For the region that gives its name to the novel, see Thousand Cities. The Thousand Cities (Del Rey, 1997) is the third volume of The Time of Troubles series, which is set in Harry Turtledove's Videssos world. Abivard has been forced to abandon the conquests he made in the westlands of the Empire of Videssos due to one of Sharbaraz's policies that set Vaspurakan aflame in rebellion. He has slowly been losing faith in his sovereign, who has gone 'soft' in his eyes and suspects of him wanting the throne for himself.