The latest entry in the multiple New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire series created by Eric Flint. After carving a free state for itself in war-torn 17th century Europe, citizens of the modern town of Grantville, West Virginia go on a quest for the makings of medicines that have yet to be invented in 17th century Europe.
The United States of Europe, the new nation formed by an alliance between the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus and the West Virginians hurled back in time by a cosmic accident—the Ring of Fire—is beset by enemies on all sides. The U.S.E. needs a reliable source of opiates for those wounded in action, as well as other goods not available in Europe. The Prime Minister of the U.S.E., Mike Stearns, sends a mission to the Mughal Empire of India with the aim of securing a trade deal with the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan.
The mission consists of a mixed group of up-timers and down-timers, including paramedics, a squad of soldiers with railroad-building experience, a spy and a pair of swindlers. On reaching India the mission finds a grieving emperor obsessed with building the Taj Mahal, harem-bound princesses, warrior princes, and an Afghan adventurer embroiled in the many plots of the Mughal court.
The emperor’s sons are plotting against each other and war is brewing with the newly risen Sikh faith. But in the midst of these intrigues, the U.S.E. mission finds a ally: the brilliant and beautiful Jahanara Begum, the eldest daughter of Shah Jahan. She is the mistress of her father's harem and a power in her own right, who wishes to learn more of these women who are free in a way she can scarcely comprehend.
When the Emperor learns of what befalls his empire and children in the time that was, he makes every effort to change their fate. But emperors, princesses, and princes are no more immune to the inexorable waves of change created by the Ring of Fire than are the Americans themselves.
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This is an interesting side story (sequel is a must) set in the Mughal Empire on the Indian subcontinent. Flint and Barber let you know early on that the USE trade delegation know little of what they are getting into. The royal successions in the Mughal Empire make Game of Thrones look like quiet/nap time in a preschool class.
Help yourself by reading an encyclopedia entry for Indian history 600-1700 to get a better feel for the time and place.Posted on
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WasteI have been following the "1632" series for years. Enjoyed them all...except this one. It is hard to say this nicely, but "Mughals" is boring. I even tried taking a break and restarting the book later, didn't help, still bored. Unlike some other commentators, I have no desire to see another volume of "Mughals" I regret the money and most of all the time I wasted on this one. I will be very cautious about automatically buying newly released "1632" books in the future. I get the feeling that perhaps Mr. Flint and Co. have just become "fanfic" publishers. Too bad. It was great while it lasted.
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Not nearly as good as previous entries in the 1632 universe.This is half a story. It starts too slowly, and spends too much time on the local characters and not enough on the Grantville characters. Then, just as it finally starts to have something happen with the Grantville characters, it just stops. The effect is very similar to an old cinema film where a character is walking and the film breaks when he has one foot off the ground.
I am very afraid this is evidence that the whole series is "running out of steam."Posted on
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Book 1 of 2?The book is OK and expands the 1636 universe with new sites and characters but is basically incomplete, it has a cliffhanger ending, it just stops. If it is part 1 of a series in India then is OK but if this is a stand alone book then i don't recommend it.
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Interesting but unsatisfyingIt was really interesting to see India getting the 1632 treatment, and the story was full of new sights and colorful characters.
However, even though there are a million ongoing plot-threads, Ring of Fire/1632 universe stories usually have some feeling of completion, satisfaction. Mission to the Mughals, however, left me hanging. Not even in an exciting edge of my seat way, but in kind of a "Wait, that's it? That's all?" way. If another novel ties up some plot threads and takes it somewhere interesting, I'm onboard. But until then, I don't think I'm going to reread this one.
Interesting but deeply flawed.Posted on
