1632

Ring of Fire, Book 1

By: Eric Flint

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 19 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Eric Flint has received glowing critical praise for his Ring of Fire alternate history series. In this first installment, a West Virginia town is transported from the year 2000 to 1631 Germany at the height of the Thirty Years’ War. Thrust into conflict, the town residents must also contend with moral issues, such as who should be considered a citizen.

©2000 Eric Flint (P)2012 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“Gripping and excellently detailed.... A treat!” ( Publishers Weekly)

Series of GEMS

This is the first book of a great series in an evolving genre of "alternate history". Alternate history is a blend of history and science fiction. In this case a 50 sq. mile of West Virginia becomes part of 1632 Germany. They decide to start a new USA and start the revolution a 150 years early.

Yet they have the knowledge and technology of 400 years. It helps high school and their teachers are involved and handy resources. (like having the Professor along in the 1960's Gillian's Isle series) What would you do?

This series is another GEM of Eric Flint, David Weber, Charles Gannon. Fast paced series and well-developed characters. At the writing of this review, 1634 is supposedly recorded. It is confusing. I think recorded books may have reorganized the series. They may have made the series into 1632, 1633 and 1635 and skipped 1634 and 1636. Print books in the series included 1632,1633,1634,1635 and 1636,

A firm answer to the question of: "does the recorded series titles match the printed titles?" be nice -- but it doesn't matter much. Even out-of-order, the series is wonderful

very good read/listen

Well written "Alternative Future" storyline, very good read/listen. I absolutely recommend this book, I'm getting the next one (1633) now.

Really different. Really good.

Time travel is always cool, especially when the author takes the time to develop the characters, to the point you actually care about them. One of my favorite moments was when Jeff and his two freinds on dirt bikes and shotguns take on a regiment of 16th century mercenaries all by their lonesome to protect the honor of a young woman, and when the 16th century calvary finds out what a yellow school bus can really do if you get too close.

enjoyable & complex

complex storyline brought together well, enjoyable alternate reality , characters fleshed out fairly well, definitely will continue series

Interesting and worth relistening to

This is a story about an end of the twentieth century Virginia coal town being transported to 1632 Germany during one of the bloodiest conflicts of that period.

This is one of my "go to "audiobooks when I am looking for something to relisten to while going to sleep or working on something else. It has memorable scenes worth relistening to. Like when the people of Grantville first meet Gretchen, or Alexander Mackay. The author did an immense amount research and I have had lots of fun following links to characters and events of the 1600's that are brought up in the novels. Besides, it just makes me laugh for some reason just to say Axel Oxenstierna.

If I have a complaint it is that the first chapter is completely different from the rest of the story with the talk of Aliens to explain the events leading up to the town being transported. Not that I don't like the chapter, but someone may start listening to the novel and quit before getting into it because they get an erroneous idea of what will happen in the story. So ALERT - no more outer space and aliens in the rest of the story.

Of course, I can't leave without mentioning the wonderful job the narrator, George Guidall, does in the audiobook. Heaward worthy reading is enough to push this book to 5 stars for me.

AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

This is the Ring of Fire's first book

Very well done alternate history by Eric Flint, and George Guidll does a Great Job as narrater.

Fun Historical Fiction!

Fun and entertaining historical fiction. The characters are interesting and the storyline is entertaining. I enjoyed the book in print and the voice acting made the story better. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

Eric Flint's triumph

Very Good. As good as any Science Fiction I've read including Heinlein, Asimov, Herbert and Weber

entertaining alt - history sci-fi

entertaining story about a city and its peoppe relocated in time. Taking off from historical 17th c. events, modern technology is adapted for odd contexts.

I gave the story an average review because the anachronisms were so jarring; Modern tech has cardinal limits outside a civilization which can provision and repair complex tools. Realistically, "modernity", customs and routines would last just a little longer than labor-saving devices. There are practical and unbending reasons why things were and are the way they are.

Characters were somewhat one-dimensional - especially "bad guys" on the side of holy Roman empire - were unfairly shown as unalloyed and simple. Nothing in this story well reflects the complexity of the era and its politics. That is sci-fi for you, I guess.

Another "Flintverse" of excellence.

I have read all of the Ring of Fire series over the past few years on Kindle. Now I am going to listen to the Audio books. Excellent performance by the reader, bringing the story to life.