1633 by Eric Flint, David Weber
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Book Reviews of 1633
Book Review: A New World
Summary: 4 Stars
Having been sent back in time by the mysterious Ring of Fire nearly two years ago, the entire town of Grantville (formerly of West Virginia) continues to survive the Thirty Years War, smack in the middle of 17th century Germany. After the attacks of the previous year, they are not just surviving...they are attempting to build an entirely new world...one that is safe from the designs of petty kings and princes, conniving cardinals and earls. But they are not doing this alone, they have enlisted the surrounding countryside...making them citizens of the new United States. A United States which will be at war again all too soon.
This was my first ever attempt at reading a novel written by two authors...I have to admit, that everything being equal, I enjoyed it. The story itself was fluid and the characters were reasonably well-developed. I found some of the background information on 17th century Europe a bit tedious (I challenge anyone who doesn't have a ph.D in this stuff to keep track of all the kings and princes, dukes and earls!)
I'll admit something else. This story did get me curious enough about this era of western culture that I might just have to do some research of my own on it.
Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in quality alternate history as well as anyone interested in 17th century Europe. I look forward to picking up the sequels.
Book Review: A good book, BUT BEWARE OF THE 1634 SEQUELS.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the second book in the popular Ring of Fire(ROF) or Assiti Shards series. It continues all the remarkable features from the first book: Tense battles, political intrigue, historical characters and up-time versus down-time technology.
If you enjoyed 1632, then you will definitely enjoy this book.
The ROF series has become so popular that various anthologies have been published: The Ring of Fire, The Grantville Gazette Series.
Unfortunately, there are 2 volumes, so far, that follow 1633 and do little to forward the story set in 1632 and 1633(This is where the series takes a turn for the worst). These books are 1634: The Galileo Affair and 1634: The Ram Rebellion. Both are side stories, not sequels, and contain none of the epic scope or tense action set into the series. The "actual" sequel is 1643: Baltic War. I believe that the sequel to 1633 should be titled 1634 and should be left at that. It almost seems, maybe not intentional, that the reasoning for adding 1634 into the title for the other books was to trick fans into buying the books. I cannot wait for the "real" 1634 to come out.
If have any complaints or are interested in sharing your thoughts and ideas, go to the Baen Bar website.
Book Review: Another Great One
Summary: 5 Stars
This sequel to 1632 is a collaboration teaming David Weber with the series creator Eric Flint. The result is a knockout. Weber and Flint work together well and it shows here.
In the original, a modern West Virginia coal mining town finds itself transported to Germany in the middle of the 30 Years War. As is to be expected, modern technology makes a difference. The problem is that the "modern" level of technology is not sustainable indefinitely with the resources available in 1632. While the locals are scrambling to adapt pieces of modern technology to their own ends, the mining town is racing to "build down" to a level where they can sustain themselves. Having a multi front war to deal with at the same time just makes it harder.
The town of Grantville allies itself with the Swedish King Gustav Adolph and nobody likes that. Cardinal Richelieu, doesn't like it. The Hapsburgs in Germany don't like it. The Hapsburgs in Spain don't like it. Charles I of England doesn't like it. The only ones who do seem to like it are those living under the American system of justice. All of the adversaries are joining together to stamp out the interlopers while trying to get the upper hand themselves. The Americans send embassies to France, the Netherlands, England and Scotland. Political intrigue abounds and things get complicated. It is left for Flint and Weber to straighten out the mess. They do so though superior firepower.
Some of the characters from the first book are fleshed out and developed better. Others from the first are mere shadows while new characters are more fully developed. This makes sense. It looks like there is a whole new world for the authors' to play in for some time to come.
Whoopie!
Book Review: More a clash of cultures than bang bang boom boom
Summary: 4 Stars
To those of you who compline that there is too much politics and not enough action, I say go back to you comic books, that seems to be the level of reading you want.
This is a book about a clash of cultures and what leads up to the battles is just as important as the battles themselves. That to me is what makes the book intresting. Why events unfold as they do, what the limitations of one small town's worth of modern day technology is just as important the bang bang boom boom you want so badly.
This is clearly a transitional book that sets up the rest of the series, I am glad everything did not get magically ties up in the last ten pages. It gives me a chance to speculate what will happen next.
OK I admit this is more a commentary on some of the commentary I have read here, but if you have gotten down to this you already have a good idea story line.
Book Review: An enjoyable sequel, sometimes slow
Summary: 4 Stars
This book takes up after the earlier "1632" with Mike Stearns and the rest of Grantville struggling to build a new United States from the disaster of the 30 Years War.
It's more realistic than its predecessor; in particular the obvious problem of contagious disease which my review noted 1632 largely ignored is dealt with realistically. I enjoyed the story, but with the caveat that those reviewers who complained there is more talk than action are not really wrong. There is far less action than in 1632, with some clearly being held off for future volumes - much of this book follows two diplomatic missions, one caught in a siege of Amsterdam in the continuing war between Spain and the Dutch, and one trapped in genteel imprisonment in the Tower of London. Both situations are unresolved when the book ends, and, for that matter, not resolved in the published sequel "1634 - The Galileo Affair". There are plans to publish more volumes set in 1634 which will eventually resolve these cliffhangers.
Along with the diplomats, the book focusses on the creation of a new political entity, the Confederated Principalities of Europe, dominated by Grantville and Gustav Augustus (there really is more constitutional discussion than any reasonable person would want), and the formation and first combat of a new US Navy and Air Force. New characters are added; almost new is John Simpson, who was in 1632, but is so much more developed in this story as to be largely a new character. At least one prominent character from 1632 will be killed off before the end of the book.
The addition of David Weber as a co-author is welcome; in general, from what I've read of each of their output, Flint has more original and interesting ideas while Weber is a more skilled writer. Together, they make a good team.
The 16xx series is drawn together tightly, and wile you could read this book on its own, I wouldn't really recommend it.