Congdon & Weed 1987 hardcover [probable 1st printing but no statement to that effect.] Cover by J. K. Potter, 246 pages, $15.95 cover price. (Size is 6-1/4" by 9-1/4") Condition is Fine in a Fine (-) dustjacket: book is tight and square, minor bumping at bottom of spine. Age tanning is mild and uniform but noticeable - the publisher did not use a high quality paper (you may not be able to do better.) No marks, stamps or writing - a clean copy that looks new/unread, with a little shelfwear. DJ is unclipped with no tears, and light rubbing wear to back cover. There is a book-club edition of this, but this is the real publisher's edition (larger in size) - and much, much rarer.

A collection of related stories by Harry Turtledove: Agent of Byzantium. These are the "Basil Argyros" novelets, set in a world where the Byzantine Empire did not fall - a world in which Mohammed became a Christian archbishop and was canonized as St. Mouamet. Basil Argyros is a member of the magistrianoi - the elite corps of imperial agents who carry out the complex management of the huge empire. He has a tendency to cause scientific innovations against both his belief and intentions. Turtledove knows his history and science very well, and thus is able to extrapolate other ways that important discoveries could have been made - like the first use of telescopes, gunpowder, and distilled spirits.

These first appeared "in somewhat different form" in Amazing and Isaac Asimov's from 1985 to 1987. (original titles of the 6 tales follow in parentheses.)

(Intoduction by Isaac Asimov)
(Preface by Harry Turtledove)
Etos Kosmou 6814 ("The Eyes of Argos")
Etos Kosmou 6816 ("Strange Eruptions")
Etos Kosmou 6824 ("Unholy Trinity")
Etos Kosmou 6825 ("Archetypes")
Etos Kosmou 6826 ("Images")
Etos Kosmou 6829 ("Superwine")