Ring of Fire II

This book is a series of shorter stories by others set in the world of 1632. They each show a different aspect of life and the growth of a modern nation out of chaos and plague. The stories are well written and very interesting to read. As with the original, I am spending quite a bit of time researching what I am reading everything from the thirty years war and its major players to card games. The research isn't necessary, but I sometimes find my curiosity aroused.

Edric Flint provides a fine sequel set to 1632 in RING OF FIRE II, a set of new stories surrounding the time-swept town introduced in 1632. From a new story by Flint of a Hungarian officer's theft of new technology and an American agent's search for the missing papers to a cardinal's plot even as civil war threatens France, new scenarios and political encounters fill out the 1632 scenario and create gripping new action plots.

Ring of Fire II (2008) is the second alternate history anthology in the Assiti Shards series. It contains a novella, fourteen short stories, two maps, and a preface by the editor. "Horse Thieves" by Karen Bergstrahl tells about the conflicts between downtime mercenaries working for Grantville and some uptimers. "Second Issue?" by Brad Sinor concerns the aftermath of "Here Comes Santa Claus" in RoF I, when the Grantville Times receives a story from a reporter who has stumbled onto the conspiracy. "Diving Belle" by Gunnar Dahlin & Dave Freer is about a librarian who will do almost anything to get back some stolen books and the effects of her actions upon Stockholm. "A Gift from the Duchess" by Virginia DeMarce relates the story of the loan of three plague specialists to the disease ridden city of Kronach. "Lucky at Cards" by Andrew Dennis describes a high stake card game with the brother of the French king. "A Trip to Amsterdam" by Gorg Huff & Paula Goodlett is a story about high finance and the siege of Amsterdam. "This'll Be the Day" by Walt Boyles recounts the deeds of Father Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld on the day of his former death. "Command Performance" by David Carrico illustrates the impact of uptime music on the elite of Magdeburg and Europe. "Ellis Island" by Russ Rittgers recounts the tribulations of a peasant family immigrating to Grantville. "Malungu Seed" by Jonathan Cresswell-Jones is about an African Jesuit layman who has an urgent mission in Grantville and elsewhere. "Trials" by Jay Robison reveals the trials of an Italian artist and a Grantville housewife. "The Chase" by Iver P. Cooper shows the perils of a teenage crush on a English aristocrat. "Eddie and the King's Daughter" by K.D. Wentworth tells of the shaky beginning of Eddie's relationship with Anne Cathrine. "Second Thoughts" by Virginia DeMarce discloses the events leading to marriage between the parents of Noelle Brigitte Murphy. "The Austro-Hungarian Connection" by Eric Flint is the novella. It describes a very unusual romance between Noelle Brigitte Stull and a Hungarian officer. Highly recommended for Ring of Fire fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of alternate history and cultural mixing. -Arthur W. Jordin

Very good, but you really need to read the (mostly-online) Granteville Gazettes (volumes 1,3,4,5,6,7 in particular + some of the others) to better understand some of the stories. For example, "Command Performance" in Ring of Fire 2 is part 4 of a series that appears in volume 3 ("The Sound of Music"), volume 4 ("Heavy Metal Music or Revolution in Three Flats"), and volume 5 ("Suite for Four Hands") of the Granteville Gazette.

An interesting read, filling in the back stories of characters figured in the Ram rebellion. Many of these events are concurrent with the Baltic War, looking at these events from the perspective of minor characters. I especially enjoyed Eric Flint's short novel, and "Eddie and the Princess". Enjoy!