A sparkling addition to the multiple New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire alternate history series created by Eric Flint. An alchemist of the 17th century confronts modern science with often amusing results.
Phillip Theophrastus Gribbleflotz, the world's greatest alchemist and a great-grandson of Paracelsus—and a Bombast on his mother's side—was a man history had forgotten. But when the town of Grantville was transported by a cosmic accident from modern West Virginia to central Germany in the early seventeenth century, he got a second chance at fame and fortune.
The world's greatest alchemist does not make household goods. But with suitable enticements Gribbleflotz is persuaded to make baking soda and then baking powder so that the time-displaced Americans can continue to enjoy such culinary classics as biscuits and gravy. Applying his superb grasp of the principles of alchemy to the muddled and confused notions the Americans have concerning what they call “chemistry,” Gribbleflotz leaves obscurity behind.
In his relentless search for a way to invigorate the quinta essential of the human humors, Gribbleflotz plays a central role in jump-starting the seventeenth century’s new chemical and marital aids industries—and pioneering such critical fields of human knowledge as pyramidology and aura imaging. These are his chronicles.
-
Nice addition!I'll admit it. I've already disassembled all my electronic Gazettes and made custom epubs of single storylines -- Marla, Pamela, and of course Dr. Phil. So I was very happy with all the new material, especially after the lack in Devil's Opera. Even if you've memorized the whole series from the Gazette, this is a worthwhile purchase.
Posted on
-
Excellent!I haven't read the Gribbleflotz stories that were published in the Gazette so these are all new to me. The main reason I bought this book, was that I recognize Kerryn Offord as one of the best co-authors within the 1632-verse. I'm happy to say I was correct and I can heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the main storyline. If you want an entertaining and non-convoluted book without complicated downtime politics (ie stuff by Virginia DeMarce), this is definitely the book for you.
Posted on
-
Unexpectedly great!I was expecting a collection of Dr. Phil stories from the Gazette. I was not expecting totally new material written in such a spellbinding manner. Yes, there is some previously released story-line. So what? This telling gave Dr. Phil a full 3d personality that the standalone Gazette bits never had before. I hope to see Dr. Phil's story into 1680 told. He has so much more to offer as time goes on.
Posted on
-
For a story that's heavily limited by what's already been written in the Gazette it's pretty good. We see a lot more about Gribbleflotz and the state of science both before and after the Ring of Fire. Lots of details and characters that were only generally hinted at in other books. I only have two real complaints, first it feels a bit like Gribbleflotz becomes a minor character by the end of the book and it doesn't do anything to advance the general story of the 1632 universe, something that's been sorely lacking. Overall though the book is a nice addition to the universe.
Posted on