In this bi-weekly series reviewing classic science fiction and fantasy books, Alan Brown looks at the front lines and frontiers of the field; books about soldiers and spacers, scientists and engineers, explorers and adventurers. Stories full of what Shakespeare used to refer to as “alarums and excursions”: battles, chases, clashes, and the stuff of excitement.
Today’s review looks at a book written right at the turn of the century: 1632 by Eric Flint, one I missed when it was first published in early 2000. But I’m glad I finally read it, because it’s one of the best adventure stories I’ve read in years. Flint takes a modern town from West Virginia, and drops it into the middle of Germany during the Thirty Years War—one of the most brutal and inconclusive conflicts in history—and looks at the changes wrought by the collision of past and present. At the time it came out, I was taking a break from most military science fiction, and especially that which fell into the alternate history sub-genre, feeling that most of what I was reading was retreading ground already covered by classics such as H. Beam Piper’s Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen. One of my favorite things about the book is its optimism, and the way it promotes the best values of small-town America without ever feeling corny or forced.
My first exposure to the world of 1632 cane when I was looking for an opportunity to write more shared world fiction, as I had enjoyed making contributions to Jerry Pournelle and John F. Carr’s War World series. Someone suggested the 1632 universe as one that was welcoming to new contributors. So I went to the Baen Books website, where the first chapters of the book were posted, and liked what I saw. But then I looked around the internet and was amazed at how many sequels there were, and how much I would have to catch up on before I could even begin to fit a story into what had turned into a very comprehensive series. There was a lot going on in my life at that time, so I put the idea aside.
Recently, however, in my favorite used bookstore, I found a copy of 1632, and decided it was finally time to give it a try—after all, a book that spawned so many sequels must have had something good going for it! The copy I found is a Baen paperback from the seventh printing of the book in 2008. It has a sticker on the back indicating that it had been sold new by Borders Books, an old favorite bookstore chain that I dearly miss.
About the Author
Eric Flint (1947-2022) was a prolific American author of science fiction and fantasy, with much of his work focused on the alternate history subgenre, and frequently written with co-authors. Flint was educated as a historian, with a master’s degree from UCLA, but he left a doctoral program to work in the labor movement, eventually joining the Socialist Workers Party. He supported himself with a variety of jobs until he became a full-time author in 1999. He worked as an editor for Baen Books, putting together anthologies that brought a number of classic authors back into print, including notables such as Christopher Anvil, Keith Laumer, Murray Leinster, and James H. Schmitz. He was the first editor of the Baen Free Library, an electronic publishing initiative that made first volumes of series available for free to encourage sales of physical copies and sequels. His best-known work is 1632, which transported a modern American town into a Germany torn by war and religious strife, and examined the impact American ideas would have on Europe if introduced during the Age of Discovery; the book spawned numerous sequels.
1632
The book opens with a prologue from the perspective of our world, where a sphere six miles in diameter disappears from West Virginia, and is replaced by terrain that appears to be transported from somewhere in the middle of Europe, and dating from some centuries before the present day. It then explains that this event was an unplanned side effect of some careless manipulation of spacetime by an irresponsible alien race. But all that is quickly put aside, because in a book like this, the main focus is not how the situation came about, but what happens next.
A wedding reception is being held in the Grantville High School gymnasium. Mike Stearns is there because his sister, Rita, is marrying Tom Simpson, a young man who went to WVU on a football scholarship, and fell in love with a local girl. His parents, old money people from the East Coast, are in attendance as well, though visibly disapproving of the whole affair. Mike is introduced to James Nichols, a Black doctor whose daughter is one of the bridesmaids. The two bond over the fact that they were both required to join the Armed Forces rather than face jail time during their rebellious youth, with Mike ending up in the Army and James in the Marines.
Suddenly there is a rumble and a bright flash. Something strange has happened, and when they leave the gym, they see a column of smoke in the distance. Radios and phones are not working, so a handful of wedding guests set out to see what is going on. They find the road out of town bisected by a line, past which the terrain is unfamiliar to them—that line that will come to be known as the Ring of Fire. And then they come upon an ancient house on fire, with a farmer and his family under attack by men in strange uniforms and armed with ancient weapons. Being mountain people, the West Virginians all have weapons in their vehicles, and they leap into action. The invaders are quickly dead, and they do what they can to care for the survivors. Then a carriage comes up the road, accompanied by four cavalrymen who see the strange opponents, decide that discretion is the better part of valor, and take off, abandoning the carriage. Mike looks inside and finds a beautiful woman and her sick father. She says they are being pursued by mercenaries, and Mike, swayed by a pretty face, immediately takes sides. He and his friends drive off the mercenaries, and bring the strangers back into town, with Frank providing aid to the old man, who is having a heart attack. Mike’s rash decision turns out to be a good one, as the man turns out to be Balthazar Abrabanel, a Jewish doctor working for the government of the Dutch Republic; he and his daughter Rebecca are well educated and politically connected, perfect companions to help the modern folks figure out this new world they have been dropped into.
The story then turns to a real historical figure, Gustav II Adolph, King of Sweden, who is trying to save the Protestant population of Germany from the Holy Roman Empire’s Catholic inquisition; the king a very hands-on ruler who likes to lead from the front.
The inhabitants of Grantville gather in the high school auditorium to figure out what to do next. They are lucky that the town has its own coal-fired power plant, a mine that closed for tax purposes before its reserves were exhausted, and fairly extensive industrial infrastructure, which allows them to retain much of their modern technology. Mr. Simpson, the rich Easterner, tries to take charge, warning that they need to close off the town to keep out the sick and starving refugees and victims of war that surround them. But Mike, who is a former head of the UMWA miner’s union local, is incensed by this, and rises to argue that if they are going to hold on to American values, they need to help the needy, and reach out to the surrounding communities. In addition to that reasoning, the town didn’t come through time with enough farmland to feed its occupants, and can’t remain closed off. Mike is soon elected leader of an emergency committee who will guide the town until more permanent arrangements can be made. While exploring the countryside, the locals find a Scots cavalry troop; delighted at their common ancestry and language, they invite them into town. It turns out that the Scots are in the employ of King Gustav, as is Balthazar, who has been working as an intelligence agent and courier for the king. I don’t have space to mention everyone the reader will meet, but will say that the novel contains a diverse and very realistic cast of characters.
We meet an enemy mercenary company, and a brave and resilient woman, Gretchen, who is doing her best to survive while protecting the other camp followers, who are basically enslaved by the mercenaries. These mercenaries march toward Grantville, but are stopped by the superior arms of the modern forces. Gretchen is protected by a young man, Jeff Higgins, whose military knowledge comes from playing D&D with his friends, but he acquits himself well when thrown onto an actual battlefield. The two begin a relationship that is at first transactional, but soon grows into a loving marriage. At the same time, Mike finds himself falling deeper and deeper in love with the beautiful Rebecca.
The story then follows how the modern community adapts to its situation, and how the local Germans adapt to their strange visitors. There is turmoil as Mr. Simpson continues to pursue political power and exclusionary policies that would make local Germans second-class citizens in what is now being called the United States. The novel then takes a turn toward historical exposition as it describes King Gustav’s actions at the battle of Breitenfeld. This diversion, however, serves to put the trials of Grantville and their fledgling republic into the larger context of history, and before the end, the fictional characters will be interacting with the historical figures as the battles they fight in grow larger.
Eventually, the new United States draws positive attention from King Gustav, and negative attention from French Cardinal Richelieu, who has been secretly supporting Gustav not because the Catholic Richelieu supports the Protestant cause, but in order to keep Germany weak and divided. He sends forces toward Grantville, with some under orders to draw away its defenders, and others sent to destroy this growing center of stability in a region where the Cardinal wants to sow only turmoil. Eventually, all the plot threads and all the characters come together in a pitched battle that keeps you breathlessly turning pages right up until the end. The book ends on a positive note, but also leaves the reader wondering what could happen next—the perfect way to end any story. I liked how the book celebrated the virtues of small-town America at its best, acknowledging the value and contributions of public schools, teachers, union members, small businesses, tradespeople, clergy, veterans, and all those who work to help others and make life better for everyone. And of course, the fundamental right of religious freedom becomes especially important in a world torn by sectarian strife.
The Ring of Fire Expands
1632 grew into a publishing sensation, with multiple printings, over two dozen sequel novels, and an electronic magazine, the Grantville Gazette, the contents of which was collected in over twelve anthologies of short fiction. Flint often wrote with collaborators, and invited many to join him in this new fictional playground. Some were established authors like David Weber and Charles Gannon, while others were newer writers like Bjorn Hasseler (who now works to edit the series). Flint even started his own publishing operation, Ring of Fire Press, to handle the operation. The 1632 universe has continued despite Flint’s death, with the Grantville Gazette recently being replaced by the online magazine 1632 and Beyond.
Final Thoughts
1632 is an excellent book, and I’m very glad I finally got around to reading it. It is interesting, exciting, well-paced, and is full of engaging characters. It is set in a time when the world was on the cusp of many changes, and the idea that these shifts and developments will play out differently because of the new players the Ring of Fire has deposited onto the board is one that will engage fans of history and speculative fiction. I find myself remembering that my local used bookstore has about a foot of shelf space devoted to the many sequels spawned by the book, and I have a feeling I will be revisiting this world very soon.
And now, I look forward to hearing from you regarding 1632 and the series it kicked off, or your thoughts on any other alternate history books you’ve enjoyed that may be in a similar vein.