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Time of Troubles #4
Videssos Besieged
Emperor Maniakes once again unleashes his troops against an enemy capital ruled by a hated tyrant, only to face the ultimate disaster as his evil nemesis launches his irresistible forces against the very gates of Videssos itself. Original.
373 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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About the author
Harry Turtledove
567 books1,978 followersDr Harry Norman Turtledove is an American novelist, who has produced a sizeable number of works in several genres including alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction.
Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.
Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original scenarios: such as survival of the Byzantine Empire; an alien invasion in the middle of the World War II; and for giving a fresh and original treatment to themes previously dealt with by other authors, such as the victory of the South in the American Civil War; and of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
His novels have been credited with bringing alternate history into the mainstream. His style of alternate history has a strong military theme.
Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.
Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original scenarios: such as survival of the Byzantine Empire; an alien invasion in the middle of the World War II; and for giving a fresh and original treatment to themes previously dealt with by other authors, such as the victory of the South in the American Civil War; and of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
His novels have been credited with bringing alternate history into the mainstream. His style of alternate history has a strong military theme.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 28, 2023
“Videssos Besieged” presents a satisfying conclusion to the “Time of Troubles” tetralogy, this time once again from the viewpoint of Videssian Avtokrator Maniakes. As in the earlier books, in creating this fantasy alternate-universe parallel to the Byzantine Empire, Turtledove paints a picture of real-life Byzantium (the difference being, of course, that in Videssos, magic works!). Palace and clerical politics and intrigue, plots and counterplots, military strategy, logistics and campaigning, family relationships and the place and role of women, the lot of the common people, and how the activities of the “mob” of the capital city affected imperial policy and, indeed, the destiny of the empire, are all well illustrated and woven together into a complex, compelling tapestry.
Most prominent in this volume is the narrative of the siege of Videssos the City by the forces of Makuran and Kubrat, corresponding perhaps to the 626 siege of Constantinople by the Persians and Avars. Constantinople never fell—and neither did Videssos. The triple walls of Theodosius were sufficient to withstand catapults, siege engines and every sort of missile hurled against them. In return, the defenders flung huge stones, spears and arrows against the attackers and used boiling oil and hot sand to good advantage. Many of the Kubratoi/Avar siege engines were set afire outside the walls, and their crews horribly incinerated. Quite a description, indeed, of medieval siege warfare!
The Videssians’ (and Byzantines’) most effective weapon, however, was their navy. The Persians/Makuraners were experts in siege warfare, but the war galleys of Maniakes/Heraclius prevented them from getting to the other side of the Bosporus/Cattle Crossing in order to mount an attack, and the galleys easily rammed and sank the boats/rafts employed by the Avars/Kubratoi, often setting them aflame with the famous Greek Fire. This was a medieval equivalent of napalm and could not be extinguished (its exact composition has never been determined), and as such was a sort of Seventh-Century ultimate weapon.
Competent Videssian/Byzantine emperors (such as Maniakes/Heraclius) were able for hundreds of years to manipulate and counterbalance all these factors in order to preserve the empire. The ultimate purpose of the Videssos novels, aside from entertainment, is to illustrate the role of Byzantium in preserving and safeguarding Western civilization for over a thousand years, especially during many perilous times when it was threatened with extinction from various directions. And in this the books succeed very well.
***** review by Chuck Graham *****
Most prominent in this volume is the narrative of the siege of Videssos the City by the forces of Makuran and Kubrat, corresponding perhaps to the 626 siege of Constantinople by the Persians and Avars. Constantinople never fell—and neither did Videssos. The triple walls of Theodosius were sufficient to withstand catapults, siege engines and every sort of missile hurled against them. In return, the defenders flung huge stones, spears and arrows against the attackers and used boiling oil and hot sand to good advantage. Many of the Kubratoi/Avar siege engines were set afire outside the walls, and their crews horribly incinerated. Quite a description, indeed, of medieval siege warfare!
The Videssians’ (and Byzantines’) most effective weapon, however, was their navy. The Persians/Makuraners were experts in siege warfare, but the war galleys of Maniakes/Heraclius prevented them from getting to the other side of the Bosporus/Cattle Crossing in order to mount an attack, and the galleys easily rammed and sank the boats/rafts employed by the Avars/Kubratoi, often setting them aflame with the famous Greek Fire. This was a medieval equivalent of napalm and could not be extinguished (its exact composition has never been determined), and as such was a sort of Seventh-Century ultimate weapon.
Competent Videssian/Byzantine emperors (such as Maniakes/Heraclius) were able for hundreds of years to manipulate and counterbalance all these factors in order to preserve the empire. The ultimate purpose of the Videssos novels, aside from entertainment, is to illustrate the role of Byzantium in preserving and safeguarding Western civilization for over a thousand years, especially during many perilous times when it was threatened with extinction from various directions. And in this the books succeed very well.
***** review by Chuck Graham *****
September 3, 2025
Good end to this series. Logical events that are similar to the Byzantine Empire in our history. Good characterization about the people featured in the book. The off the page action would be a good story in itself. This was a fun series and one of Harry Turtledoves better efforts. Recommeneded.
August 14, 2014
One of Turtledove's better series , good read
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews