Videssos Besieged by Harry Turtledove

The conclusion of The Time of Troubles series, this book wraps up the loose ends and brings closure to the protagonists. Of course closure is relative when dealing with Turtledove, your never sure what might come next. The 4th and final book is told from Maniakes’, the Videssosian Avtokrator, point of view. The every other book shift in bias from Abivard, the general, to Maniakes provides ample opportunity to ponder how point of view mandates decisions. The story, again, if very good and the premise provides a banquet of food for thought. A well done series.

Body of work of Harry Turtledove

Review of the book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/product/0345402995?filterBy=addFiveStar

Site: http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/turtledove.html

The Thousand Cities by Harry Turtledove (Book III of The Time of Troubles Series)

The third book in the Time of Troubles Series which deals with a Byzantine Empire time period goes back to the point of view of the Makuran’s general Abivard. In the first book Abivard’s viewpoint as one of the barbarous hill people looked at the Empire and the nomadic tribes. The second book was written from the perspective of the Videssos Empire. Turtledove shows how perspective so clearly shows who is right, who is wrong, who is good and who is evil, from their own perspective. To carry this a step further one might suspect that Turtledove is trying to make a point that there are two sides to every conflict and the ability to see another’s point of view might help in conflict resolution. Of course, it may just be a good story. The political intrigue, the erratic nature of the rulers all make for an interesting read.

Body of work of Harry Turtledove

Site: http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/turtledove.html

Review: http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/1000.html