ScienceFiction and Fantasy author. Formerly a professor of Byzantine history at UCLA, he now writes full time. His series include the "WorldWar?" tetrology of Alternate History, his "Krispos of Videssos" series set in an alternate Byzantium, and a number of other variations on the theme of AlternateHistory.
For some very horrible and funny puns, read "TheCaseOfTheToxicSpellDump?".