This is still, on my third re-reading, a very exciting story. It was so well received by fans, it spawned dozens of stories, both in novel form and short form.  Flint had not intended to write a direct sequel but the clamor from fans must’ve changed his mind.  Knowing the almost unlimited potential for stories in this alternate timeline, he invited other authors to write within his universe.  It appeared that the novels concluded the story shortly after his passing in 2022 with an unpublished manuscript.  But in 2023, a group of authors created, with the permission of Flint’s widow and heir, a new consortium that continued with these stories in a new electronic magazine, titled “Eric Flint’s 1632 & Beyond.”  If you are – or become – a fan, do check out the new stories.

In any case, for the neophyte, here is the synopsis. The small mining town of Grantville in West Virginia experienced an Act of God when an unknown force removed the entire town and some of its environs from 2000 to 1632 Europe in the area where Germany might eventually be.  In the vein of “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”, the town’s inhabitants have the opportunity to use their advanced knowledge to affect their new world.

The main character is Mike Stearn, a card-carrying member of the local UMWA, United Mine Workers of America.  This is an Appalachian town with some distinctive characteristics which include a strong sense of community, a willingness to confront issues head-on, and lots and lots of guns.  So after the event, locally known as the Ring of Fire, Mike and several of his compatriots leave town to investigate what might have happened and to address an obvious fire they see.  Getting to the location of the fire caused a new multitude of questions but when they found the source of the fire and discovered several uniformed men in the process of torturing a farmer and raping his wife, there was no question of the correct action.  They shot all the soldiers and rescued the family; leaving behind a notice to any more soldiers who might appear that the UMWA considered the area under their protection and such actions would be met with swift death.

Flint never lets up on the pace; I think this is the story might be the fastest paced book I’ve ever read.  I usually reread it within two or three days.  In addition to the townsfolk realizing they aren’t in West Virginia or even on the North American continent; Mike makes the acquaintance of a Jewish family who aren’t all that they first appear to be.  They become integral to the town’s successful survival in the middle of one of the most horrific wars on that continent.

The complexity of the plot and the number of characters sort of defies my ability to make a short summary.  Flint knows this history and plays with it using a very deft hand.  His principles are on full display in this novel; he had been an activist in the American Trade Union movement.  And this reader can’t help but admire the strength of his characters’ convictions.

Obviously, all the Americans are fictional but many of the key players are well-known historical figures; with their actions and events being critically changed by the introduction of 21^st-century technology and, more importantly perhaps, 21^st-century morals and principles.

There are so many really interesting characters that I enjoy so much knowing.  In addition to Mike, there is his new love interest, the Jewess Rebecca.  Then there are the teenagers with their dirt bikes and their romantic notions of warfare bred from D&D. There is the blond goddess who rescues her family in the middle of a battle; bringing herself to the attention of Mike who discovers that she has a multitude of talents that contribute greatly to the town’s success in co-opting nearby towns into their confederation.  And then there’s Julie; a high school student training for a possible attempt at the Olympics in sharpshooting, and her hilarious introduction to and later friendship with the most powerful King in Europe: King Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden.  There is romance, unrelenting action, and a fascinating study of what can be done with advanced technological knowledge; even in the absence of the actual technology.  The worldbuilding is obviously critical to such a story but easy for the writer since it’s all written down in history books.  The characters are what really make this work.  And Flint demonstrates his mastery of them.

There is an amusing prologue that explains the source of the Ring of Fire which opens up all kinds of questions which I think have been explored by other writers.

If you love alternate history tales, you probably already know this series.  But if you’ve never been introduced, I strongly encourage you to find a copy of this first novel.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I.  ~~  Catherine Book

For more titles by Eric Flint click here