

This isn't just a military book where thelegion moves from battle to battle.This is a much more realistic andcomplete world where the hero is thrust into the middle of court politics,and has to fight to overcome the shear inertia of the Empire's slidetowards collapse.The hero spends more time facing corruption, politicalintrigue, distrustful monarchs, intolerant monks, and tax collectors thanhe does facing mounted cavalry units.

I don't want to repeat theexcellent review about the warfare in this series written by Robert, 12 MAR99, under "The Misplaced Legion" (Videssos Cycle, Book 1).Iwould like to add though, that this is not a series about a general.Thisis not a David Drake/S.M. Sterling series about Belisarius.As Robertpoints out, the hero of this series stands in the middle of the battles,and seldom knows more of what's going on than immediately to his left andright.The battles themselves are mostly standup fights where two sideshack at each other.This is really much more realistic though.Mostbattles, especially in the Roman era, were fought this way.Even thoughnowadays it seems like every book we read is about Belisarius, brilliantgenerals with innovative battlefield ideas come along only once in athousand years or so.Most battles are fought without them.

"TheMisplaced Legion" (Videssos Cycle, Book 1) is followed by "AnEmperor for the Legion" (The Videssos Cycle Book, 2), "The Legionof Videssos" (Videssos Cycle, Book 3), and"Swords of theLegion" (Videssos Cycle, Book 4).There are two prequel series aboutVidessos.The first is the Tale of Krispos series, beginning with"Krispos Rising."This is actually a two book story, which isexcellent, and a third follow on novel which is very good.The otherprequel, The Time of Troubles series, begins with "The StolenThrone".This series is entertaining, but not really as good as thefirst two series.

Although there are ten books about Videssos, there cannever be enough.And there are only four books about the Misplaced Legion. There needs to be a sequel series not another prequel.Perhaps"Legion of Videssos: Next Generation" where Marcus's son, bornand raised in Videssos, can become Emperor, with Dad and his Legion helpingout of course.This could lead to a new golden age for Videssos, and maybeeven . . .

Great story
I am truly enjoying this series.I am now working on Swords of the Legion and I have to say that this is a great series."An Emperor for the Legion" is simply another outstanding addition to it.The charactersare not super heroes, the Magic is not overpowering, and the story ishumorous and interesting.

Predictable, boring, typically formulaic Turtledove drivel.
If you like predictable psuedo-historical formulaic drivel you'll love the continuation of the Videssos Cycle.This book, like so many of the author's, uses repetitive and unimaginative language and themes. Turtledove uses the same phrasing, the same situations, even the samequotations from one book to another.The simple stories go nowhere and thecharacters are one dimensional and unbelievable.These type of alternativehistorical novels have been done so much better by almost any author thathas laid pen to paper.

The epic continues. . .
The epic story started in "The Misplaced Legion" continues with this book. Absolutely none of the energy driving this story was lost ... Read more

Product Description
A terrible civil war was tearing apart the kingdom of Detina, a land which could no longer be half serf and half free. Thraxton the idiot had been relieved of command; which meant that the south faced a far more competent general: Joseph the Gamecock. And Joseph and his troops, with their deadly repeating crossbows and wizards wielding sorcerous lightning, were determined to hold Peachtree Province against the loyalist troops. Still, the very survival of Detina as one united realm was at stake, and King Avram's forces had no choice but to attack, no matter what the odds, no matter how desperate the situation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Good but not great
The second in a seres analogous to the American Civil War, where the North of Detina rebels against King Avram for trying to emancipate the blond serfs. Fantasy solutions replace technology, such as magic carpets replacing railways. This book covers the southern army's fight north to cut the north in two.

I found this book to be more entertaining than the first one in the seres, Sentry Peak, as if Turtledove had gotten a better feel for his characters. However, this is not one of his best stories, as the story never really takes off. I recommend this book to Turtledove completests, but not to someone who is looking for a place to start Turtledove.

Not Turtledoves usual good stuff
Many others have mentioned that this storyline is based on Shermans march through GA. While I'm a mild civil war buff, and I could make connections with real world names, some events and names were explained better at the end of the book than I could remember.

However, as to the book and series itself, I cannot recommend it, or at least, not purchasing it. Harry Turtledove has finally hit a "slump" after his previous outstanding alternate histories.

One gets the feeling that this entire series is filled with a lot of pap filled with little bits of meat, in order to stretch it out for 3 books. I believe this storyline could have been better told in a single book, something along the lines of "Guns of the South".

I hope that Harry Turtledove has not fallen into the rut that many sci-fi/fantasy authors have, taking an original idea and trying to stretch it out for several books just to keep on having something published, or to cash in on their names, an unfortunate trend of recent years.

Bottom line, if you want to keep up on all the Harry Turtledove books, get this one (and the previous and next) at the library.

A Very Good Rendition
I really liked this book.

Now, though I know some about the Civil War, I am not a super fan nor do I know it battle by battle and general and colonel by general and colonel.Maybe this is why I liked it so much - many of the characters were new and unknown to me.In fact, maybe this book would be even better for those with a good grasp of geograhy but not a photographic memory of the Civil War.

The book is not perfect - at times it's a little boring regarding the incessant pep talks that both sides lead to keep up their courage (We'll lick them, of course).Also (and this is not the author but me) where did he get that weird pantheon from with lions and all?Why a virtual US with a pagan religion?I suppose it's to reinforce the swords and sorcery theme.

The author does a good job showing the lives of ordinary soldiers, too.

I thought Marching Through Peachtree better than its predecessor Sentry Peak.I admit that since he is following real history some of the characters do have to make stupid mistakes too often. This is especially true in Sentry Peak with Thraxton the Braggart and his too idiotic mistakes, but I don't think it is as bad in the sequel.I especially liked the characters Rollant, Smitty, Doubting George, and Roast Beef William.And who'd ever think to see a picture of Abe Lincoln in a crown?

So all and all a neat adventure even if bound by real history.

Good character development in recast history
The war between the provinces drags on with the serf-holding north holding on despite advances by the south. After winning the battle in Franklin, the southern army faces a new opponent--one who intends to keep his army intact and to force the south to take losses for every mile of territory they conquer. Fortunately for the south, the northern generals are constantly back-stabbing their leader. If the southern population is willing to continue the battle, the blond serfs of the north may, eventually, be freed.

MARCHING THROUGH PEACHTREE is a fantasy novel (magic, dragons, flying carpets) version of the U.S. Civil War recounting Sherman's march through Georgia. This type of fantasy recasting of real historic events is something of a Harry Turtledove specialty and MARCHING THROUGH PEACHTREE is the best of these novels I've read yet. Turtledove gives the reader a full range of the battle, depicting the decisions and lives of both generals and privates. Ex-serf and blond Rollant is an especially interesting and sympathetic character.

Fans of epic fantasy may be disturbed by the moral ambiguity in MARCHING THROUGH PEACHTREE. Although the southern (U.S. northern) cause is depicted somewhat more sympathetically, the northern side also has its merits--there can be no pure battle between good and evil. To enforce the parallels to U.S. history, Turtledove is forced to introduce some rather extreme stretches--e.g., using magic carpets as a substitute for the all-important railroads. As always, when recounting historical events, the reader is forced to accept foolish decisions (because they actually happened) that no reader would accept in a pure fiction work (because no villain or hero would do anything that stupid).

If you enjoy this type of historical analogue novel, MARCHING THROUGH PEACHTREE is one of the best. It may be read independently of the earlier novel in this series.

awsome
I just realy enjoy all of the turtledove books but this one has caught my eye and everyone should read it. ... Read more