Tim Powers managed to do what a number of other noted luminaries in scifi/fantasy have failed to do-- written a novel featuring time travel that wasn't annoying. I think that this is because he doesn't waste a lot of time worrying about the science of it, or the potential for paradox, he just enjoys the ride (and so does the reader).A failed biographer gets his chance of a lifetime and gets a lot more than he bargained for-- featuring avenging maidens, body-switching murderers, beggar lords, and Egyptian gods. Somewhat lighter than other Tim Powers books (I'm unlikely to reread, I fear) but still very entertaining and astonishingly well-written.