Synopses & Reviews
The Thirty Years War continues to ravage 17th century Europe, but a new force is gathering power and influence: the Confederated Principalities of Europe, 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. Inspired by the example of American freedom and justice, a movement in Franconia among the peasants, who have revolted several times even before the arrival from the future of the town of Grantville, an independent revolutionary movement has arisen, flying the banner of the head of a ram. The West Virginians fully approve of liberating the peasants from the nobility, but they are also aware of how revolutionary movements can lead to bloodbaths. And avoiding that deadly possibility will require all of their future knowledge and all their plain old American horse-trading diplomacy. . . .
Synopsis
As the Thirty Year's War continues to ravage Europe, the American town hurled from the 20th to the 17th century by a mysterious force has aroused the implacable hostility of Cardinal Richelieu of France, who has allied with his old enemies to stop this new threat to privilege and power. But the Americans and their Swedish allies are also moving behind the scenes, sending a medical team to Venice to prevent a plague, communicating with the Ottoman Empire, and reaching out to the Vatican, which has misgivings about Richelieu's lust for power. But a Venetian artisan may cause all their plans to come to naught. After reading a 20th century history book, he has become determined to rescue Galileo from his trial for heresy. The Americans are divided on whether to help him or stop him and whether he succeeds or fails, the results may be catastrophic for the CPE.
About the Author
Eric Flint's impressive first novel, Mother of Demons (Baen), was selected by SF Chronicle as one of the best novels of 1997. With David Drake he has written five popular novels in the Belisarius series, and begun a new fantasy adventure series, so far comprising The Philosophical Strangler and Forward the Mage. Flint received his masters degree in history from UCLA and was for many years a labor union activist. He lives in East Chicago, IL, with his wife and is working on still more books in the Ring of Fire series.