Grantville Gazette III

Grantville Gazette III (2006) is the third SF anthology based on this electronic magazine. This volume contains seven stories, one serial, and four fact articles. It also includes a Preface, an Images note and a statement about Submissions to the Magazine. Fiction Stories: Postage Due by Eric Flint reveals the process of developing postage stamps within downtime Europe. Pastor Kastenmayer's Revenge by Virginia DeMarce relates the events leading up to the confirmation and marriage of seven Grantville men. The Sound of Music by David Carrico explains the influence of rock and roll upon the formation of a downtime group to save uptime music. Other People's Money by Gorg Huff depicts the accidental, but fortunate, establishment of an investment fund in Grantville. If the Demons Will Sleep by Eva Musch tells of the horrific experiences of a Slovak woman. Hobson's Choice by Francis Turner is about the education of a common barmaid. Hell Fighters by Wood Hughes conveys the events that lead a Benedictine monk to a new vocation. Serial: Euterpe, episode 2, by Enrico N. Toro takes Maestro Giacomo Carissimi from Rome to Grantville. Fact Articles: Iron by Rick Boatright is about the production and use of iron in a modern society. The Impact of Mechanization on German Farms by Karen Bergstralh is about the nature of German farms, the economics of mechanization, and the necessary infrastructure to support such technology. Flint's Lock by Leonard Hollar, Bob Hollingsworth, Tom Van Natta, and John Zeek is about the selection of the SRG as the standard infantry weapon. Alchemical Distillation by Andrew Clark is about the production of aspirin. These tales suggest one of the major underlying themes within the Ring of Fire stories: the altered perceptions and opportunities of downtime women. While the military might of Grantville is necessary for the survival of its citizens and ideals, its major influence in downtime culture would seem to lie in its redefinition of the role of women within that society. This new concept of the female sex created shockwaves among both the men and women of seventeenth century Europe, particularly within the upper classes. This collection continues the high quality writing of the previous volumes. Apparently the interactive nature of these stories has refined them into outstanding material. Enjoy! Highly recommended for 1632 fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of historical fiction and cultural conflict. -Arthur W. Jordin

I really enjoyed this book. Like all anthologies, some stories were better than others, but overall I enjoyed it alot. My favorite was a story in which scholars in 1632 Cambridge were trying to interpret a 1998 National Geographic. I really enjoyed that story!

Eric Flint's GRANTVILLE GAZAETTE III continues the story of a small town from 20th century West Virginia which is hurled back in time to 17th century Europe. Here's a collection of new stories - including a new one by creator Eric Flint himself - which provides a series of encounters based on this premise, from American teens who change history through financial efforts to a woman who seeks sanctuary within Grantville's world. As a strong novel of alternate history/fantasy, it's a winner.

I really appreciated this one. Many of the ideas and images will stay with me for a long time. Apparently, I'm as interested in what is happening on the edges of the 163x world than I am in the big plot arcs. And the best pieces here have the mix of historical detail and enthusiastic humanism that typifies the series. Being an anthology, there are highs and lows. One of the stories was so narratively inept that I gave up after ten pages. However, I invested in several pieces and found full meals. Virginia DeMarce's tale of how a bunch of uptime men marry downtime women is touching yet unblinking in its depiction of the realpolitik of relationships. And Franicis Turner's story of how the presence of Grantville affects the lives of people living in Cambridge is a triumph. No action, all ideas, fully entertaining. (Eric Flint's "Postage Due" struck me as an obligatory fillip. Oh, well.)

This Book is a wonderfull supplement to the full length novels in this series. The input of new authors adds a new perspective to the events of the main series, and ths stories are a touching, and sometimes comic look at the lives of the smaller characters and their small town.