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Assiti Shards #15
1636: The Devil's Opera
A new addition to the multiple New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire series. After carving a place for itself in
war-torn 17th century Europe, citizens of the modern town of Grantville, West Virginia take on a murderous conspiracy of operatic proportions in Magdeburg, the capital of the United States of Europe.
war-torn 17th century Europe, citizens of the modern town of Grantville, West Virginia take on a murderous conspiracy of operatic proportions in Magdeburg, the capital of the United States of Europe.
New York Times Best Selling Series
Eric Flint and David Carrico serve up the latest entry in the best-selling alternate history saga of them all, the Ring of Fire!
It is the year 1636. The United States of Europe, the new nation formed by an alliance between the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus and the West Virginians hurled back in time by a cosmic accident, is on the verge of civil war. His brain injured in the war with Poland, the USE's emperor Gustavus Adolphus is no longer in command. Enter Swedish chancellor Oxenstierna, a leader of aristocratic reaction against democracy. His goal: to assemble the forces of the hidebound ruling class in Berlin and drown the revolution in a bloodbath.
In Magdeburg, the capital of the USE, Mike Stearns' wife Rebecca Abrabanel is organizing popular resistance to Oxenstierna's plot. As part of the resistance, the American musician Marla Linder and her company of down-time musical partners are staging an opera that will celebrate the struggle against oppression. Princess Kristina, the heir to the USE's throne, is now residing in Magdeburg and is giving them her support and encouragement.
But another plot is underway--this one right in the heart of the capital itself, and with murder as its method. The only people standing in the way are a crippled boy and the boxing champion who befriended him, and an unlikely pair of policemen. Can the American detective Byron Chieske and his down-timer partner Gotthilf Hoch thwart the killers before they succeed in their goal?
1 pages, Audio CD
First published September 15, 2013
38 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
About the author
Eric Flint
250 books876 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 73 reviews
December 22, 2013
1636: The Devil’s Opera, by David Carrico, is the best in this series in a while. I have loved almost all the books in this series but until this addition, did not realize that the series had fallen into a rut, as far as I am concerned. The stories have been good but this new addition breathes new life into the series for me.
Yes, there is another crisis in this new Europe, as the plot is around the backlash against growing liberalism in the new Europe. Two plotlines run in this book and to me he more interesting is the one with a young handicapped boy, Simon, his savior and his benefactor, Hans, a huge man who is a fighter and intensely devoted to His physically damaged sister, Ursula. Simon had been living on the street day to day until Hans took him in and calls Simon, “my luck.” The growth here moved me more than I expected and it is this storyline that ends the book on the perfect note.
The other story/plot is with Marla Linder and her musical troupe. It starts not long after Marla suffered a miscarriage and how music brings life back to her and her marriage. At the same time it sets the stage for a fight against the backlash of those trying o bring, back to power, the aristocracy and repression of the masses. There are too many subplots to get into but I will say that this plotline too is very well conceived and satisfying.
Yes, there is another crisis in this new Europe, as the plot is around the backlash against growing liberalism in the new Europe. Two plotlines run in this book and to me he more interesting is the one with a young handicapped boy, Simon, his savior and his benefactor, Hans, a huge man who is a fighter and intensely devoted to His physically damaged sister, Ursula. Simon had been living on the street day to day until Hans took him in and calls Simon, “my luck.” The growth here moved me more than I expected and it is this storyline that ends the book on the perfect note.
The other story/plot is with Marla Linder and her musical troupe. It starts not long after Marla suffered a miscarriage and how music brings life back to her and her marriage. At the same time it sets the stage for a fight against the backlash of those trying o bring, back to power, the aristocracy and repression of the masses. There are too many subplots to get into but I will say that this plotline too is very well conceived and satisfying.
August 18, 2023
Very good! Marla's story line hooked me!
3/2019 Reread Still good the 2nd time around!
8/2023 reread! I enjoyed it!
3/2019 Reread Still good the 2nd time around!
8/2023 reread! I enjoyed it!
September 28, 2013
This is one of the best of the series to my way of thinking. As much as anything it is the story of a young man coming of age in a hard time and in a hard way. One might almost call it a feel good story but there is still much of the unique humor of the series that finds its way into the story. Fans of the Ring of Fire series will not be disappointed by this book but you will need to read through the first fifty pages or so as it does seem to start slowly. Once it gets going though it is hard to put down.
April 25, 2021
I've always enjoyed the musical elements stories in the 1632 universe. This book has become a favorite of mine in the series. Excellent characterization, good plot, and a heartwarming story...Who could ask for more?
February 19, 2016
***Read again in Feb 2016, only reading the actual Opera plotline, with some of the Cop plotline. A much shorter read.***
Something for everyone, here.
There are two plot lines, and neither involves high politics, large armies, or international politics. Instead, we meet people 'on the street'. Do you prefer ballet or boxing? Choose your plot-line!
The 'Devil' in this case is a business man, who is ticked off that nepotism didn't get him a building contract he wanted. Obviously, the proper solution is to hire a few men to sabotage the new building.
Meanwhle, the man who bid successfully is killing people who don't agree with him. Are we supposed to be rooting for him? The boxer - Hans Metzger - works construction, since boxing isn't a full time job. Hans sort of adopts Simon the Orphan, as his good luck piece. Simon has the most interesting view point. He has no dad, but there are a few adult men around him, and he is trying to decide what kind of man he'll be when he grows up - not just what he'll do for a living (boxing? policing? construction? assasination?) but WHO he'll be.
This plot-line includes orphan boys, boxers, policemen, construction workers, and a token female or three: the boxer's Sister (doubles as love interest for a cop),the cop's Mother and Sister, a Baker, and an old woman (two paragraphs, does that make her a minor character or a barely-there walk-on?) who provides the boxer with old clothing as a disguise.
The Opera is "Arthur Rex", once and future king, a nod to the politics of the series. Musician Marla vaults into national attention when she channels her anger at the world situation into a passionate rendition of Les Mis's "Do You Hear the People Sing." Oh, yes, there are plenty of 'angry men' who are ready to beat the drums. Wonder if that will develop anywhere? The song is recorded, goes viral, and suddenly Marla is at the center of a very political opera, playing Guinevere. Marla's plot has men and women in about equal roles. Also one Italian man who sings soprano.
The two plots run side by side and never meet until the end. The only thing that ties them together is the Evol Bizniz Man, who wants the boxer to become a killer, and is also stalking Marla the Musician.
Fun Read.
Something for everyone, here.
There are two plot lines, and neither involves high politics, large armies, or international politics. Instead, we meet people 'on the street'. Do you prefer ballet or boxing? Choose your plot-line!
The 'Devil' in this case is a business man, who is ticked off that nepotism didn't get him a building contract he wanted. Obviously, the proper solution is to hire a few men to sabotage the new building.
Meanwhle, the man who bid successfully is killing people who don't agree with him. Are we supposed to be rooting for him? The boxer - Hans Metzger - works construction, since boxing isn't a full time job. Hans sort of adopts Simon the Orphan, as his good luck piece. Simon has the most interesting view point. He has no dad, but there are a few adult men around him, and he is trying to decide what kind of man he'll be when he grows up - not just what he'll do for a living (boxing? policing? construction? assasination?) but WHO he'll be.
This plot-line includes orphan boys, boxers, policemen, construction workers, and a token female or three: the boxer's Sister (doubles as love interest for a cop),the cop's Mother and Sister, a Baker, and an old woman (two paragraphs, does that make her a minor character or a barely-there walk-on?) who provides the boxer with old clothing as a disguise.
The Opera is "Arthur Rex", once and future king, a nod to the politics of the series. Musician Marla vaults into national attention when she channels her anger at the world situation into a passionate rendition of Les Mis's "Do You Hear the People Sing." Oh, yes, there are plenty of 'angry men' who are ready to beat the drums. Wonder if that will develop anywhere? The song is recorded, goes viral, and suddenly Marla is at the center of a very political opera, playing Guinevere. Marla's plot has men and women in about equal roles. Also one Italian man who sings soprano.
The two plots run side by side and never meet until the end. The only thing that ties them together is the Evol Bizniz Man, who wants the boxer to become a killer, and is also stalking Marla the Musician.
Fun Read.
January 18, 2014
I have read at least five books in Eric Flint's Ring of Fire series. The series contains at least two types of books that I can identify. There are books that follow the large scale political implications of dropping a 20th century town into 17th century Germany. The tell the stories of kings, princes, armies, and the birth of new nations. These have been written by Eric Flint and collaborators. Other stories explore smaller stories that look at impacts on smaller scale. Some of these are written by Eric Flint, but some are written by other authors. I have tended to prefer the large scale stories like 1632, 1633, 1634: The Baltic War, but I have also enjoys some of the smaller scale books. In particular I really enjoyed 1636: The Kremlin Games, where one of the West Virginians who has struggled to find a way to fit in his new world goes off to Russia to help one of the Russian nobles to import modern technology to a Russia that still has serfs.
The are two threads to 1636:The Devil's Opera. One deals with how modern police work is applied to a series of crimes in Madgeburg, Germany. the town that has been the most affected by the Americans from the future. The other thread follows the staging of political opera. The two threads are woven together nicely.
As in most science fiction, the heroes can seem to perfect, but enjoyed this one as well as I have the books in the mainline of the series.
The are two threads to 1636:The Devil's Opera. One deals with how modern police work is applied to a series of crimes in Madgeburg, Germany. the town that has been the most affected by the Americans from the future. The other thread follows the staging of political opera. The two threads are woven together nicely.
As in most science fiction, the heroes can seem to perfect, but enjoyed this one as well as I have the books in the mainline of the series.
April 16, 2019
Another solid addition to the Granville story.
Once again I have spent time in the Granville universe.
And again I want more.
I have already bought the next novel, Polish Maelstrom, and will be reading it soon.
Once again I have spent time in the Granville universe.
And again I want more.
I have already bought the next novel, Polish Maelstrom, and will be reading it soon.
July 13, 2013
Not a bad addition to the corpus. Not the best, but certainly far from the worst.
October 8, 2013
probably one of the best books in this series.
June 9, 2018
By far the most interesting of the more recent books: interesting plot, new characters, and fast-paced.
May 1, 2020
The original novel 1632 was the story of the people of an ordinary West Virginia coal-mining town thrust backward in time and into greatness because of the circumstances. In the sequel, we've seen many of those characters reach high positions, commanding armies and leading governments.
But Eric Flint has never forgotten the ordinary working Joes and Janes who make civilization happen -- and what can happen when people see power as a privilege rather than a Responsibility. This novel had its roots in co-author David Carrico's stories about Marla and Fritz in the Grantville Gazette anthologies, but it has expanded to show what was going on among the ordinary people during the period in 1635: The Eastern Front and 1636: The Saxon Rebellion in which King-Emperor Gustavus Adolphus was incapacitated by a head injury and Oxensternia tries to turn back the clock and restore the old order.
While those novels focused on the people at the top, this novel's focus is on the people on the bottom. Other than a very small number of cameos from the King-Emperor and a few other VIP's, the most powerful and important people in this novel are a couple of business magnates who want to also be crime bosses, along the lines of the newer versions of Lex Luthor in the DC comics and movies. Both men are willing to resort to murder when they do not get their way, resulting in a couple of fascinating police-procedural threads that run alongside the story of how a group of dedicated musicians and other artists bring modern opera to the early seventeenth century, with a rendition of the story of King Arthur and Camelot.
It's interesting to see their version of the story and how it differs from all the various modern interpretations of the King Arthur legend that have appeared, from Tennyson's Idyls of the King and Steinbeck's unfinished King Arthur through retellings such as The Mists of Avalon that look at the story through a feminist and/or pagan lens. One fascinating element in the fictional opera is the transformation of Merlin into a bishop, rather than the traditional wizard. Given that this story is happening in the midst of a religious war, when witch-hunts are a not-infrequent event, it would make it clear that Merlin's powers are a gift of the Holy Spirit, eliminating any question of a diabolical pact on the part of a character who is being presented as sympathetic.
But Eric Flint has never forgotten the ordinary working Joes and Janes who make civilization happen -- and what can happen when people see power as a privilege rather than a Responsibility. This novel had its roots in co-author David Carrico's stories about Marla and Fritz in the Grantville Gazette anthologies, but it has expanded to show what was going on among the ordinary people during the period in 1635: The Eastern Front and 1636: The Saxon Rebellion in which King-Emperor Gustavus Adolphus was incapacitated by a head injury and Oxensternia tries to turn back the clock and restore the old order.
While those novels focused on the people at the top, this novel's focus is on the people on the bottom. Other than a very small number of cameos from the King-Emperor and a few other VIP's, the most powerful and important people in this novel are a couple of business magnates who want to also be crime bosses, along the lines of the newer versions of Lex Luthor in the DC comics and movies. Both men are willing to resort to murder when they do not get their way, resulting in a couple of fascinating police-procedural threads that run alongside the story of how a group of dedicated musicians and other artists bring modern opera to the early seventeenth century, with a rendition of the story of King Arthur and Camelot.
It's interesting to see their version of the story and how it differs from all the various modern interpretations of the King Arthur legend that have appeared, from Tennyson's Idyls of the King and Steinbeck's unfinished King Arthur through retellings such as The Mists of Avalon that look at the story through a feminist and/or pagan lens. One fascinating element in the fictional opera is the transformation of Merlin into a bishop, rather than the traditional wizard. Given that this story is happening in the midst of a religious war, when witch-hunts are a not-infrequent event, it would make it clear that Merlin's powers are a gift of the Holy Spirit, eliminating any question of a diabolical pact on the part of a character who is being presented as sympathetic.
March 28, 2024
The Devil's Opera is a follow up to the short story collection Music and Murder. It follows the same two threads: Marla Linder/music and Byron Chieske/murder but here it does so as one coherent narrative rather than a collection of shorts. On the music side, Gustav Adolf is out of commission and Oxenstierna is staging a coup in an attempt to roll back some of the democratization/religious tolerance moves that have come since the Ring of Fire. Mary Simpson convinces Marla and Co to stage an opera of King Arthur to rally support against him and for the 4th of July Party.
On the murder side we see mostly a goodhearted boxer named Hans and a crippled street kid named named Simon that Hans sort of adopted. There is a growing presence of 1920's style gangs in the boom town that is Magdeburg and policemen Byron Chieske and Gotthilf Hoch want to talk to Hans because he "knows things." Problem is, how can they earn his trust?
This story had a surprising depth and really good character development. I loved the small discussions that took place between crippled Simon and the aged priest. Compared to such recent books as the Saxon Uprising and the Ottoman Onslaught, the stakes are not really all that high. Even still, I think this is one of the best written books in the series. Unfortunately, you will probably need to read Murder and Mayham to fully appreciate this one, but it is worth it. The Devil's Opera... is a masterpiece.
On the murder side we see mostly a goodhearted boxer named Hans and a crippled street kid named named Simon that Hans sort of adopted. There is a growing presence of 1920's style gangs in the boom town that is Magdeburg and policemen Byron Chieske and Gotthilf Hoch want to talk to Hans because he "knows things." Problem is, how can they earn his trust?
This story had a surprising depth and really good character development. I loved the small discussions that took place between crippled Simon and the aged priest. Compared to such recent books as the Saxon Uprising and the Ottoman Onslaught, the stakes are not really all that high. Even still, I think this is one of the best written books in the series. Unfortunately, you will probably need to read Murder and Mayham to fully appreciate this one, but it is worth it. The Devil's Opera... is a masterpiece.
April 26, 2021
Germany, 1636. The USE—the United States of Europe—is in crisis. The mysterious appearance of 1999 Grantville, West Virginia in 17th-century Germany caused a major uproar, but an alliance with Gustavus Adolphus, the king of Sweden, allowed the displaced Americans to forge a new nation, the USE. But now, a few years later, the king is recovering from battle wounds, and while he was marginalized, the Swedish chancellor Axel Oxenstierna, attempted to undue many of the new USE policies. In the USE capital, "up-time" American cop Byron Chieske and his "down-time" partner, DI Gotthilf Hoch, are worried that some recent cases of sabotage and murder might only be the beginning of a much larger plot. Meanwhile, the Committees of Correspondence have joined with the 4th of July Party to debut a new opera as political propaganda, and the top recording on the radio is a German version of "Do You Hear the People Sing?".
June 11, 2018
An old fashion detective story
This novel is the reworking of a set of short stories into a cohesive whole. It has transitioned from a few interwoven short mysteries into one whole story covering the entire set of works and reads very well. Anyone who likes detective stories should enjoy this book, and for fans of the 1632 series of related novels it fills in a number of gaps by telling a story parallel and bridging over the events in some of the other novels in the same setting.
This novel is the reworking of a set of short stories into a cohesive whole. It has transitioned from a few interwoven short mysteries into one whole story covering the entire set of works and reads very well. Anyone who likes detective stories should enjoy this book, and for fans of the 1632 series of related novels it fills in a number of gaps by telling a story parallel and bridging over the events in some of the other novels in the same setting.
June 25, 2020
The Devil Served
There are over twenty novels in this series now and although there are a couple (with V. DeMarce) that are deadly dull most are excellent and a few are outstanding. This is one of the few.
Eric set the bar extremely high with 1632 and 1633 with stories that never missed a beat or lagged at all. The Devil’s Opera is in that vein. There are interesting developments in every chapter that keep you looking forward to the next one. The kind of story that you find it hard to set down and eagerly look forward to picking up again.
There are over twenty novels in this series now and although there are a couple (with V. DeMarce) that are deadly dull most are excellent and a few are outstanding. This is one of the few.
Eric set the bar extremely high with 1632 and 1633 with stories that never missed a beat or lagged at all. The Devil’s Opera is in that vein. There are interesting developments in every chapter that keep you looking forward to the next one. The kind of story that you find it hard to set down and eagerly look forward to picking up again.
August 29, 2017
Another solid entry in the Ring of Fire series, and I'm really loving the idea that a bunch of teenage girls (AKA The Barbie Consortium) are so aware of economics that they work with the Austria-Hungary Hapsburgs to save the country while having fun dating downtime young men. To them, it is all in a day's work...
This volume can get a bit confusing from time to time because of the large cast of characters, and would not make sense to anyone not very familiar with earlier tales in the series.
This volume can get a bit confusing from time to time because of the large cast of characters, and would not make sense to anyone not very familiar with earlier tales in the series.
November 29, 2025
Read them all.
These series are historically accurate. The novels do build on one another, tho technically able to be read stand alone. You gain a measure of complexity that fills in the characters. There are several lines of stories. At least try the first of each. Heck, read them all. You will learn as much from the short stories as the novel.
These series are historically accurate. The novels do build on one another, tho technically able to be read stand alone. You gain a measure of complexity that fills in the characters. There are several lines of stories. At least try the first of each. Heck, read them all. You will learn as much from the short stories as the novel.
March 27, 2018
This book was entertaining in regards to the political movement and the crimes occurring. Some of the more musical parts dragged a bit but all in all, I liked the tie ins to previous books as the entire narrative moves forward.
December 6, 2020
One of my favourite side novels from the Ring of Fire series. As much as I enjoy the main line novels, i've also enjoyed reading smaller, less high stakes novels that explore the Americans effects on other areas of life and culture. Great book.
March 23, 2025
Ring of fire ruoools !!
An absolutely delightful addition to the ring of fire series , compiled from the grantville Gazette ,interlocked stories , compelling characters , this book just has an abundance of spirit
An absolutely delightful addition to the ring of fire series , compiled from the grantville Gazette ,interlocked stories , compelling characters , this book just has an abundance of spirit
June 17, 2025
This was my favorite book in the series so far. Even though I am not a fan of boxing or opera, the story was compelling. The main characters didn't include any of the well known ones from the other books, but they were interesting and well developed. It didn't get as bogged down in the politics of the day as some of the other books. It reads more like a detective story.
June 28, 2017
As usual, this has several on-going plots. Loved the "let the people sing" plot. My brain keeps singing, "We, the people".
April 28, 2018
this book should come with a cd so you can listen to the music that the main character sings... great story, multiple weaves, and all tied up at the end with the closing of the police files.
November 17, 2018
I like this series and this is a good addition to it. It was a quick and gripping read.
June 28, 2021
Liked this one. A good mystery and plenty of tangential threads that comes together nicely. Fits well with the series and nice to see some homefront acting during Eastern Front & Saxon Uprising
October 3, 2021
More music in Magdeburg.
July 20, 2022
Opera and drrama
I only wish I could actually hear the Arthurian opera and the singing. The intricacies of the plotline and the Barcelona outcome are superb.
I only wish I could actually hear the Arthurian opera and the singing. The intricacies of the plotline and the Barcelona outcome are superb.
November 27, 2023
An enjoyable read. I was happy to see more of the characters introduced in the previous novel, although the detective work plot plays a larger role in this volume.
Read
October 4, 2016Organized crime in the 17th century. This was a decent crime novel.
February 14, 2025
(almost two years later and finally got around to writing a review...)
1636: The Devil's Opera is different from most (if not all) other Ring of Fire books in that it doesn't expand the universe in any significant ways. It takes place entirely within the timeline of the previously released 1636: the Saxon Uprising and almost entirely within the city of Magdeburg, capital of the United States of Europe. Rather than fleshing out the divergences caused by the arrival of the Uptimers or filling in holes in the new world order, David Carrico made the interesting choice to write a much more intimate story, a story of fairly ordinary people involved in a murder mystery, the consequences of the pro-nobility counter-revolution launched by Swedish chancellor Axel Oxenstierna during Emperor Gustavus Adolphus's convalescence, oh, and the Magdeburg opera (centered on Franz/Marla from Carrico's previous short stories) company, which is making waves with its performance of "Do You Hear the People Sing" from Les Miserables. It's a very different sort of story than most of what we've gotten from Eric Flint and company but David Carrico proves that his skill in writing short stories (as seen in the various Grantville Gazette collections) translates well to a full length novel as he creates an array of interesting and flawed characters and builds a tense and creative story that nicely catches the weird industrial age-meets-medieval feel of Magdeburg and the interaction of up-timer and down-timer culture. Even though the Devil's Opera strips away much of the political-historical development that I love about Ring of Fire, it makes up for it with some of the series best story-telling. If David Carrico ever gets around to writing his own series, I would be really interested to see what he comes up with because he has some real talent (not going to complain if he keeps working for Flint though I'd love to see another book like this in the Ring of Fire universe and I'm incredibly excited to hear that he's finishing up the Jao series begun by Flint and the late K.D. Wentworth).
1636: The Devil's Opera is different from most (if not all) other Ring of Fire books in that it doesn't expand the universe in any significant ways. It takes place entirely within the timeline of the previously released 1636: the Saxon Uprising and almost entirely within the city of Magdeburg, capital of the United States of Europe. Rather than fleshing out the divergences caused by the arrival of the Uptimers or filling in holes in the new world order, David Carrico made the interesting choice to write a much more intimate story, a story of fairly ordinary people involved in a murder mystery, the consequences of the pro-nobility counter-revolution launched by Swedish chancellor Axel Oxenstierna during Emperor Gustavus Adolphus's convalescence, oh, and the Magdeburg opera (centered on Franz/Marla from Carrico's previous short stories) company, which is making waves with its performance of "Do You Hear the People Sing" from Les Miserables. It's a very different sort of story than most of what we've gotten from Eric Flint and company but David Carrico proves that his skill in writing short stories (as seen in the various Grantville Gazette collections) translates well to a full length novel as he creates an array of interesting and flawed characters and builds a tense and creative story that nicely catches the weird industrial age-meets-medieval feel of Magdeburg and the interaction of up-timer and down-timer culture. Even though the Devil's Opera strips away much of the political-historical development that I love about Ring of Fire, it makes up for it with some of the series best story-telling. If David Carrico ever gets around to writing his own series, I would be really interested to see what he comes up with because he has some real talent (not going to complain if he keeps working for Flint though I'd love to see another book like this in the Ring of Fire universe and I'm incredibly excited to hear that he's finishing up the Jao series begun by Flint and the late K.D. Wentworth).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews