Krispos the Emperor

The Tale of Krispos series, is actually a two book set about young Krispos, followed by a stand-alone third book about a mature Krispos and his kids. The Tale of (young) Krispos begins with "Krispos Rising", and continues seamlessly with "Krispos of Videssos". 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". The spellbinding detail of the world of Videssos was painstakingly developed in the author's first series, The Videssos Cycle, beginning with "The Misplaced Legion". This is a story about elements of one of Caesar's legions travelling into Rome's future of the Byzantine Empire. Only it's not the real Byzantine Empire, it's a parallel universe where magic works. Aside from that, it's Byzantium written by a Byzantine historian. In his first series, Harry Turtledove is contrasting the vigor of an expanding Roman Empire under Caesar with the decadence of the Byzantine Empire in decline. In his Tale of Krispos series, he is contrasting the industrious work ethic of the rural peasants with the jaded debauchery of the Empire's noble elite. With 1000 years of Byzantine history at his command, the author is able to richly describe detailed colorful characters, places, and events in this series, the same way he did in the first. They all ring true, because they are based (sometimes loosely) upon real historical fact. The realism of Videssos is unsurpassed.In the third Krispos book, the author moves on to explore two new themes: the differences between children and their parents, which is especially important in dynastic empires; and the difficulties of heresy in a single theology state. Krispos raised his children on his stories of growing up as a lowly peasant, but they remain the pampered sons of the richest most powerful man in the world. What is a father to do? At the same time that his family is giving him trouble, his people (one people, one faith, one nation) develop a particularly nasty heresy. It is his duty to exterminate it, root and branch. This is possibly the most realistic novel Harry Turtledove has written yet, since every King and Emperor has had to face these worries about their children, and this particular heresy broke out more than once in both Greek Orthodox and Catholic Europe. I would say this is a must read for anyone with teenage children (or maybe for teenage children who have parents), and a must read for anyone with an intense interest in theology and how it affected the Greek Orthodox or Roman Catholic churches. Since I don't fit into any of these categories, I bumped it down to four stars. I really feel 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.

The third book follows the lives of an aging Krispos and his three sons who are trying to reach adulthood. Dangerous religious fanatics are loose in Videssos during this adventure. Fanatics make very dedicated warriors, and make this book a truly compelling read.