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From Publishers Weekly
In this worthy sequel to the well-received 1632 (2000), about a small West Virginia coal-mining town transported back in time to the Germany of the Thirty Years War, original author Flint and coauthor Weber resist the temptation to use modern technology to impose a Pax Americana, instead allowing their transportees just enough high tech to prevail if they can win allies like Sweden's King Gustavus Adolphus. Most of the current book deals with coalition building, as the visitors from the future attempt to remake their new world into one safe for democracy despite opposition from such as Cardinal Richelieu. History books from a now-hypothetical future and antibiotics prove to be more potent than their limited supply of modern firearms, but the most powerful weapons of the new "United States" are its ideas, which now infect the millions of Germans ground under the heels of their princes. Ordinary Germans develop a new faith in themselves and their future when the Americans show them that they can do anything, even fly. Flint, a former union organizer, is particularly skilled at showing how the new converts can make even the "old Americans" uncomfortable in their zeal to achieve the blessings of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," while Weber helps smooth out characters who were stereotypes in the first book. This is a thoughtful and exciting look at just how powerful are the ideals we sometimes take for granted, and is highly recommended as a reminder of how we can look to others when at our best. (Aug.) FYI: Weber is also the coauthor with Steve White of The Shiva Option (Forecasts, Jan. 28), while Flint is also the coauthor with David Drake of The Tyrant (Forecasts, Mar. 25).
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-A sequel to 1632 (Baen, 2000), this book continues the saga of a West Virginia town hurled by a mysterious time vortex into the middle of Germany during the Thirty Years' War. The residents, led by Mike Stearns and his 17th-century wife Rebecca, attempt to introduce modern American values like freedom of speech to the people. The story recounts their attempts to build an air force (with biplanes powered by automobile motors) and a navy (which includes a few speedboats that happened to have been in town) to challenge the machinations of Cardinal Richelieu and the armed forces of France, Spain, and England, but the end result has as much to do with individual heroism as technology. Cleanly written, with an enormous cast of interesting characters, this novel is panoramic in scope. The contrast between the societies of Grantville and Europe allows the authors to examine the virtues of American values and show how the Bill of Rights, though closer to their time than ours, is the most revolutionary difference between the two societies. The ways in which modern knowledge is used without a technological base are fascinating and well researched, as is the real historical information that helps create the background world. Throughout, there is constant action and the hint of danger to characters readers care about.
Paul Brink, Fairfax County Public Library System, VA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Paul Brink, Fairfax County Public Library System, VA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Caution: this book may cause sleeplessness,
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This review is from: 1633 (Mass Market Paperback)
I started this series with 1632 about a week ago, had trouble putting it down and went out to get this one four days ago. I stayed up until 3am finishing it. I love this series!The basic premise is: a modern day West Virginia mining town is transported through time and space to 17th century Germany. The Americans come to grips with their problem and reach some basic decisions about how to cope in 1632. 1633 continues the story. The European powers have gotten over their initial shock at the Americans arrival and their amazing technology. Some, particularly the French, are looking for ways to defeat these newcomers. Meanwhile the Americans are scrambling to adapt to their current situation, which technologies to concentrate on first, where limited resources should be allocated, how best to integrate the stream of refugees into their society and how to integrate with the societies around them. Most of the characters that appeared in the first novel return for this one, others are introduced which leads to a problem. There are a lot of characters and story lines to keep track of. Also it can be frustrating to not get enough information on particular favorites. This is a problem common to any 'epic' length novel or series of books (the PERN stories for example). One can only hope that their favorites will appear in later books, and that the books keep coming and soon!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great sequal to 1632 - Deaper, darker, still a lot of fun.,
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This review is from: 1633 (Mass Market Paperback)
This is a great follow-on to 1632. The plot is a good deal deaper and darker with much more political intrigue (David Weber's influence there I think) and less action. Still, it is a good solid read that keeps you engaged and ready to continue.Can't wait for Flint & Weber's next 163x book which is supposed to be in the works!
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Best Alternatives Around,
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This review is from: 1633 (Mass Market Paperback)
Flint & Weber write an engrossing story with convincingly real characters and surprising plot twists. This book is more of an incomplete series than the first book, and purposely so. It really is incomplete without the next chapter, 1634. There are a lot of characters to follow, but Flint & Weber manage to keep track of everyone, and keep the readers' interest. Happily, there is not only military action in this edition, but also character discussion on the nature of predestination and Arminianism, raising intriguing possibilities on the nature of God's work with the world, especially in a multiverse. This philosophical quandary is often ignored in fiction works that deal with multiverses. While it would be nice if more time were spent on the differences between the groups and the difficulties Americans would have in adjusting to the 16th century, the brief look at cultural differences between 20th century Americans and 16th century Europeans helps to create more rounded characters. Still one of the best alternative history series I've yet read.
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