Eddie Cantrell, now married to the king of Denmark’s daughter, is sent by Admiral Simpson to the Caribbean to secure access to the most valuable commodity on that continent—not the gold and silver which the Spanish treasure, but the oil which up‑time machines and industry need. The admiral has also provided Eddie’s small task force with the new steam‑powered frigates that have just come out of the navy’s shipyards.
Even with the frigates, a giant obstacle stands in his way: the Gulf‑girdling Spanish presence in the New World. So a diversion is needed, carried out by an up‑time car mechanic and a down‑time mercenary colonel who also happens to be the last earl of Ireland. Their mission: grab the oil fields on Trinidad, and so distract the attention of Spain’s New World governors.
While the Spanish galleons and troops head for Trinidad, Commander Cantrell’s smallest and fastest steam sloop will make a run to the Louisiana coast. There, her crew will wind their way up the bayous to the real New World prize: the Jennings Oil Field.
But Cantrell’s plans could be wrecked in a multitude of ways. He faces often‑hostile natives, rambunctious Dutch ship captains, allied colonies on the brink of starvation, and vicious social infighting that can barely be contained by his capable and passionate new wife. When the galleons finally come out in force to engage his small flotilla, Eddie will discover that the Spanish aren’t the only enemies who will be coming against him in a fateful Caribbean show‑down.
Listen to the authors discuss the book here on the Baen Free Radio Hour.
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Good story, sloppy copy editing
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Product Review
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Product ReviewThe new character development is a bit on the slow and shallow side, but the suspense kept through the story makes the few slow passages more than bearable. Humbly appreciative for another good read in this series.
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Product ReviewThis is what the 1630's series is all about, a wild fun ride through alternate history that uses real historical figures along with the residents of Grantville and sets up a story that just flies along.
I have to say that this book is a a welcome chapter in what has fast become an going stale series of trivial soap opera/fan fiction stories that focus on mundane & inane topics. If the series is to thrive then more novels like this need to come out and less of the pulp trash that somehow gets published in this series.Posted on
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Product ReviewThis Series captures the imagination about the complexities of life several hundred years ago in situations that history books only gloss over and the possibility of up-time influences and how they might create further paradoxes.
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Product ReviewWell thought out, the battles were well scripted, the politics were great...
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A really good novelThis is one of my favorites of the continuation of the series. Unlike the review by David, I don't consider the character development to be shallow. I think this book gets back to the narrative that made the original books so enjoyable. I hope they do a follow up on this time line.
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Product ReviewGreat read. Now I know more of the Caribbean geography than ever before. This story arc opens up many possibilities for new characters (and old) to become important players in the Ring of Fire universe.
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Product ReviewI really enjoyed the book.
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Product ReviewThe two writers work a fine story,
action and ideas, POV that was intresting and not overdone.Posted on
