1633 (Ring of Fire) [Mass Market Paperback]

Eric Flint (Author), David Weber (Author), James Baen (Editor)

Book Description

Release date: July 1, 2003 | Series: Ring of Fire

Key Selling Points- David Weber is the brightest star in the new century's science fiction firmament. His best-selling Honor Harrington novels top all the charts and his thousands of readers grab every book with his name on the cover.- Weber's recent War of Honor was a hardcover general best seller on the New York Times (#8), New York Daily News (#7), Wall Street Journal (#10), Publishers Weekly (#7), and online and chain booksellers' lists. His previous Honor Harrington novel, Ashes of Victory, was also a smash hit national best seller.- Eric Flint is a gifted new star of fantasy and science fiction. His alternate history novel, 1632, is a strong seller in mass market, with an 88% sellthrough, and strong critical praise, as from Publishers Weekly, which called it "gripping and expertly detailed." Everyone who read 1632 will be anxiously awaiting the arrival of this sequel in paperback.- Flint's collaboration with fantasy mega-star Mercedes Lackey and Dave Freer, The Shadow of the Lion, has made his name known to Lackey's large audience.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this worthy sequel to the well-received 1632 (2000), about a small West Virginia coal-mining town transported back in time to the Germany of the Thirty Years War, original author Flint and coauthor Weber resist the temptation to use modern technology to impose a Pax Americana, instead allowing their transportees just enough high tech to prevail if they can win allies like Sweden's King Gustavus Adolphus. Most of the current book deals with coalition building, as the visitors from the future attempt to remake their new world into one safe for democracy despite opposition from such as Cardinal Richelieu. History books from a now-hypothetical future and antibiotics prove to be more potent than their limited supply of modern firearms, but the most powerful weapons of the new "United States" are its ideas, which now infect the millions of Germans ground under the heels of their princes. Ordinary Germans develop a new faith in themselves and their future when the Americans show them that they can do anything, even fly. Flint, a former union organizer, is particularly skilled at showing how the new converts can make even the "old Americans" uncomfortable in their zeal to achieve the blessings of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," while Weber helps smooth out characters who were stereotypes in the first book. This is a thoughtful and exciting look at just how powerful are the ideals we sometimes take for granted, and is highly recommended as a reminder of how we can look to others when at our best. (Aug.) FYI: Weber is also the coauthor with Steve White of The Shiva Option (Forecasts, Jan. 28), while Flint is also the coauthor with David Drake of The Tyrant (Forecasts, Mar. 25).
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-A sequel to 1632 (Baen, 2000), this book continues the saga of a West Virginia town hurled by a mysterious time vortex into the middle of Germany during the Thirty Years' War. The residents, led by Mike Stearns and his 17th-century wife Rebecca, attempt to introduce modern American values like freedom of speech to the people. The story recounts their attempts to build an air force (with biplanes powered by automobile motors) and a navy (which includes a few speedboats that happened to have been in town) to challenge the machinations of Cardinal Richelieu and the armed forces of France, Spain, and England, but the end result has as much to do with individual heroism as technology. Cleanly written, with an enormous cast of interesting characters, this novel is panoramic in scope. The contrast between the societies of Grantville and Europe allows the authors to examine the virtues of American values and show how the Bill of Rights, though closer to their time than ours, is the most revolutionary difference between the two societies. The ways in which modern knowledge is used without a technological base are fascinating and well researched, as is the real historical information that helps create the background world. Throughout, there is constant action and the hint of danger to characters readers care about.
Paul Brink, Fairfax County Public Library System, VA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 688 pages
• Publisher: Baen; paperback / softback edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743471555
• ISBN-13: 978-0743471558
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.5 x 6.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,576 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 76 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very fun Alternate History! July 25, 2002

By Ryk E. Spoor VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

1632 was compared by many (including myself) to S.M. Stirling's "Island in the Sea of Time". They certainly share some similarities -- small part of the USA dropped mysteriously back in time and has to find a way to deal with the problems caused thereby -- but other than that and the "rebuild civilization" general idea that follows from the premise, they're not much alike.

1632, and now 1633, are FUN books. "Island" hammered away at you with the tough details, but Eric Flint instead gives us a more engaging cast of characters overall and less vicious villains.
In fact, even the villains are painted in such a way as to give one sympathy for them on occasion.

One major complaint about 1632 was the character Simpson, a former CEO, who was a foil for the main character and appeared only in two chapters. Eric Flint has told me (and others) that Simpson was a convenience to get things moving, nothing more, and that's why he ended up looking like cardboard. The book was not intended to be a series originally, but it did so well that it would have been foolish to NOT make it a series.

Simpson-the-foil is gone, replaced by a still-obstreperous and uptight, but no-longer-cardboard character who has invaluable skills to the new "United States" that's trying to survive in the war-riddled Europe of 1633. Simpson can still be more annoying than many of the villains, which I actually count as a good thing; it's nice to make the point that someone can be on your side and still not be as nice a PERSON as some of the people who oppose you.

The characterization of Richelieu, the Cardinal who was the true Power in France at the time, is frightening. He is that (thankfully) rare sort, a man of great intellect and wide education who has charisma, empathy, warmth... and an unswervable, Machiavellian determination to achieve his goals. He regrets the loss, yet will order an execution in a heartbeat. While there are certainly other opponents, Richelieu is by far the most formidable single enemy the Americans of Grantville and their allies face.

It's true that a great deal of time is spent with the various factions' reaction to the "other" histories, but I find this more interesting than boring, overall. What's interesting about it is that the various people are reacting TO the histories as PROPHECY -- "Lo, and this shall come to pass if..." -- and trying to "fight the future" (to borrow a quote) by taking preemptive action against it. One has to wonder, though, when they'll realize that the very EXISTENCE of Grantville already changed dynamics sufficiently that their history books were pretty much useless. After this book, they might as well chuck the history books except for whatever strategic and so on material they contain -- there won't be much left to worry about in them.

I won't give many spoilers here -- this is a brand-new book -- but I will say that I find the writing easy and engaging, the main characters fun to follow, and the action enjoyable, while the logic of the reconstruction doesn't overly strain my suspension of disbelief. Buy this one, it's well worth the price.

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read, With One Flaw August 25, 2002

By John G. Gleeson Sr.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Almost by reflex, I would give David Weber a 5 star on every book he has written; I have read all of them and enjoyed all of them, especially his Honor Harrington series. I read and enjoyed the previous book in this series, "1632", and although I didn't review it, I had the same reservation. But let's talk about the "good stuff" first: Flint and Weber have as the device to create their "world" of the 17th Century, a mysterious event that sends a section of West Virginia back in time, to the era of The Thirty Years War. It was a vicious time of intense religious and political conflict which seriously depopulated Central Europe. The conflict between modern man and 17th Century civilization comes off superbly, and the authors have captured the era almost perfectly. While military action occurs, this book is more than traditional military sci-fi, and as such, it is as near great work of fiction, as is "1632", and if you decide, as I hope you do, to try this book, you should read "1632" first. This is a stand alone book, to be sure, but it is a continuation of the earlier work in which nearly all of the characters in "1633" first appear. Which leads me to my only reservation about these books. Eric Flint's bio tells us that he is a labor organizer, and his belief in the superiority of the blue collar guy and his disdain for the "suits" becomes almost preachy. And ,please don't e-mail me as anti-labor; I ain't. I just don't like to have a ripping good yarn interrupted by statements about the writer's socio-political beliefs. I don't like it when Tom Clancy does it and I don't like it when Flint does it; it disrupts the story and contributes nothing to the plot (By the way, I enjoy e-mail from folks who agree or disagree with a review; I just want to be clear on this criticism). Despite my single reservation about these books, they still represent a very high level of adventure fiction, and I look forward to "1634".

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars One small step for the series, one giant leap Weber & Flint August 7, 2002

By Gregory A Donahue

Format:Hardcover

If you've read 1632, and loved the behind the scenes politics, social ramifications, and down right dirty moves pulled by Mike Stearns and the rest of Grantville, then grab 1633 and hang on!

If the action, romance and down right hokey fun of 1632 captured your heart, then buy a highlighter with 1633, and make sure you highlight those parts, they don't appear near as often in this sequel.

I'll start with the cons and finish with the pros. There are several plot lines within the book that are advanced enough that you care about them, but left hanging at the end. One of 1632's most memorable characters: Julie Sims (Mackay, 'currently') is sent to Scotland, and essentially left there. Harry Lefferts and Gerd Fuhrmann (two characters that I'm now emotionally attached to) promise to turn some of Richelieu's minions into the whipping boys they are, but it remains a promise for another book as their mission is left hanging by the last page. There are some more examples of this in the book, and the end effect is an aborted sense of 'closure' when the reading is done.

Now for the pros: There is much that happens in 1633 that will cause you to pause, smile and just revel in its genius. (now) Admiral Simpson is, perhaps, one of the most compelling characters of the entire book. He and his wife fall into a role that only they can pull off, and is ultimately necessary for the sake of Grantville and the CPE. Additional characters are introduced that will make you stand up and cheer for them during their more challenging moments. ...and the horse trading...man, is there some horse trading going on.

Pick up 1633, keep in mind it is NOT Part 2 of 2, and enjoy. There are clear faults in the story, most of which manifest themselves when you realize you've finish. The faults won't, however, ruin what's golden in the book. Eric Flint has an extensive afterword then I highly recommend reading. Especially since it'll offer you info on how to nag him and David Weber into getting the next 16-- series book in stores...which you'll be wanting, I promise, for both the good and bad reasons I mentioned above.