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A review by alex_ellermann
1633 by David Weber, Eric Flint
4.0
The hardest thing about recommending the 'Ring of Fire' series, of which this title is a part, is getting someone to keep listening after hearing the premise. "Ok, so through an alien's cosmic magic trick gone wrong - just go with it - an entire West Virginia coal-mining town - not just the people, the whole town - is transported to Franconia, a German statelet roughly 150 miles northeast of Frankfurt, smack in the middle of the 30 Years' War. In 1632, in fact, which happens to be the title of the first book. No, wait, stay with me. Here's the hook: while the premise is preposterous, the writers - the series is a collective effort - take it deadly seriously. What would the ramifications really be if a bunch of modern West Virginians, modern rifles and pickup trucks and political/religious ideology and variable knowledge of European history and all, were dropped into the middle of one of Europe's most intractable conflicts? Who'd ally with them? Who'd declare war? What effect would they have on science, on the European and global economy, on philosophy and theology and the list goes on?"
"Ok. Fine. I get it. Enjoy your book club selection about unhappy rich people."
But here's the thing: I'm three volumes into this series, and it's gooood. The history is solidly researched. The speculation (again, once the reader gets past the preposterous premise) is reasonable. The characters are well-drawn, the plot engrossing, and the whole thing as good a time as you're going to find in the Preposterous section of your local historical science fiction bookstore. In other words, this stuff is right up my alley.
This particular book is a place-setter, mostly spending its time moving the pieces into position for its direct sequel, "1634: The Baltic War." Yes, there's some action near the end, but "1633" is meant for the reader who's already invested in the characters and the ongoing storylines. Still, I like the characters and I'm intrigued by the storylines. I'm in for the long haul, and I look forward to reading the next volume.
"Ok. Fine. I get it. Enjoy your book club selection about unhappy rich people."
But here's the thing: I'm three volumes into this series, and it's gooood. The history is solidly researched. The speculation (again, once the reader gets past the preposterous premise) is reasonable. The characters are well-drawn, the plot engrossing, and the whole thing as good a time as you're going to find in the Preposterous section of your local historical science fiction bookstore. In other words, this stuff is right up my alley.
This particular book is a place-setter, mostly spending its time moving the pieces into position for its direct sequel, "1634: The Baltic War." Yes, there's some action near the end, but "1633" is meant for the reader who's already invested in the characters and the ongoing storylines. Still, I like the characters and I'm intrigued by the storylines. I'm in for the long haul, and I look forward to reading the next volume.