I believe that Harry Turtledove wrote this, as he has several other historical novels. I don't think it got the sales that such a good book deserves. It's the second book dealing with the affairs of a pair of small time aegean merchants as they try to make a living in the generation after Alexander of Macedon. I like his use of available materials to create a period little known by the contemporary audience. sadly it seems that Hellenistic adventure has little popular appeal. Someone said that the historical novelist does best financially by only writing about well-known historical periods. Turtle dove (-taub) might have done better by starting the audience out with these characters and their experience with the great conqueror and then, by having them survive Alexander, leading us into this period that I also find fascinating. They are certainly worth reading. and I look forward to reading the remaining pair, "The Sacred Land", and "Owls to Athens". ( )