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1632 Universe/Ring of Fire #38
1637: The Coast of Chaos
THE NEW WORLD FALLS INTO THE RING OF FIRE. All new stories set in the Ring of Fire series, edited by New York Times best-selling series creator Eric Flint.
Europe, 1632. It is a time of upheaval and great change. But none so great as when an unexplained temporal and spatial phenomenon known as the Ring of Fire transports the blue collar town of Grantville, West Virginia, smack dab in the middle of the Thirty Years War. When the dust settles, it becomes clear that the town of Grantville isn't going anywhere, and the can-do Americans of the twenty-first century begin altering the course of history forever.
It is now five years later, and the effects of the Ring of Fire reach from the Old World to the New. But the course of exploration and colonization will look much different than it did in our timeline. The French bought the English possessions in North America way back in 1633, but have never done much with the uncivilized backwater. Until the new king of France, Gaston I, decides that it's time to seize the territory and establish French control over it.
Here then, a new anthology, edited by Ring of Fire series creator Eric Flint, chronicling the exploits of the citizens of Grantville, their allies, and their enemies, as they venture forth onto a new continent.
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
About 1637: No Peace Beyond the
“The action is non-stop. The authors skillfully blend battle, intrigue, politics, and everyday life in a remade seventeenth century to yield an exciting story. Both those familiar with the series (and this sequel’s predecessor) and those reading “No Peace Beyond the Line” as a first exposure to an addictive series will find it satisfying reading.”—Ricochet.com
About 1635: A Parcel of
“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
“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
“This alternate history series is . . . a landmark.”—Booklist
“[Eric] Flint's 1632 universe seems to be inspiring a whole new crop of gifted alternate historians.”—Booklist
“ . . . reads like a technothriller set in the age of the Medicis . . .”—Publishers Weekly
Eric Flint is a modern master of alternate history fiction, with 3 million books in print. He’s the author/creator of the multiple New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire series, starting with first novel 1632. With David Drake he has written six popular novels in the “Belisarius” alternate Roman history series, and with David Weber he has collaborated on 1633 and 1634: The Baltic War, as well as four novels in Weber's Honorverse series. Flint was for many years a labor union activist.
Europe, 1632. It is a time of upheaval and great change. But none so great as when an unexplained temporal and spatial phenomenon known as the Ring of Fire transports the blue collar town of Grantville, West Virginia, smack dab in the middle of the Thirty Years War. When the dust settles, it becomes clear that the town of Grantville isn't going anywhere, and the can-do Americans of the twenty-first century begin altering the course of history forever.
It is now five years later, and the effects of the Ring of Fire reach from the Old World to the New. But the course of exploration and colonization will look much different than it did in our timeline. The French bought the English possessions in North America way back in 1633, but have never done much with the uncivilized backwater. Until the new king of France, Gaston I, decides that it's time to seize the territory and establish French control over it.
Here then, a new anthology, edited by Ring of Fire series creator Eric Flint, chronicling the exploits of the citizens of Grantville, their allies, and their enemies, as they venture forth onto a new continent.
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
About 1637: No Peace Beyond the
“The action is non-stop. The authors skillfully blend battle, intrigue, politics, and everyday life in a remade seventeenth century to yield an exciting story. Both those familiar with the series (and this sequel’s predecessor) and those reading “No Peace Beyond the Line” as a first exposure to an addictive series will find it satisfying reading.”—Ricochet.com
About 1635: A Parcel of
“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
“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
“This alternate history series is . . . a landmark.”—Booklist
“[Eric] Flint's 1632 universe seems to be inspiring a whole new crop of gifted alternate historians.”—Booklist
“ . . . reads like a technothriller set in the age of the Medicis . . .”—Publishers Weekly
Eric Flint is a modern master of alternate history fiction, with 3 million books in print. He’s the author/creator of the multiple New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire series, starting with first novel 1632. With David Drake he has written six popular novels in the “Belisarius” alternate Roman history series, and with David Weber he has collaborated on 1633 and 1634: The Baltic War, as well as four novels in Weber's Honorverse series. Flint was for many years a labor union activist.
430 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2021
45 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Eric Flint
250 books874 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 22, 2022
Trots det löjliga omslaget var denna alldeles utmärkt. Det rör sig om en serie noveller som skapar kulisserna för eventuella konflikter i nya världen i 163x-världen. Jag rekommenderar den för de som läst andra delar av serien.
May 27, 2024
Interesting arrangement. This book starts out with a novella by Flint, Huff, and Goodlett, followed by a collection of connected short stories by other authors, and a final story by Bjorn Hasseler that largely pulls it all together. The stories are from different points of view so characters (some fictional, some historic) are sometimes portrayed differently - although only one doesn't present Miles Standish as a huge asshole. Many of the "pilgrims" are also portrayed as intolerant bigots, which is not entirely inaccurate. All stories are set along the northeastern seaboard of North America and focused on the USE trying to get the various colonial and native groups to join together and present a united front to the French. While slavery is a major focus in the Caribbean books of the "New World thread," in this one, the hot button issue is conflict between the European colonists and the native peoples, with the USE vowing not to repeat the mistakes of (their) past. One story, "The Brothers" (Walter H. Hunt) is essentially a sequel to 1636: THE ATLANTIC ENCOUNTER. Obviously, some of these tales are better than others, but my favorites were "The Coast of Chaos" (Flnit, Huff, Goodlett), "Confederation" (Hassseler) and "The People From the Sky" (Brown, Waters). I give this book 3 stars. Sadly, in a series featuring more than a few terrible book covers, this has one of the worst. What looks like some sort of sorcerer creating tiny monsters with one hand and cherubs with the other is actually supposed to be an allegorical painting of former USE Prime Minister Michael Stearns. All I can say is that cover artist Todd Kidd is no Peter Paul Rubens.
March 16, 2024
Imagine if someone knew what was going to happen with the destruction of indigenous Americans, and wanted to do something about it?
This version of the alternate world where American ideals are introduced into the world in 1632 by displaced West Virginians focuses on the relationship between Native Americans, Dutch and English colonists, and how the menace of the French and knowledge of our mistakes led them to find a way to work together.
This book reminds me of why I keep reading this series after 50 books, novels, or collections. A series of interlocking novellas and short stories by multiple authors, covering overlapping events from all perspectives -- up-timers, Native Americans, and colonists. And I love the idea, still, that ideas can change the world ... the most optimistic perspective this series reinforces.
I'm glad Eric Flint got to finish this collection before his death. It seems to me, based on his writing and discussions at conventions, that this is one of the ideas spreading he would have loved to see most.
I'm going to keep reading.
This version of the alternate world where American ideals are introduced into the world in 1632 by displaced West Virginians focuses on the relationship between Native Americans, Dutch and English colonists, and how the menace of the French and knowledge of our mistakes led them to find a way to work together.
This book reminds me of why I keep reading this series after 50 books, novels, or collections. A series of interlocking novellas and short stories by multiple authors, covering overlapping events from all perspectives -- up-timers, Native Americans, and colonists. And I love the idea, still, that ideas can change the world ... the most optimistic perspective this series reinforces.
I'm glad Eric Flint got to finish this collection before his death. It seems to me, based on his writing and discussions at conventions, that this is one of the ideas spreading he would have loved to see most.
I'm going to keep reading.
May 8, 2023
This is unfortunately one of the weaker books in the series, albeit not to weak writing.
From the very beginning the strong point of the series was the attempt at realism and the willingness to question commonly held assumptions. "People did not get kids with 14", "Revolution and democracy are not new ideas", "Yes, Americans are a bureaucratic people",...
However, these elements seem to be entirely missing in the North-American substream. While the writing does an excellent job to blend different stories in a consecutive whole, there was too much wishful and unrealistic remodeling of the past to make it enjoyable. It's probably easier to be realistic in a European setting than in the North-American history, which hits closer to home for several authors. The overwhelming tenor of the book was "I'm the wise up-timer. Look what happened in our past, we know better know, do not do our mistakes." And, of course, everybody falls immediately in line.
The one thing I absolutely enjoyed was to finally see Ruben's painting as a front cover.
From the very beginning the strong point of the series was the attempt at realism and the willingness to question commonly held assumptions. "People did not get kids with 14", "Revolution and democracy are not new ideas", "Yes, Americans are a bureaucratic people",...
However, these elements seem to be entirely missing in the North-American substream. While the writing does an excellent job to blend different stories in a consecutive whole, there was too much wishful and unrealistic remodeling of the past to make it enjoyable. It's probably easier to be realistic in a European setting than in the North-American history, which hits closer to home for several authors. The overwhelming tenor of the book was "I'm the wise up-timer. Look what happened in our past, we know better know, do not do our mistakes." And, of course, everybody falls immediately in line.
The one thing I absolutely enjoyed was to finally see Ruben's painting as a front cover.
January 2, 2022
Another good entry into the east coast North America geographic area of the Ring of Fire ongoing events. The cover painting is very symbolic and does fit the nastiness of France on the sinister side. The dexter side also is symbolic and fitting. Tom Kidd and Jennie Faries are to complemented on their use of symbols. The writing of the stories are good quality. I have doubts about several authors efforts getting the Indian tribal divisions to start uniting and glossing over previous hatreds. The difficulties I would think in reality would be much more than portrayed, but maybe that is part of the next book to come. Bottom line is this is definitely a book to read for Ring of Fire fans.
June 27, 2022
The Ring of Fire comes to New England, the USE has two long term goals; stop slavery and preserve Native Americans. This book is a novella with some closely related short stories. The corrupt Dutch East India Company gets a nasty surprise when a new Governor General shows up in New Amsterdam. The Pilgrims with some help manage to avoid an all out war with the local tribes, which saves their bacon when the French arrive to take over their new colony. A good read but maybe not the best place to start the series.
November 17, 2023
Another great read.
It is interesting to me that there's a portion of my sense of patriotism that rebels at the idea that the United States I know will never be in this alternate universe (not, of course, that it is always the US I want it to be anyway). At the same time, Man of La Mancha actually has a chance to come true. The opportunity to "right the unrightable wrong really exists this timeline. Native Americans do not need to be decimated.
If you are unfamiliar with the 1632 series and enjoy historical fiction, you are truly missing out.
It is interesting to me that there's a portion of my sense of patriotism that rebels at the idea that the United States I know will never be in this alternate universe (not, of course, that it is always the US I want it to be anyway). At the same time, Man of La Mancha actually has a chance to come true. The opportunity to "right the unrightable wrong really exists this timeline. Native Americans do not need to be decimated.
If you are unfamiliar with the 1632 series and enjoy historical fiction, you are truly missing out.
December 17, 2021
An excellent tribute to Rick!
Rick Boatright to who this collection is dedicated was one of the kindest and most helpful people I have ever known. He guided me through the editing and publishing process for my first paid article with patience and kindness well beyond what I deserved. I loved the novella which begins this collection and the dedication at the end got me choked up. A must read for all fans of the 1632 series of novels and stories.
Rick Boatright to who this collection is dedicated was one of the kindest and most helpful people I have ever known. He guided me through the editing and publishing process for my first paid article with patience and kindness well beyond what I deserved. I loved the novella which begins this collection and the dedication at the end got me choked up. A must read for all fans of the 1632 series of novels and stories.
January 8, 2022
A solid offering in the 1632 universe. Catches the series up on the goings on in North America. With England having "sold" it's colonial possessions to France, it leaves the the multiple groups in a right spot (Pilgrims, Puritans, Indigenous tribes, the Dutch, and Champlains alt-France forces)
By the end of the story, the makings of something new, and arguably better takes root and I'm looking forward to what's next.
By the end of the story, the makings of something new, and arguably better takes root and I'm looking forward to what's next.
April 3, 2022
This book has a different approach: it’s not a novel but a set of short (and a couple not-so-short) stories in the 1632 universe. The stories have different authors and different perspectives of some of the characters. With a long beginning story, the remainder fall roughly in a timeline, with some parallelism. It works and represents a view of the USE’s attempt to really change history, at least as it happened before the Ring of Fire.
July 5, 2022
This is a continuation of the 1632 series, but unlike most of the series this one is set primary in North America. The first story is set in New Netherlands. The others are set in Massachusetts with a focus on the Pilgrims and Puritans who settled there, and on the Native Americans in the area.
The cover only lists Eric Flint, Paula Goodlett and Gorg Huff, but there are also stories by Walter Hunt, Eric Brown and Robert Waters, Bjorn Hasseler, John Deakins, and Michael Lockwood.
The cover only lists Eric Flint, Paula Goodlett and Gorg Huff, but there are also stories by Walter Hunt, Eric Brown and Robert Waters, Bjorn Hasseler, John Deakins, and Michael Lockwood.
April 26, 2023
The French under the usurper Gaston finally decide to push their claims in North America after leaving the colonies purchased from England alone for a few years. The leaders sent are aggressive and fanatics for the New France. They arrive and start killing and destroying the colonies at Boston and Plymouth. As some contact with the USE is opened, resistance begins to organize with the settlers and the native tribes realizing that some cooperation will give them numbers and better odds.
October 16, 2023
Bjorn Hasseler wrote two stories in this collection: Remember Plymouth and Confederation. Both are about 17th century American Indians affected by the Ring of Fire. The transplanted West Virginians, with strong support from their United States of Europe compatriots, seek to avoid the exploitation and decimation of the Indians and the spread of chattel slavery. Bjorn does a great job of laying out the conflicts with dialog and action. Well-written and optimistic!
March 6, 2022
The Ring of Fire 'arrives' in New England (Hudson River valley and points east) which is now New France and doesn't want to be. Alliances with American natives, the French civil war, the big push-back against slavery, and Christian and medical missionaries are the beginnings of a new 'history' for eastern North America.
July 31, 2024
This is a collection of short stories and novellas revolving around the battles in the new world between the Pilgrims, Native Americans, and the French.
The various authors all contribute their stories, but they're linked together by characters and plot.
The quality ranges from great to average. Anyone who loves the 1632 series will want to read this book.
The various authors all contribute their stories, but they're linked together by characters and plot.
The quality ranges from great to average. Anyone who loves the 1632 series will want to read this book.
August 11, 2023
More land of the free!
Eric was just great! I would hope someone of loving skill has written something like Boatrights eulogy for Eric. I can't believe he is gone. Maybe there sharing a tanker in the beyond.
Eric was just great! I would hope someone of loving skill has written something like Boatrights eulogy for Eric. I can't believe he is gone. Maybe there sharing a tanker in the beyond.
July 12, 2025
Very entertaining collection of short stories in this alternative history universe. As a native of upstate NY and an avid Revolutionary history buff, I really appreciated this very different history of North America.
December 24, 2021
Absolutely Wonderful
Most of these offshoots are fairly good at best. This book is one of the rare ones that are as good or better than the original.
Most of these offshoots are fairly good at best. This book is one of the rare ones that are as good or better than the original.
February 25, 2022
An interesting look at what is happening with the native population of America in the 1632 universe.
June 12, 2022
Great read. Waiting for more!
As usual, the storylines all come together. It just keeps me waiting for more! I look forward to the next novels to complete some of these plots.
As usual, the storylines all come together. It just keeps me waiting for more! I look forward to the next novels to complete some of these plots.
June 12, 2022
Ha is indeed
Too many participants to count. I love this series. Indigenous people at least get a fighting chance. Evil French get pounded
Too many participants to count. I love this series. Indigenous people at least get a fighting chance. Evil French get pounded
October 1, 2022
This was a series of short stories that continued the Ring of Fire world history in North America. I hope the series will continue :(
September 23, 2025
nicely told collection of stories
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews