Agent of Byzantium

Rating:
Summary: Good Alternate History Fun
Review: A great collection of seven stories set in an early fourteenth-century version of Earth where Islam is absent. The Byzantine Empire retained its eastern holdings and swallowed up most of western Europe as well. Their main rival is the Persian Empire which also never fell in Turtledove's well thought-out alternate world. The stories span 15 years in the life of Basil, a soldier and eventual "agent" (read spy) for the Byzantine Empire. Great fun!

Rating:
Summary: Good Alternate History Fun
Review: A great collection of seven stories set in an early fourteenth-century version of Earth where Islam is absent. The Byzantine Empire retained its eastern holdings and swallowed up most of western Europe as well. Their main rival is the Persian Empire which also never fell in Turtledove's well thought-out alternate world. The stories span 15 years in the life of Basil, a soldier and eventual "agent" (read spy) for the Byzantine Empire. Great fun!

Rating:
Summary: fascinating alternate history
Review: Almost a medieval "Winds of War", wherein our hero is just too damn conveniently involved in one civilization advance after another - but saved by excellent writing and a thoroughly likeable protagonist

Rating:
Summary: fascinating alternate history
Review: Almost a medieval "Winds of War", wherein our hero is just too damn conveniently involved in one civilization advance after another - but saved by excellent writing and a thoroughly likeable protagonist

Rating:
Summary: A Course in History
Review: Although I feel, along with previous reviewers, that Basil (the protagonist) is a bit too lucky with his discoveries, the historical setting more than makes up for it. The author provides clear insight into Eastern traditions that the west has long ignored, describing Hagia Sophia as it was in its days of glory, and citing many examples of Greek theologians and historians. A good read by all standards.

Rating:
Summary: Great alternate history from the master
Review: Harry Turtledove knows his history, and it is the mark of a great writer that he can make you interested in what has been a rather obscure part of the historical record. Most of us are familiar with the concept of the Byzantine Empire, but know little of its actual nuts and bolts. Mr. Turtledove presents a set of connected short stories in which his hero foils diverse machinations against his employer. I was intrigued, and looked stuff up in the encyclopedia afterwards, and found the whole thing quite fun