A review by crafalsk264
1632 by Eric Flint

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

While everyone is enjoying themselves at a wedding reception in a small town in West Virginia, a horrendous sound, blazing light, ripping of the earth is followed by a series of traffic accidents, injuries and panic. When the dust settles, the residents of Grantville find that they have been been moved from the year 2000 and set down in 1632 Germany. I have several alternate histories that I have enjoyed and I will be adding this series to it. This book follows the Grantville residents after they discover that they now live in 1632 and begin adjust their daily lives to take into that all they have is all there is. The small town mostly made up of miners, farmers, power plant employees, teachers, doctor, nurses, merchants and others in your typical small town.

The book is told  in parallel storylines. In addition to the Grantville story, there is the Sweden-German storyline, the country’s are involved in the Baltic Wars. The residents of Grantville have started to prepare for the long haul. They have elected a temporary governing council and established a constitutional committee to draft a new constitution. Since they are most familiar with the U.S. constitution, the one for the United States of Europe looks a lot like it. The sweeping number of characters and the amazing (too amazing?) skills of some of the residents in different specialties (a 17 year old sharpshooter/ cheerleader) are dazzling. So there is a substantial amount of disbelief needed to enjoy the story. However it is an entertaining book. I have to admit that I didn’t particularly like the Swedish/German war. I’m afraid I skimmed through those sections to get back to the Grantville story.