1633 by Eric Flint, David Weber
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Book Reviews of 1633
Book Review: Essential reading (in the series)
Summary: 3 Stars
If you are hooked on what is now a series following on the deserved success of "1632," then you absolutely have to read this big book in order to know "why" the rest of this alternate history will happen, due to all the pre-positioning of characters and plot lines that goes on here (otherwise known as "loose ends"). If not yet hooked, then read Flint's remarkable "1632" first, or don't accept the preposterous premise at all. The premise here is the exact inverse of the Spanish conquest of the Americas. Instead, a small coterie of free Americans is conquering old Europe, how ironic (and how timely). This volume of the interesting saga is heavy on political and economic considerations for the nascent republic, industrial fiction in fact, for the first two-thirds of the text. This is not an easy genre in which to entertain readers, and is hard going for long stretches, aggravated by the authors' certainly workmanlike but not scintillating prose and dialogues. Nor is anything inconvenient or tense allowed: no spies, no infiltrators, no raids, no disloyalty. There is much more emphasis on talking about and preparation for the alternate future than present action (back in a divergent 17th century). More charitably, it is a thoughtful novel. At base is the question, how can democracy emerge from ignorance. (Due to the structure of the novels the authors cannot discuss the historical question of why it only emerged a century later and in a country far, far away with American Indian models). American union democracy from-out-of-time continues to corrode the local aristocratic ways, even among enemies, who have now read selected chapters of its future history (what would have been as WE the reader know it,), a deliciously paradoxical literary conceit incorporated by the authors. The saga increasingly will become less intriguing alternate "history" than pure SF war fiction as it develops, thus changing its audience. I recommend you wait for the paperback of this particular novel (but I'll have a hard time taking my own advice when the next expensive novel is first published).
Book Review: Much less than it appears.
Summary: 3 Stars
If you're looking for a continuation of the well written, fast paced 1632, you won't find it here. Weber and Flint wrote 1633 like they are being paid by the word. The entire 600 page book could have been done in about 50 pages if all the history monologs and biographies were condensed. If you're looking for more of the exploits of Julie Mackay, you won't find it here either. She's been sent to Scotland and plays essentially no role in the book. Rebecca, Jeff and Gretchen are stranded in Amsterdam. Melissa, Rita and Tom are stuck in the Tower of London (along with Cromwell) and don't do much either. And in the afterword we find that four more books are planned. One compliment I will pay is that I do like the fact that the history of this universe is diverging from that of our own.
Otherwise, I hope that the following books have considerably more substance than this one does.
Book Review: Fascinating
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm surprised that I am the first person to review this book. As the above description says, this is the second in a series of books dealing with a West Virginia town transported in time and space to Germany in the year 1632. It's not really a historical alternate history, something to take seriously, but it is fun to read, and the characters are well-defined. Even if you didn't like the first book in the series, 1632, I would recommend that you read this one, as I thought in this one the characters' motivations were much better defined. The only issue I have with it is the political manuvering can get a little complex and difficult to understand, and is a little too deep for something thats supposed to be fun to read.Book Review: Labor Unions go back in time to save the world
Summary: 2 Stars
I really loved 1632. So much so, that I couldn't wait for the sequel, 1633, to be released in paperback.1633 really disappoints. Where 1632 was fast paced, interestingly detailing the quandry of modern day citizens being thrust back into another time. 1633 has about 10 pages of action, and several hundred pages of political and social preaching. Its' basic premise boils down to...what a much better world 1633 would be if our Labor Union movement could have run things. The politics of the writers could not, it seems, be contained, and just overwhelm any other aspect of the interesting dilemma the characters find themeselves in. I guess if your in agreement with the politics of the writers, you may enjoy the book for what it does try to portray. I guess sci-fi does include political speculation from both the left and right sides...it just didn't appeal to me in this book.
Of course, I'm not a lover of the modern day Labor movement, so this book really doesn't speak to me (I lump the modern day labor movement with politicians and lawyers, as being some of the most corrupt people around). I'm just a sci-fi fan, who loves interesting speculation and scenarios. 1632 really was fun...1633 was a chore to read. If I want to discuss Labor Unions and all the wonderful things they provide us...I'll give the Teamsters/AFL-CIO a call.
WARNING: Boring Political talk.
I don't understand the appeal the left has with "Squares." The former USSR had "Red" square...Communist China has "Tianamin" (sp?) square...and near the end of this book, our hero proclaims "the rulers can have the streets, but we now own this Square," complete with an obligatory statue of a "workers hero." Hell, this book even has "Gretchen", a "larger than life" blonde, braided haired, nordic woman, who is leading the labor movement. The type of woman, sickle in one hand, rifle in the other...that the former USSR and German governments tried to portray as the ultimate ideal for womanhood. I know, I may have been over-reacting, but thats the feel I had for her and the book in general. The typical American values of "individual" liberty and freedoms are not really mentioned or supported at all. The authors look at all production and business from a "workers" veiwpoint and how it supports the state.
If this sounds like political rambling...well, I guess it is. It's the response the book seemed to pull from me. If your not a political type of person, you may be able to ignore it, or not even see it at all. But, the author definetely is making a political statement.
If you like political sci-fi, from a leftist point of view...coupled with good historical political personalities from that time...you may like this book. Being an Evil Right Wing Zealot Business owner myself, uh...I don't think I am the target audience :)
SouthernFried
Book Review: Strong follow-up to 1632--West VA coal miners in 30 year war
Summary: 4 Stars
The West Virginia natives transplanted into the 30 years war in the 1600s have weathered the first storm, but now the Cardinal Richelieu has decided to put his own weight, and that of France behind the Hapsburg monarchies that wish to stomp out the republican threat that ex-union boss and current United States President Mike Stearns represents. The wealth of France and the armed might of Spain make the military genius of Augustus Adolphus and the limited technology possessed by the Americans seem small indeed. Worse, Richelieu. the Spanish, and Charles of England have gotten their hands on American history books. They know the consequences of their mistakes and are resolved not to make them. Authors Eric Flint and David Weber personalize this alternative history telling the stories of Stearns, of his political opponent and now Admiral Simpson, of Stearns' wife and sister as each battles to transform the brutal history of our own world and to survive the reaction. The story flips from central Germany to the courts of Paris to the Tower of London to the Amsterdam of Rembrant and the Prince of Orange.
Although much of their 21st century technology is depleted, Stearns and his United States (now largely made up of Germans) are gradually rebuilding an appropriate technology base. They have had the advantage of tolerance, accepting help from Jews, Catholics, and Protestants when each is an oppressed group somewhere, and of their libraries. Yet tolerance is one lesson that Richelieu is quick to learn. He won't force his enemies to unite--rather, he will welcome them with open arms--if doing so allows him to eliminate the Swedish threat and carve out a place for his beloved France.
So much for the plot--how did it work. 1633 spent way too much time (perhaps the first 200 pages in the hardback version) setting the stage and managing the transition from the single novel 1632 to the larger series that is to follow. Frankly, some of this was grim reading with characters lecturing one another at great length about history, politics, modern medicine, and the importance of not being biggotted. Once Flint and Weber finally got through this stage setting, however, the novel definitely took shape. Even more so than in 1632, Fint and Weber personalized the battles and made the reader feel the sacrifices that the Americans and their German friends were making. Like any 'middle book' in a series, 1633 left many ends unraveled and opened a number of plot devices that are almost certainly intended for use in future novels. Still, the 400 pages were fast reading and emotionally compelling.