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thinde's review
5.0
"1632" is one of my favorite books to re-read. It may not be as complex as later novels in the series but it hits the mark with a great deal of force. This book could be used in a writer's masterclass to illustrate character development, emotionally impactful prose and how to string set-pieces together to create a driven plot.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:-
Alternate history ideas can be as subtle as one man making a different decision sometime in the past. "1632" is a little more dramatic. An entire mining town in West Virginia is sucked back in time and dropped in Northern Germany during a time of war, disease, and starvation. There are similarities between this book and the Nantucket series written by S M Stirling but "1632" is more in the adventure mold.
The narrative tends to focus on Mike Stearns, the mine's union leader, who seems to have more of what their new situation needs than most. Their survival hinges on making friends and allies as fast as possible.
There is a strong theme of American pride in this book. I'm not American so it might have been irritating. In the end, it comes across more as pride in modern man's culture, its achievements and the fiber of its people. Flint takes a long look at the moral differences that 450 years have made, just as much as he covers the technology gap. The locals take one look at these Americans, their confidence and their sense of freedom, and assume they are all aristocrats. For only princes could live a life without fear. It is this human element, that makes the novel so good.
As the series continues it becomes bogged down in the minutia of the setting and the action takes a back seat. Regardless, book one is a must-read.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:-
Alternate history ideas can be as subtle as one man making a different decision sometime in the past. "1632" is a little more dramatic. An entire mining town in West Virginia is sucked back in time and dropped in Northern Germany during a time of war, disease, and starvation. There are similarities between this book and the Nantucket series written by S M Stirling but "1632" is more in the adventure mold.
The narrative tends to focus on Mike Stearns, the mine's union leader, who seems to have more of what their new situation needs than most.
Spoiler
He reluctantly takes the reigns of a red-neck train that's on a collision course with the Holy Catholic Spanish army, amongst others. But the town has to take a few steps back in time themselves before they find a sustainable level of technology. In the meantime, some of their tricks are leaking to the enemy.There is a strong theme of American pride in this book. I'm not American so it might have been irritating. In the end, it comes across more as pride in modern man's culture, its achievements and the fiber of its people. Flint takes a long look at the moral differences that 450 years have made, just as much as he covers the technology gap. The locals take one look at these Americans, their confidence and their sense of freedom, and assume they are all aristocrats. For only princes could live a life without fear. It is this human element, that makes the novel so good.
As the series continues it becomes bogged down in the minutia of the setting and the action takes a back seat. Regardless, book one is a must-read.
julieawallace's review
4.0
Have just gobbled up this time-travel novel. I'm not sure if I'll read through the series as -honestly- the blood and guts gets tiring. Still, an interesting concept, well-developed characters, historical accuracy, and darned fun read.
nicnactack's review
3.0
Started out on top, i mean as a Swede it's hard not not love the fact that Gustav II Adolf plays a important role in 1632.
But after a time the book turns into a tiersome explanation of weapons and in a good american way the solution and aswer to a strange situation is: WAR
But after a time the book turns into a tiersome explanation of weapons and in a good american way the solution and aswer to a strange situation is: WAR
arekasadara's review
4.0
Normally, the story of a bunch of Americans imposing their democratic values and love of guns on other people would bug me a lot. However, 1632 is so much fun I didn't even mind.
Deducting a star for too many drawn-out battle scenes.
First read April 21-23, 2015
Deducting a star for too many drawn-out battle scenes.
First read April 21-23, 2015
vaderetro's review
1.0
By God, this book made me write my first review ever here on Goodreads.
They tell that a good book will make you to want to live in it. To meet the heroes in flesh and bones. To laugh and cry with them.
Well, they are DEADLY wrong. A really terrible book like this one achieves the same. Only that you are crying in anguish and laughing at the author. Like a madman. Like a madman in awful pain.
And the characters....the characters really suck (yes, big time) you into the clumsily built and unresearched world. One really wants to be there. In truth, one NEEDS to be there. Because one wants to vanish each one and very last of them. Yes, the good, the bad, the ugly and every other stereotypical bastard one can find in this "novel".
They tell that a good book will make you to want to live in it. To meet the heroes in flesh and bones. To laugh and cry with them.
Well, they are DEADLY wrong. A really terrible book like this one achieves the same. Only that you are crying in anguish and laughing at the author. Like a madman. Like a madman in awful pain.
And the characters....the characters really suck (yes, big time) you into the clumsily built and unresearched world. One really wants to be there. In truth, one NEEDS to be there. Because one wants to vanish each one and very last of them. Yes, the good, the bad, the ugly and every other stereotypical bastard one can find in this "novel".
tarana's review
5.0
Despite some unlikely issues, I thought this was a great book. Eric Flint also did a good job. I'm looking forward to reading another in this series.
amyiw's review
5.0
4 1/2
I loved this on my first read.
This is a reread for me more than 10 years after the first read. I have it marked as Jan 2011 but since I really didn't keep track with GR until Sept of the same year, it could be anywhere within 2 years of September 2011.
So on second read, I really liked it a lot but felt the drag of the history less in the middle that took about 15% of the book, it was the battle in 1631 of Gustav on on of the battle fields against Tilli. Well it droned and wasn't needed for the information we get. I think the temperament of both the King of Sweden and of Tillie could have been conveyed in about 10-20 pages instead we get 90-100 and it is a history lesson, boring. I think Flint was trying to get the feel of battle as well but it reads more like a history book retelling. Since we get tidbits of info dumping history points here and there, I would have appreciated it much more in the same way and less of the battle scene, especially since it didn't involved any of our Grantville characters. So if I were rating this now, I would give it a 4 1/2 and for the great characters and storyline but bump down for the low angst and trauma to the people dealing with being cut off from 21st century luxuries. They just take it like that is the new way and move on. Doubt that it would be that easy but it was a good story anyway.
So a WV town gets thrown back in time to 1632 and immediately starts to encounter the people and soldiers of the 30 year war. Well the town has way superior fire power but numbers are against them. They have to quickly decide, are they going to be insular in this new world and get only what they need from the outside or try to forge a new way of life on to the new world and their little slice located in the middle of old Germany. Well they decide on the former and now need a leaders to get them the resources they need to welcome refugees and make the foods and material to live a new way of life.
Immediately, Grantville finds itself saviors and in the middle of skirmishes. Its new leader finds a woman and father traveling to help the King of Sweden. The woman is well educated in the politics and languages of the time. Along with her looks, Mike, the new leader of Grantville is smitten and will take all the help from the new people that he can get. The new constitution is being written and the new bill of rights taught to the new members of Grantville. We have the Scotsman mercenary sworn to the Swedish King, who falls for the cheerleader sharp shooter, Julie, who was hoping to be a biathlon contender with skiing and shooting in the olympics. Then there is the High School graduate nerds, one being Jeff, who ride their dirt bike and also know how to shoot. He is taken with a woman, Gretchen, who saves her family during one battle with a marauding army. She has been traveling with the army as the concubine of its heavy handed rapist leader and is happy and unbelieving of the new world she finds herself in. She and Jeff are thrown together and Jeff strikes his advantage. This was one of the best storylines. Then there was the doc and the teacher, and older couple. The doctor was only in Grantville for a wedding and ended up a resident. They definitely can use all the medical expertise they can get.
Then finally there is Mike and Rebecca, she finally comes into her own as an intelligent and well educated woman and Mike as the leaders gets a lot of time to press his suit, something she does not mind in the least, with maybe only a little worry about the thoughts for how her family will react.
So reread was fun and I'll now go on to the next to see if I'll read on in the series or not. 2021
I loved this on my first read.
This is a reread for me more than 10 years after the first read. I have it marked as Jan 2011 but since I really didn't keep track with GR until Sept of the same year, it could be anywhere within 2 years of September 2011.
So on second read, I really liked it a lot but felt the drag of the history less in the middle that took about 15% of the book, it was the battle in 1631 of Gustav on on of the battle fields against Tilli. Well it droned and wasn't needed for the information we get. I think the temperament of both the King of Sweden and of Tillie could have been conveyed in about 10-20 pages instead we get 90-100 and it is a history lesson, boring. I think Flint was trying to get the feel of battle as well but it reads more like a history book retelling. Since we get tidbits of info dumping history points here and there, I would have appreciated it much more in the same way and less of the battle scene, especially since it didn't involved any of our Grantville characters. So if I were rating this now, I would give it a 4 1/2 and for the great characters and storyline but bump down for the low angst and trauma to the people dealing with being cut off from 21st century luxuries. They just take it like that is the new way and move on. Doubt that it would be that easy but it was a good story anyway.
So a WV town gets thrown back in time to 1632 and immediately starts to encounter the people and soldiers of the 30 year war. Well the town has way superior fire power but numbers are against them. They have to quickly decide, are they going to be insular in this new world and get only what they need from the outside or try to forge a new way of life on to the new world and their little slice located in the middle of old Germany. Well they decide on the former and now need a leaders to get them the resources they need to welcome refugees and make the foods and material to live a new way of life.
Immediately, Grantville finds itself saviors and in the middle of skirmishes. Its new leader finds a woman and father traveling to help the King of Sweden. The woman is well educated in the politics and languages of the time. Along with her looks, Mike, the new leader of Grantville is smitten and will take all the help from the new people that he can get. The new constitution is being written and the new bill of rights taught to the new members of Grantville. We have the Scotsman mercenary sworn to the Swedish King, who falls for the cheerleader sharp shooter, Julie, who was hoping to be a biathlon contender with skiing and shooting in the olympics. Then there is the High School graduate nerds, one being Jeff, who ride their dirt bike and also know how to shoot. He is taken with a woman, Gretchen, who saves her family during one battle with a marauding army. She has been traveling with the army as the concubine of its heavy handed rapist leader and is happy and unbelieving of the new world she finds herself in. She and Jeff are thrown together and Jeff strikes his advantage. This was one of the best storylines. Then there was the doc and the teacher, and older couple. The doctor was only in Grantville for a wedding and ended up a resident. They definitely can use all the medical expertise they can get.
Then finally there is Mike and Rebecca, she finally comes into her own as an intelligent and well educated woman and Mike as the leaders gets a lot of time to press his suit, something she does not mind in the least, with maybe only a little worry about the thoughts for how her family will react.
So reread was fun and I'll now go on to the next to see if I'll read on in the series or not. 2021
scamp1234's review
adventurous
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ubalstecha's review
4.0
A lot of people want to live in the past, enchanted by the romance. A lot of them have written fanciful, romantic stories about travelling back in time. 1632 is not one of these.
A small town in West Virginia has been transported back in time to 1632 (hence the title) due to a side effect of an alien technology. They are deposited into the middle of the Thirty Years War in the German province of Thuringia.
Exploring their new environment, some of the townsfolk stumble across war atrocities in the making. Rescuing some of the local peasants, the Americans quickly realize that they need to band together if they have a hope of surviving. They also realize that their current level of technology is not sustainable, that they have to "gear down" as it were.
Author Eric Flint has struck a perfect balance between historicity and fiction. There are overwrought moments of American patriotism and pride, but there are also uniquely human moments that make this alternate past seem so real and engaging. Worth picking up.
A small town in West Virginia has been transported back in time to 1632 (hence the title) due to a side effect of an alien technology. They are deposited into the middle of the Thirty Years War in the German province of Thuringia.
Exploring their new environment, some of the townsfolk stumble across war atrocities in the making. Rescuing some of the local peasants, the Americans quickly realize that they need to band together if they have a hope of surviving. They also realize that their current level of technology is not sustainable, that they have to "gear down" as it were.
Author Eric Flint has struck a perfect balance between historicity and fiction. There are overwrought moments of American patriotism and pride, but there are also uniquely human moments that make this alternate past seem so real and engaging. Worth picking up.
mulveyr's review
1.0
I liked the premise. I made it through the first 30 pages before deciding I'd had enough. Why? The author's solution to just about any problem seems to be "Let's just shoot it!" That's well and fine in some genres, but I expect a little more from a decent science fiction/fantasy novel.