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Time of Troubles #1
The Stolen Throne
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 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
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 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
356 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
2 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Harry Turtledove
566 books1,977 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 8, 2023
Harry Turtledove has used his vast knowledge of the history of the Byzantine Empire (he holds a Ph.D. in Byzantine history) to create a marvelously entertaining series of stories set in out own universe (“Agent of Byzantium”, in which the Empire never fell to the Turks) and in an alternate fantasy universe where magic works and the Empire’s counterpart is called the Empire of Videssos. He has surrounded Videssos with other kingdoms and regions such as Makuran, Pardraya, Kubrat and Khatrish which are comparable to the Sassanian Persian empire, the Umayyad Caliphate, the Avars, Bulgars, Slavs and other foes faced by Byzantium over the centuries, and populated all these lands with believable characters who reflect every level of society—nobility, vassal, commoner, merchant, soldier, slave—and whose interactions and conflicts give a realistic approximation of what Byzantine society was really like in the middle ages—except for the magical element, of course!
The various Videssos books cover close to 700 years of the Empire’s history and the 3-volume “Time of Troubles” series is the earliest. “The Stolen Throne” deals with a civil war in Makuran and the way in which Videssos helped in the overthrow of a usurper and the seating of the rightful King of Kings on the throne (for a territorial price, of course, since the two empires are traditional foes). This probably reflects the tumultuous politics of the Sassanian Empire or early Umayyad Caliphate and the way in which Byzantium, through military intervention and sometimes-devious diplomacy, affected their development. This may not be exactly what Turtledove had in mind, but, then again, trying to establish the actual links between Videssian and Byzantine history is half the fun of these books for any reader at all interested in or familiar with Byzantine history. (The relationships become much clearer in the second book, “Hammer and Anvil”.)
The women of Makuran play a prominent role in the story of “The Stolen Throne” and most notable is the way in which they begin to achieve a greater degree of movement and association, rather than (at least in the case of noble women) being perpetually confined to womens’ quarters and seldom let out for any reason, and how they manage to exert considerable influence over the course of events (Theodora’s influence over Justinian comes to mind!). Perhaps Turtledove did not overtly intend in the mid-1990’s to pen a commentary on the status of women in many middle eastern countries today, but, nevertheless, there it is, and today still seems particularly relevant.
The overall result is a series of books which are genuine page turners, set in exotic locales and peopled by characters (and creatures!) both friendly and fearsome, peaceful and ruthless; both entertaining and educational in that they can be linked to actual people and events in the history of the Byzantine Empire. Ideally those who read “The Stolen Throne” and the other books in the series will be motivated to study the true history of Byzantium. Highly recommended!
***** review by Chuck Graham *****
The various Videssos books cover close to 700 years of the Empire’s history and the 3-volume “Time of Troubles” series is the earliest. “The Stolen Throne” deals with a civil war in Makuran and the way in which Videssos helped in the overthrow of a usurper and the seating of the rightful King of Kings on the throne (for a territorial price, of course, since the two empires are traditional foes). This probably reflects the tumultuous politics of the Sassanian Empire or early Umayyad Caliphate and the way in which Byzantium, through military intervention and sometimes-devious diplomacy, affected their development. This may not be exactly what Turtledove had in mind, but, then again, trying to establish the actual links between Videssian and Byzantine history is half the fun of these books for any reader at all interested in or familiar with Byzantine history. (The relationships become much clearer in the second book, “Hammer and Anvil”.)
The women of Makuran play a prominent role in the story of “The Stolen Throne” and most notable is the way in which they begin to achieve a greater degree of movement and association, rather than (at least in the case of noble women) being perpetually confined to womens’ quarters and seldom let out for any reason, and how they manage to exert considerable influence over the course of events (Theodora’s influence over Justinian comes to mind!). Perhaps Turtledove did not overtly intend in the mid-1990’s to pen a commentary on the status of women in many middle eastern countries today, but, nevertheless, there it is, and today still seems particularly relevant.
The overall result is a series of books which are genuine page turners, set in exotic locales and peopled by characters (and creatures!) both friendly and fearsome, peaceful and ruthless; both entertaining and educational in that they can be linked to actual people and events in the history of the Byzantine Empire. Ideally those who read “The Stolen Throne” and the other books in the series will be motivated to study the true history of Byzantium. Highly recommended!
***** review by Chuck Graham *****
August 14, 2025
WOW! This book is classic Turtledove at his best. Videssos is a fictional empire modeled on the Byzantine Empire with occasional magic added. This book has much of its action take place in an enemy kingdom Makuran which is a nice change of pace from the previous set of books based in this world. The characters are well drawn and very realistically real. The writing draws you right in and makes you care about the people. I highly recommend this book and now to start the second book of the series.
February 18, 2020
normally like his work but.....
March 13, 2022
Not a bad series, but perhaps the weakest of Harry's razzias through Byzantine history. The actual story of Heraclius is more interesting, but much messier.
December 13, 2016
So I have started this book... It is important to note that I have never read one of Harry Turtledove's books before. Unfortunately it did not start well. I find that the sentences are a bit too long, when I finally finish with it, I have to go back to read it again just to mame sense of it. I also do not understand why there is a whole new measuring system, I now have no idea about how much I should imagine it. I feel that the book has a bit of a steep learning curve, something which the author could make easier by just explaining a bit more, although that would maybe make the book too slow paced. It unfortunately also bored me, I couldn't emotionally invest in the characters... So I didn't care much about ther war. The author also didn't try to convince me why the Videssians are the bad guys, and why the King of Kings' forces are good...
But I will continue reading until I rwally can't bear it anymore, so, until then...
But I will continue reading until I rwally can't bear it anymore, so, until then...
June 15, 2007
Action takes place in a land with customs similar to those of Islamic countries. Concerned primarily with political intrigue and war with a neighboring kingdom - a bit of magic thrown in. Decent plotting and interesting characters.
December 7, 2013
The Time of the Troubles series was quite good. Another addition to the World of Videssos saga, this series keeps exploring different aspects of something Turtledove has developed quite well.
Overall, I enjoyed the series.
Overall, I enjoyed the series.
January 22, 2016
Book one of the Time of Troubles, this is Videssos early on. If you a re a fantasy fan and haven't found Harry Turtledove, give him a try. The Misplaced Legion series is many centuries later. An excellent read.
June 21, 2009
Oh blech. Boring, boring, boring. This guy is so dreary I don’t understand how he can have so many books published. Dropped this one at page 30. Zzzzzzzzzz.
August 14, 2014
One of Turtledove's better series , good read
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews