If the theme bothers you, I'd instead try Flint's previous Belisarius series, which similarly has introduction of anachronistic tech as one of its themes in th

If the theme bothers you, I'd instead try Flint's previous Belisarius series, which similarly has introduction of anachronistic tech as one of its themes in the context the Eastern Roman Empire in the era of Justinian the Great. It's not deep but it is fun and frankly, I thought it was much better written than the 1632 series, which IMO was rather unmemorable.