THE MAELSTROM THAT IS EUROPE,
COMPLICATED BY IRON,
LOVE AND 20TH CENTURY AMERICANS
The Thirty Years War continues to ravage 17th century Europe, but a new force is gathering power and influence: the United States of Europe, forged from an alliance between Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, and the West Virginians from the 20th century, led by Mike Stearns, who were hurled centuries into the past by a mysterious cosmic accident.
This troubled century was full of revolutions and plans for more revolutions before the Americans arrived, and gave every would-be revolutionary an example of a revolution that succeeded. Europe is a pot coming to a boil, and Mike Stearns finds himself walking the fine line between keeping the pot boiling while keeping it from boiling over and destroying the USE in the process.
The USE has the know-how of 20th century technology, but needs iron and steel to make the machines. The iron mines of the upper Palatinate were rendered inoperable by wartime damage, and American ingenuity is needed on the spot to pump them out and get the metal flowing again—a mission that will prove more complicated than anyone expects. First, because the expedition sent to revitalize the mining industry in the upper Palatinate walks into the middle of a ferocious battle between the USE and the Duke of Bavaria. Second, because in the maelstrom that is Europe, even a 20th century copy of the Encyclopedia Britannica can precipitate a crisis from the most unexpected quarters. The young and beautiful daughter of the Austrian emperor, sent to marry the Duke of Bavaria for reasons of state, comes to an unforeseen conclusion based on her study of up-time history. The decision she makes as a result transforms the Bavarian war into a crisis for all of Europe.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Eric Flint is a popular star of SF and fantasy. 1634: The Baltic War, a collaboration with David Weber, was the latest New York Times best seller in the Ring of Fire series. His first novel for Baen, Mother of Demons, was picked by Science Fiction Chronicle as a best novel of the year. His novel 1632, which launched the Ring of Fire series, won widespread critical praise, as from Publishers Weekly, which called him "an SF author of particular note, one who can entertain and edify in equal, and major, measure." A longtime machinist, and labor union activist with a master's degree in history, he currently resides in northwest Indiana with his wife Lucille.
Virginia DeMarce, after jobs as peculiar as counting raisins for the Calif. Dept. of Agriculture, received her Ph.D. in Early Modern European History from Stanford University. She has published a book on German military settlers in Canada after the American Revolution and has served as president of the National Genealogical Society. She taught at Northwest Missouri State University and at George Mason University. She has had stories in the Ring of Fire anthology and Grantville Gazette (#1), and more stories in the online Grantville Gazettes. She has three grown children and five grandchildren, and lives in Arlington, VA, with her husband.
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Tedious and draggingWont be buying any of the books co-authored by DeMarce. I see no need to torture myself with an alternate universe history lesson.
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slow tangled poorly writtenthis is by far the worst book of the series..... i couldnt read more than 20 pages at a time. pure boredom, and all the names that are so much alike is very confusing..... made me want to PUT DOW the books and stop reading the series....
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AwfulSuch a let down from Flint's own work
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I loved this book. Not much violence but a lot of intrigue and quid quo pro.
Certainly a welcome change from the majority of authors who cannot write interesting books without lots of violence and blowing shit up.
It was also long enough to last me two days. Usually I finish a book within a few hours.Posted on
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Product ReviewAfter reading all the comments here, I nearly skipped this book, which would have been a mistake. It is witty and fun, with interesting characters. Apparently some reviewers have something against female lead characters. I consider interesting women a benefit, not a flaw.
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Product ReviewIf I had read some of the reviews posted here I would not have bought this book and i would have missed out on a good tale. Yes there are some tedious passages about the genealogies of all the major and minor nobles we come across but they are essential to try and give us some understanding of the importance of blood ties to the people of those days. There is very little combat or rip roaring action but plenty of adventure as the protagonists hike across several borders while avoiding hostile armies. Not as fast paced as the previous offerings in this series and with a rather dry sense of humor but with a good plot. intrigue and a romance or two, well worth reading. Recommended.
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Product ReviewI agree with Greg. The books with DeMarce as co-author are too dry, complex and just not fun.
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