So, I'm going to give some overall thoughts before we go over the individual stories. This is another Turtledove book I've wanted in audio, and now the wait is over. Harry Turtledove has a PH.D. in Byzantine History, and it definitely shows in this novel. Turtledove was famously inspired by L. Sprague de Camp's novelto study Byzantine History. He say in the introduction tothat he hopes it does the same for someone else. I can say with certainty that he achieved this goal, at least for me. I liked the way Argyros' discoveries are presented. He managed to bring about some pretty significant changes, or what will be in the long-run, but without being a one-man industrial revolution. A lot of his discoveries happen by chance, and are things that someone else has invented. That isn't to say that he is lacking in the brains department. He certainly had to be smart in order to be a magistrianos. Also, I love the stories as great adventure stories set in an alternate world.