1633

This sequel to 1632 is a collaboration teaming David Weber with the series creator Eric Flint. The result is a knockout. Weber and Flint work together well and it shows here. In the original, a modern West Virginia coal mining town finds itself transported to Germany in the middle of the 30 Years War. As is to be expected, modern technology makes a difference. The problem is that the "modern" level of technology is not sustainable indefinitely with the resources available in 1632. While the locals are scrambling to adapt pieces of modern technology to their own ends, the mining town is racing to "build down" to a level where they can sustain themselves. Having a multi front war to deal with at the same time just makes it harder. The town of Grantville allies itself with the Swedish King Gustav Adolph and nobody likes that. Cardinal Richelieu, doesn't like it. The Hapsburgs in Germany don't like it. The Hapsburgs in Spain don't like it. Charles I of England doesn't like it. The only ones who do seem to like it are those living under the American system of justice. All of the adversaries are joining together to stamp out the interlopers while trying to get the upper hand themselves. The Americans send embassies to France, the Netherlands, England and Scotland. Political intrigue abounds and things get complicated. It is left for Flint and Weber to straighten out the mess. They do so though superior firepower. Some of the characters from the first book are fleshed out and developed better. Others from the first are mere shadows while new characters are more fully developed. This makes sense. It looks like there is a whole new world for the authors' to play in for some time to come. Whoopie!

While not everyone cares for political novels, (especially some of the previous reviewers) it is not nessesary that alternate history be consumed solely with battle scenes and romance. The concept of the Loyal Opposition, and Mike Sterns work at developing the New US into a real nation and not just an emergency committee was a tale which bodes well for this franchise. I think that Flint/Weber and the other authors with forthcoming works in this shared universe have done a good job of not falling into the pulp fiction error of having a tech fix to every problem. This is a novel of ideas. That's not to say that there isn't gripping action, sea battles, air adventures, imprisonment, chases and shooting, heck, it _is_ a David Weber novel after all, but like Honor Harrington, this book has moved beyond action/adventure into the meat of alternate history. Rick Boatright(Fair warning. I'm the Rick Boatright mentioned as one of the tech consultants in that long afterword, so I admit to being a little prejudiced in favor of this book.)

One of the problems I have always had with alternate histories is the "deus ex machina" solutions to real technical problems. In 1633, as in the previous volume 1632, Eric Flint and collaborator David Weber provide a slice of reality in an alternate universe. People aren't cardboard, there are no achingly evil villains. There are stupid people, people with warts, smart people, normal people...in short, all the people that make up 1633 in Europe. Archvillains Richelieu and Simpson are revealed as men with passions, flaws and virtues. Good guys are shown to be short-sighted and venal. What we have here is a fine continuation of Eric Flint's experiment in "reality alternative history." Nobody pulls 2001 technology out of the bag...in fact, the climax leaves you with a clear (and foreboding) picture of the limits of Grantville's technology.We are not reading Grantville uber alles here, nor are we reading a romp through the 17th century by those vastly superior persons, the Americans. We are reading a well thought out dramatic essay on what happens when cultures collide.The subtext of 1633 doesn't get in the way, but it is every bit as powerful subtext as any "literary" SF novel of the past 30 years. We are seeing through a kaleidoscopic lens what happens when people are faced with massive change, and when people are forced to achieve beyond their station in life. We are seeing what happens when a society comes into contact with another society with more toys and fancier philosophy. Apply the lens of 1633 to the issue of the Native American, or the Australian Aborigine, and the philosophical subtext remains the same.Flint and Weber do a masterful job of provoking thought from readers of space opera and action-adventure novels. We are fed enough complex political analysis under the guise of character introspection that we can see exactly what is happening, and where things are going.Finally, Flint and Weber pull off something extremely critical, and they do it well: they make the indigenous population of the era, not the interlopers from Grantville, the heroes of the piece.And that's the point. Or one of them.Walt Boyes(the Bananaslug at Baen's Bar)

Some of the people who have reviewed the book sound like people who want a quick roller coaster ride. They should use "Austin Powers" as an example of Alternaive History! This book, far broader in scope than the earlier 1632, delves into a far, broader historical context. Unlike the history that many of us study in school, in which nation creation deals with the Reformation and 30 years war in Germany, then Richelieu, then Louis XIV, followed by the development of British democracy, this novel demonstrates how all of the above were actually happening at the more or less the same time.Richelieu steals a copy of history texts from the future (Americans from the present wind up in Germany in 1632, the name of the preceding novel)and decides to change history. He makes sure that Charles I knows about the upcoming revolution in England, leading to the arrest of Cromwell, years before he has done anything against the king. He arranges to buy all British colonies in America. Other forces are set in motion against the Americans, Gustavus Adolphus and allies. If you love history, this book is for you. Lots of details, lots of fun looks at byways of history, an awful lot of ifs. It is part of a series. There will be at least three or four more books dealing with different areas of conflict. A lot of characters from the first book play small roles in this one, but are likely to reappear. Again, if you like history, you will love the book! Flint and Weber obviously do, as well. This may be the best alternative history series ever!

If you haven't read 1632 yet, please start there. This book _can_ stand on its own, but is much easier to appreciate in proper context as second in a series. That said...In 1633 the authors spend much of their time fleshing out characters who were shortchanged in 1632 -- especially the Simpsons. They also show the effect of 1999 history books on 17th century politics, and of manned flight on a world that only recently thought it impossible.I found the book absolutely fascinating. It's meatier than 1632. Not as much of a romp, but ultimately more satisfying to digest. Now, they just need to get the NEXT book out in record time!