Issue #3 of Eric Flint's 1632 & Beyond, available 1 January 2024.
The Magdeburg Messenger (1632 Fiction)
This issue's cover story is "Cassini Rounds Third." Robert Waters continues the saga of Giovanni Cassini. Up-time, he was a famous astronomer. Down-time, he's a kid who wants to play ball. He might get to stay in Grantville, but is it really for the love of the game?
Next is Bethanne Kim's "A Fitting Tribute." The Ugolinis make memorial stones and other markers. That's not something the average down-timer is used to. Is there a way to save the family business?
Marc Tyrrell concludes "A Meeting at Midsummer" with Part 2. Paul, Gagnrad, Helmut, Captain von Thieren, and the Inquisitor Father Salazar are all on different missions. As most of their paths cross near Klettbach, which of them will succeed?
An evening at a very good restaurant leads to "A Disturbance at the Nishioka House." Garrett W. Vance's tale takes place immediately after "Ill-Met in the Marshes" from Issue 1. Plus, there's a cat.
The State Library Papers (1632 Non-Fiction)Iver P. Cooper's article "Something Old, Something New" is about construction materials and their availability (or lack thereof) in the new timeline.
New 1632 BooksAvailable
A Diogenes Club for the Czar by Gorg Huff and Paula Goodlett
Cassini moves to Grantville, Blom saves Mono from river bandits, Paul rescues Heinrich from the Inquisition, and Gabi's family finds a way to make money.
I found the continuation I so much wanted of "Ill-Met in the Marshes" in issue with the story "Disturbance at the Nishioka House" by Garrett Vance. "Disturbance" is putting it mildly from the body count. It is nice to read about Christians who use the self-defense skills God gifted them so they will not be victims. The other stories in the issue are good also. The essay about construction materials was interesting, necessary for writers reference, but not stories from the Assiti Shard Universes like I hoped. Oh well, maybe in the next volume which ought to come out in March. The good part in all this, that 1632 is alive and well!
Several tales have more chapters in the old grantville gazette magazine but we are caught up on the highlights with back story synopsis. Other tales are new chapters in new on going story lines. Great filler for some minor characters in the main books or new characters to flesh out the main plot lines already presented in the main books. Plan to spend the money for a year's subscription - cheaper than issue by issue thru Amazon.
Every story in this collection keeps to the honored traditions of Flint's Masterwork creation, the 1632 universe, shared with so many talented aspiring writers. Its absolutely heartwarming to see these new stories spawning from the fertile soil the Grandmaster of Collaboration has sown.
Great reads and thoroughly enjoyed them but some need to be novels on their own. Hate being left knowing what happens next, just like what happens next with the great gift Eric has left us.
A nice selection of short stories about late 20th century Grantville, WV Americans in 17th century Germany and information about construction resources in the NTL.