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1637: The Transylvanian Decision (35)
A NEW NOVEL IN ERIC FLINT'S LANDMARK RING OF FIRE SERIES CONTINUING THE EASTERN EUROPE STORYLINE EXPLORED BY FLINT IN 1 637: THE POLISH MAELSTROM.
Up-timer Morris Roth and his Grand Army of the Sunrise stand at a crossroads. Military success against the Polish-Lithuanian magnates has all but guaranteed a continued push east into Ruthenian lands. There, Roth hopes to further his Anaconda Project so that tens of thousands of Jews are not slaughtered in what’s to become known as the Chmielnicki Pogrom of 1648.
An envoy from Transylvania arrives with a promising offer from its prince, who wishes to form an alliance with Bohemia, but the land shrouded in the fog of the Carpathian Mountains—and known only to most up-timers as the playground of Count Dracula—is a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire. Such an alliance would surely draw the ire of Sultan Murad IV.
The United States of Europe agrees to assist the Bohemian forces, and sends in the Silesian Guard, under the command of Brigadier Jeff Higgins. They also send in Gretchen Richter to organize and lead the political struggle.
Transylvania is thrown into political, social, and religious turmoil as battle lines are drawn. Whatever happens and whoever wins the fight, one thing is certain: the history of Eastern Europe will change radically. In fact, it already has.
About 1636: Calabar's War :
“. . . dives into the story of . . . Calabar, a Brazilian military adviser [who] juggles helping [the Dutch] in their fight against the Spanish with rescuing his family, who have been sold into slavery.”— Publishers Weekly
About 1635: A Parcel of Rogues :
“The 20th volume in this popular, fast-paced alternative history series follows close on the heels of the events in The Baltic War , picking up with the protagonists in London, including sharpshooter Julie Sims. This time the 20th-century transplants are determined to prevent the rise of Oliver Cromwell and even have the support of King Charles.”— Library Journal
About 1634: The Galileo Affair :
“A rich, complex alternate history with great characters and vivid action. A great read and an excellent book.”—David Drake
“Gripping . . . depicted with power!”— Publishers Weekly
About Eric Flint's Ring of Fire series:
“This alternate history series is . . . a landmark . . .”— Booklist
“Flint’s 1632 universe seems to be inspiring a whole new crop of gifted alternate historians.”— Booklist
“ . . . reads like a techno-thriller set in the age of the Medicis . . . ”— Publishers Weekly
Up-timer Morris Roth and his Grand Army of the Sunrise stand at a crossroads. Military success against the Polish-Lithuanian magnates has all but guaranteed a continued push east into Ruthenian lands. There, Roth hopes to further his Anaconda Project so that tens of thousands of Jews are not slaughtered in what’s to become known as the Chmielnicki Pogrom of 1648.
An envoy from Transylvania arrives with a promising offer from its prince, who wishes to form an alliance with Bohemia, but the land shrouded in the fog of the Carpathian Mountains—and known only to most up-timers as the playground of Count Dracula—is a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire. Such an alliance would surely draw the ire of Sultan Murad IV.
The United States of Europe agrees to assist the Bohemian forces, and sends in the Silesian Guard, under the command of Brigadier Jeff Higgins. They also send in Gretchen Richter to organize and lead the political struggle.
Transylvania is thrown into political, social, and religious turmoil as battle lines are drawn. Whatever happens and whoever wins the fight, one thing is certain: the history of Eastern Europe will change radically. In fact, it already has.
About 1636: Calabar's War :
“. . . dives into the story of . . . Calabar, a Brazilian military adviser [who] juggles helping [the Dutch] in their fight against the Spanish with rescuing his family, who have been sold into slavery.”— Publishers Weekly
About 1635: A Parcel of Rogues :
“The 20th volume in this popular, fast-paced alternative history series follows close on the heels of the events in The Baltic War , picking up with the protagonists in London, including sharpshooter Julie Sims. This time the 20th-century transplants are determined to prevent the rise of Oliver Cromwell and even have the support of King Charles.”— Library Journal
About 1634: The Galileo Affair :
“A rich, complex alternate history with great characters and vivid action. A great read and an excellent book.”—David Drake
“Gripping . . . depicted with power!”— Publishers Weekly
About Eric Flint's Ring of Fire series:
“This alternate history series is . . . a landmark . . .”— Booklist
“Flint’s 1632 universe seems to be inspiring a whole new crop of gifted alternate historians.”— Booklist
“ . . . reads like a techno-thriller set in the age of the Medicis . . . ”— Publishers Weekly
704 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published October 24, 2023
78 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Eric Flint
250 books873 followersEric Flint was a New York Times bestselling American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works were alternate history science fiction, but he also wrote humorous fantasy adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
December 25, 2022
There are many ways a book series can end. Sometimes an author has an arc they have in mind from the start and write their way through it to the intended end. Sometimes an author gets bored with a series and just kind of pushes out a conclusion to keep his publisher off his back. Sometimes a series goes on hiatus and an author just never bothers to get back to it. And then there's series where the author dies and that's it. Such is the case here. Now, I can't 100% say that there will never be more books in the series, given the number of coauthors that Eric Flint worked with over the years and the enormous community of writers the Grantville Gazette e-zine built up, there's certainly the capacity for the story to continue, but Eric was the glue that held the series together and more than that, with his death, his widow has had to declare bankruptcy and to shut down his publishing company (although Baen published all the main 1632 releases, in the past few years an enormous number of side novels/novellas set in the 1632 universe were published by Ring of Fire, mostly as ebooks). It's a hard way to end a series, particularly given just how much was left up in the air, but honestly, I doubt that we'd ever have gotten a real conclusion to the series in any case. I mean given the sheer number of different story arcs that were ongoing (off the top of my head; Caribbean Naval War with Spain Arc, North American Colonial Arc, English Civil War Arc, French Civil War Arc, Russian Civil War Arc, Indian Arc, Chinese Arc, Anaconda Project Arc... I've probably missed one or two, but all of these were stories with their own novels which were often only tangentially connected to the main story arc and had not been concluded (I don't include the Italian Arc since we hadn't gotten a novel in that series for over a decade and events there kind of petered out)) and the very nature of the story (Eric said that when he wrote 1632, it was supposed to be a one-off, but it just took off and ballooned from there, and just kept ballooning for 2 decades!), it's hard to imagine what an ending to the series would have looked like anyway, though I certainly wish we at least could've found out how the Ottoman and Polish Wars would've ended, and a part of me still hopes that when the pieces are picked up and the bankruptcy issue is resolved, someone will be able to use Eric's notes (if such exist) to write some sort of concluding volume.
That said, the series definitely goes out on a high note, I enjoyed 1637: The Transylvanian Decision quite a bit more than the last mainline novel (1637: The Polish Maelstrom) as it's a lot less messy in terms of the number of storylines its managing and I liked the characters more (and it spends more time with some very likeable down-time characters such as Swiss mercenary captain Christian von Jori and Bohemian Jewish doctor Isaac Kohen). It largely is a part of the "Anaconda Project" storyline, in which Grantville resident jeweler Morris Roth has used his wealth to fund a private half-Jewish, half-mercenary army with the goal of making Europe safe for Jews, with the particular goal of doing something about the Cossacks in Polish-Lithuanian Ruthenia who in our timeline in the 1640's undertook the bloodiest pogrom against Jews prior to the Holocaust. However, after the death of his political partner, the King of Bohemia, during the events of 1637: The Polish Maelstrom, the new regime in Bohemia is less interested in empire-building in Ruthenia and more interested in holding on to what they have (particularly with the Ottomans still occupying most of Austria), so Morris has an army but no clear place to take it and his welcome in Bohemia is wearing thin as with all the best will in the world, no one likes to have an army they don't control on their soil. Then Morris is unexpectedly approached by the brother of the Prince of Transylvania. The Transylvanians are Ottoman vassals but they're not particularly happy about the arrangement and they have an offer for Morris: if he'll bring his army into Transylvania and help them declare independence from the Ottomans, the Transylvanians will let him use their territory for operations further east. Not only does this offer new hope for the Anaconda Project, but given his close connections with the leaders of the United States of Europe (and its allies), opening a new front in the Ottoman War offers an opportunity to stretch the Ottomans' lines and potentially take some pressure off the front at Linz. All in all, it's just too good an offer to turn down.
I just want to say again that I really enjoyed this novel, it's one of the funniest recent books in the series and tells a largely self-contained and interesting story while introducing several fascinating new characters. It really is a shame that this is where the series ends (for now?), but at least it's going out on a high note. Thanks for the stories, Eric (and your army of co-authors)!
That said, the series definitely goes out on a high note, I enjoyed 1637: The Transylvanian Decision quite a bit more than the last mainline novel (1637: The Polish Maelstrom) as it's a lot less messy in terms of the number of storylines its managing and I liked the characters more (and it spends more time with some very likeable down-time characters such as Swiss mercenary captain Christian von Jori and Bohemian Jewish doctor Isaac Kohen). It largely is a part of the "Anaconda Project" storyline, in which Grantville resident jeweler Morris Roth has used his wealth to fund a private half-Jewish, half-mercenary army with the goal of making Europe safe for Jews, with the particular goal of doing something about the Cossacks in Polish-Lithuanian Ruthenia who in our timeline in the 1640's undertook the bloodiest pogrom against Jews prior to the Holocaust. However, after the death of his political partner, the King of Bohemia, during the events of 1637: The Polish Maelstrom, the new regime in Bohemia is less interested in empire-building in Ruthenia and more interested in holding on to what they have (particularly with the Ottomans still occupying most of Austria), so Morris has an army but no clear place to take it and his welcome in Bohemia is wearing thin as with all the best will in the world, no one likes to have an army they don't control on their soil. Then Morris is unexpectedly approached by the brother of the Prince of Transylvania. The Transylvanians are Ottoman vassals but they're not particularly happy about the arrangement and they have an offer for Morris: if he'll bring his army into Transylvania and help them declare independence from the Ottomans, the Transylvanians will let him use their territory for operations further east. Not only does this offer new hope for the Anaconda Project, but given his close connections with the leaders of the United States of Europe (and its allies), opening a new front in the Ottoman War offers an opportunity to stretch the Ottomans' lines and potentially take some pressure off the front at Linz. All in all, it's just too good an offer to turn down.
I just want to say again that I really enjoyed this novel, it's one of the funniest recent books in the series and tells a largely self-contained and interesting story while introducing several fascinating new characters. It really is a shame that this is where the series ends (for now?), but at least it's going out on a high note. Thanks for the stories, Eric (and your army of co-authors)!
January 13, 2023
This is definitely the best book I've read in the series so far. There is ont a single dull moment in the bok. it's action packed, unburdened with unnecessary descriptions and dialogues, clevery written and thorougly researched. Characters are interesting and relatable and battle descriptions very exciting and convincing. Probably a book that I'll be reading again. Five and a half stars.
January 13, 2023
The latest novel in the wonderful series about American ideas and technological approaches spreading through the world of the 1630s is a pleasure to read, hard to put down, and full of new and old characters that are worth the visit.
This one deals with a transition in the effort to form a Jewish-led army to prevent the pogroms of the late 17th century before they begin. More than any book since the 1635: The Dreeson Incident, this one deals with the changes wrought by an insistence on religious tolerance and a particular commitment to end anti-semitism. And it is, as usual, so interesting to see how the uptime ideas affect the people born in the 1600s.
This particular novel is a more plot-driven than usual, with ideas a bit to the implied side, but leavened with a significant amount of character development. It was nice to see a little of how Gretchen Richter's ideas have evolved in four years as the foremost radical in Europe, but the inner thoughts of uptime Jews and downtime gentiles was the real highlight of this book. And there was just enough romance ... life does go on, even in unsought wars and time shifts.
Really a wonderful read.
This one deals with a transition in the effort to form a Jewish-led army to prevent the pogroms of the late 17th century before they begin. More than any book since the 1635: The Dreeson Incident, this one deals with the changes wrought by an insistence on religious tolerance and a particular commitment to end anti-semitism. And it is, as usual, so interesting to see how the uptime ideas affect the people born in the 1600s.
This particular novel is a more plot-driven than usual, with ideas a bit to the implied side, but leavened with a significant amount of character development. It was nice to see a little of how Gretchen Richter's ideas have evolved in four years as the foremost radical in Europe, but the inner thoughts of uptime Jews and downtime gentiles was the real highlight of this book. And there was just enough romance ... life does go on, even in unsought wars and time shifts.
Really a wonderful read.
December 30, 2022
Another Enjoyable Story From The Ring of Fire Universe
I can attribute several late nights up reading to The Transylvanian Decision. It can be difficult to put a book down when the action is hot and battles are so skillfully presented that who survives and who wins cannot be foretold just because that’s the way the story is “ supposed to go “.
Some well known characters take readers on another adventure in Europe, adding new characters along the way. But as in other books of the series this book tells of events taking place in only one part of the complex world that has resulted from the Ring of Fire event.
Without adding anything worthy of a spoiler alert, I will say this. Old friends are reunited. Morris, Jeff, Gretchen, and Denise are all involved. Battles are fought. Romances bloom. Long journeys occur. The Sultan gets very disappointed. Not everyone survives to the end of the book.
Enough said. If you enjoy spending time in the Ring of Fire universe I have given you enough hints to entice you to hurry for a copy of this book for your next reading experience.
I can attribute several late nights up reading to The Transylvanian Decision. It can be difficult to put a book down when the action is hot and battles are so skillfully presented that who survives and who wins cannot be foretold just because that’s the way the story is “ supposed to go “.
Some well known characters take readers on another adventure in Europe, adding new characters along the way. But as in other books of the series this book tells of events taking place in only one part of the complex world that has resulted from the Ring of Fire event.
Without adding anything worthy of a spoiler alert, I will say this. Old friends are reunited. Morris, Jeff, Gretchen, and Denise are all involved. Battles are fought. Romances bloom. Long journeys occur. The Sultan gets very disappointed. Not everyone survives to the end of the book.
Enough said. If you enjoy spending time in the Ring of Fire universe I have given you enough hints to entice you to hurry for a copy of this book for your next reading experience.
February 5, 2023
Another good book in a great series
Really enjoyed the book. Some familiar characters and some likeable new characters. Perhaps a bit formulaic, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Really enjoyed the book. Some familiar characters and some likeable new characters. Perhaps a bit formulaic, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
November 16, 2022
Interesting addition to the series
This is sadly one of the last books Eric Flint was deeply involved with at the time of his unfortunate demise in mid 2022. If you are familia4 with his 1632 universe of stories you will see his handiwork throughout this novel.
The Transylvanian Carpathian mountains have a reputation for beauty only matched by the Swiss Alps in European geography. However the Carpathian's form a long sinuous chain rather than a compact bundle like you find in Switzerland. Anywhere you visit along the chain will deliver breathtaking landscape. It is good t9 see this region at last explored in the 1632 setting.
This is sadly one of the last books Eric Flint was deeply involved with at the time of his unfortunate demise in mid 2022. If you are familia4 with his 1632 universe of stories you will see his handiwork throughout this novel.
The Transylvanian Carpathian mountains have a reputation for beauty only matched by the Swiss Alps in European geography. However the Carpathian's form a long sinuous chain rather than a compact bundle like you find in Switzerland. Anywhere you visit along the chain will deliver breathtaking landscape. It is good t9 see this region at last explored in the 1632 setting.
November 20, 2022
So long, Eric Flint
I didn't realize when I bought this one that Flint had passed away in July 2022 at age 75. So this might be his last entry in the Ring of Fire series? I have enjoyed it from the get go although it's taken roughly 20 years of writing to advance the Granville timeline 5-6 years. Many contributors to the overall storyline, others mediocre (at best), but I could always count on one with Eric's name attached. As usual there's a fine line in these books between world building and battle scenes and this one leans into the latter. Still, the lived experience of uptime and downtime Ashkenazim justifies the effort. Here's hoping there will be more.
I didn't realize when I bought this one that Flint had passed away in July 2022 at age 75. So this might be his last entry in the Ring of Fire series? I have enjoyed it from the get go although it's taken roughly 20 years of writing to advance the Granville timeline 5-6 years. Many contributors to the overall storyline, others mediocre (at best), but I could always count on one with Eric's name attached. As usual there's a fine line in these books between world building and battle scenes and this one leans into the latter. Still, the lived experience of uptime and downtime Ashkenazim justifies the effort. Here's hoping there will be more.
November 2, 2022
Another great Alt History in Eric Flint’s 🥹Ring of Fire “Universe”
I think this great book was the first released since Mr. Flint passed away, not positive however...
It follows the Ring of Fire format, but bringing in new trials for the Time Displaced West Virginians, and providing a fascinating of historically oppressed People, and at least in this universe, it's likely to turn out better for them as well as the core characters! Read it, please!
I think this great book was the first released since Mr. Flint passed away, not positive however...
It follows the Ring of Fire format, but bringing in new trials for the Time Displaced West Virginians, and providing a fascinating of historically oppressed People, and at least in this universe, it's likely to turn out better for them as well as the core characters! Read it, please!
November 17, 2022
Transvanian Decision Moves Ring of Fire Forward
The action in the Transyvanian Decision has moved the Ring of Fire forward. I am hopeful now that Etic Flint's death will not be the end of the story. I look forward to more stories from this alternative Universe, that promises a better world!
The action in the Transyvanian Decision has moved the Ring of Fire forward. I am hopeful now that Etic Flint's death will not be the end of the story. I look forward to more stories from this alternative Universe, that promises a better world!
November 9, 2022
I couldnt put the kindle down during the numerous battle scenes; but otherwise. i thought it lacked the depth of secondary character development and the frequent humorous breaks that characterized Eric Flint’s previous books… We miss you EF 😔
March 3, 2023
I am a big fan of this series. Haven't read all the books because, well, I have no idea how many there are. Including the anthologies and (in my opinion) those fan fiction authored novels; there are a plethora. I stick to the ones with Eric Flint's name on them. I love them. Euphoric escapism maximus. The core characters are well developed and complex. My favorite is Gretchen. Sexy and determined with fanatical focus. Whose very name terrifies the nobility of 17th century Europe. Although I think the tenets of the CoC are over the top and oxymoronic. Gretchen summarizes it plainly when she says her relationship with Gustavus Adolphus
is, 'complicated.' Almost a father/daughter dynamic. I think she just tolerates him because, for the time being, she must. I think in the future (their future not ours) things will change.
My favorite parts of the novel, as in most of them, are the battle scenes. The way in which uptime and downtime weapons and the improvised hybrids are deployed is very entertaining.
This newest edition to the series does not disappoint.
is, 'complicated.' Almost a father/daughter dynamic. I think she just tolerates him because, for the time being, she must. I think in the future (their future not ours) things will change.
My favorite parts of the novel, as in most of them, are the battle scenes. The way in which uptime and downtime weapons and the improvised hybrids are deployed is very entertaining.
This newest edition to the series does not disappoint.
May 2, 2023
So Satisfying
I admit a certain amount of quiet anxiety as I started the book. I don’t know the history of modern Romania as well as I do Central Europe’s. The historical elements in the Europe stories I always found interesting but not distracting. Could I have the same experience with a story based in Transylvania? As it turned out…yup! Yes the backdrop is Transylvania but this is really a story at the human level and not the geopolitical one. The book adds some wonderful characters to the 1632 universe and brings in a handful of characters those already familiar with the series will enjoy revisiting. This was a satisfying blend of people story, politics, and culture introduction with just the right seasoning of adventure elements to make a very tasty, maybe goulash, meal for your imagination.
I admit a certain amount of quiet anxiety as I started the book. I don’t know the history of modern Romania as well as I do Central Europe’s. The historical elements in the Europe stories I always found interesting but not distracting. Could I have the same experience with a story based in Transylvania? As it turned out…yup! Yes the backdrop is Transylvania but this is really a story at the human level and not the geopolitical one. The book adds some wonderful characters to the 1632 universe and brings in a handful of characters those already familiar with the series will enjoy revisiting. This was a satisfying blend of people story, politics, and culture introduction with just the right seasoning of adventure elements to make a very tasty, maybe goulash, meal for your imagination.
July 7, 2024
Solid addition to the Ring of Fire series. Largely military in focus, but essentially a sidebar to the larger Ottoman Empire vs. USE vs. Poland conflict. Strongly recommend that you read (at minimum) 1636: THE OTTOMAN ONSLAUGHT and 1637: THE POLISH MAELSTROM before diving into this one. Good characters but less intrigue then I expected. Very bloody, as you might expect when both sides are armed with advanced (Uptime-influenced 17th Century) weaponry. Sadly, this is the last book of the series that Eric Flint was involved with before his death; although, since this is a "shared universe" the future (heh) of the Ring of Fire is still in question. 4 stars. No vampires.
August 13, 2023
Another good installment.
Covering a lesser known arena of conflict.
Covering a lesser known arena of conflict.
February 28, 2023
Thank you to Eric Flint for all his amazing, wonderful stories. I will certainly miss them.
October 29, 2023
.
Not sure if this was the last book that Eric Flint helped write. It feels like but it's still a great book. You can tell the difference in places. I don't think Denise would use "inarticulate."
Not sure if this was the last book that Eric Flint helped write. It feels like but it's still a great book. You can tell the difference in places. I don't think Denise would use "inarticulate."
November 30, 2022
Excellent addition to the 1632 story
This book fits right into the 1632 universe. I really like the character development, the continuation of and expansion of the 1632 story. Hopefully the story will continue.
This book fits right into the 1632 universe. I really like the character development, the continuation of and expansion of the 1632 story. Hopefully the story will continue.
November 12, 2022
Toward Transylvania!
Love and war an age old combination for a great novel. Fire breathing dragons are not to bad also. Having Impalers in Transylvania can run shivers down your spine.
Love and war an age old combination for a great novel. Fire breathing dragons are not to bad also. Having Impalers in Transylvania can run shivers down your spine.
November 4, 2022
Democracy comes to the Balkans
Moses Roth wants to free eastern Europe from the holocaust. So he puts together an army like the USE army and heads east from Prague.
Moses Roth wants to free eastern Europe from the holocaust. So he puts together an army like the USE army and heads east from Prague.
November 5, 2022
Goatfoot
One of the best of the Ring of Fire series. I hope that all of the authors who have collaborated on these book keep the series alive now that Ringo gs has passed.
One of the best of the Ring of Fire series. I hope that all of the authors who have collaborated on these book keep the series alive now that Ringo gs has passed.
November 10, 2022
Great addition to the series
One of the better entry into the series and I am hoping the series continues even with Eric flint passing away.
One of the better entry into the series and I am hoping the series continues even with Eric flint passing away.
August 2, 2023
This book continues the Ottoman war from the previous book. As the title indicates, this book focus is on extending the war with the Ottoman to the east into the Transylvania region. There are several brief references to the war elsewhere, but those parts of the war are not detailed. There does need to be another book. So, at this point will there be another book? Eric Flint has died, the long hinted at naval battle in the Adriatic Sea, may have happened time wise by the end of this book, but I am not aware of the story being published in any form. Later this year, a new book on the Russian aspect of this 1932 world will come out, but that is a whole different region and situation. Hopefully this current war with the Ottomans will not be left hanging. Read these latest books in order as they tie together. If you are new to the series start with 1632. Many in this alternate history universe can be read in any old order but the 1637: Ottoman Onslaught come earlier than this book. Next read 1637: The Polish Maelstrom and finally read this one, 1637: The Transylvanian Decision. Hopefully there will be another book or several to complete the ongoing war with the Ottomans.
October 11, 2023
Transylvania approaches Morris Roth to help them break away from the Ottoman Empire. After talking with Mike Tearns, Gustophus Aldophus, Rebecca Abrbanel, Francisco Nasi and others, Morris agrees to bring his Grand Army of the Sunrise to the aid of Transylvania. Gretchen Richter is dragooned into doing what she does best, organize to create a republic. Jeff Higgins and the Selician army are brought in as well as the Brothern and their APCs. They are fighting against the Moldavians led by Vasile Lupe with an air balloon from Murad IV, and the Wallachians led by Mateo Basarab bolstered by Usan Hussein leading an orta of Janissaries and Spahi along with three tanks. The details of the preparations and the resulting battles are breathtaking making you wonder who will win.
September 12, 2024
One of the better installments on the Ring of Fire Time Travelling series which with the death of founder Eric Flint may be sadly coming to a close. One can only hope that someone will pick up the torch and keep it going. Robert Waters contribution here makes a strong argument as this tale picks up where the Polish Maelstrom left off. Will the Jewish Army of the Sunrise put an end to persecution in Eastern Europe? They get an offer to assist the Transylvanian Province which was subordinate to the powerful Ottoman Empire to break away in exchange for their support to stop the pogroms. But to do this they must fight the Ottomans themselves and they more than anyone else have adapted to uptime weapons. FYI no vampires here!
November 4, 2022
1637_TTD is basically an homage to Eric Flint, who created the Ring-of-Fire series. It uses some of his characters and some of his style. It's not as good as the books he wrote.
When a series becomes a franchise, there need to be reasons to keep reading. Excellent writing? No, the writing in this book is competent. Characters the reader cares about? Established characters got cameos, and the new characters were somewhat two-dimensional. Advancement of the over-arching plot? No, everything that happens in this book is a side-show.
This book wasn't bad, but I don't think I'll read a sequel if one appears.
When a series becomes a franchise, there need to be reasons to keep reading. Excellent writing? No, the writing in this book is competent. Characters the reader cares about? Established characters got cameos, and the new characters were somewhat two-dimensional. Advancement of the over-arching plot? No, everything that happens in this book is a side-show.
This book wasn't bad, but I don't think I'll read a sequel if one appears.
March 4, 2023
In this episode Morris Roth is leading an army, mostly Jewish, in a campaign to defeat the Sultan's forces in what will become Romania in our time line. Most of the story is military and I got lost in the battle scenes. Overall, it was a good story. Besides Morris, there are other characters from the earlier books who make appearances (Gretchen Richter, Jeff Higgins, Len Tanner and Ellie Anderson) and contribute to the plot line, but most of the character development is with people who didn't have large roles (if any) in the earlier books.
November 1, 2024
Morris Roth and the Grand Army of the Sunrise is taking a detour in Eastern Europe from his Anaconda Plan by opening another front against the Ottoman Empire. The Prince of Transylvania offered to switch sides against the Ottoman Empire, but needed assistance in keeping Transylvania safe. So off the Grand Army of the Sunrise went southeast to face the flame tanks and dirigibles of the Ottoman Empire alongside allies that may or may not be trustworthy. Will the Army stand its ground, or has Roth pushed them too far? An interesting addition to the series.
February 12, 2023
Derring-do in Transylvania
One of the best books in this epic series, full of complex characters, great battle scenes, and interesting politics. Flint and Waters do justice to the climactic battle with the unlikely Morris Roth cast as a warlord, intent on saving as many Jews as possible from pogroms.
This book has many heroes and it is one the best in the whole meta. Anyone who has read any of the earlier books will enjoy it, although it could stand alone.
One of the best books in this epic series, full of complex characters, great battle scenes, and interesting politics. Flint and Waters do justice to the climactic battle with the unlikely Morris Roth cast as a warlord, intent on saving as many Jews as possible from pogroms.
This book has many heroes and it is one the best in the whole meta. Anyone who has read any of the earlier books will enjoy it, although it could stand alone.
November 10, 2023
Not everything goes smoothly for the up-timers. And not all of the down-timers are as stupid as those first contacted when Grantville popped into 1600 Europe. The Ottomans had acquired renegade Grantville citizens. They helped them develop new and improved weapons. First Vienna falls. Then most of Austria is under siege as Murad wants it all. So to open a new threat, Transylvania becomes a side show which becomes a major part of the anti-Ottoman efforts of the USE and her allies.
December 10, 2024
One of the best books by Eric Flint I've read, may he rest in peace. The characters are engaging, both the villains and the heroes. The plot keeps moving along as two great armies move to clash in Transylvania. The authenticity of the history is convincing, blended with a melange of technologies from centuries 17th to the 20th.
For fans of historical fiction and fans of Eric Flint, I highly recommend this book.
For fans of historical fiction and fans of Eric Flint, I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews