1633 (The 1632 Universe)

Decent, but trudges occasionally

The book, as a second in a series, is, not plagued, but definitely encumbered by a dose of sequelitis. The plot is not noticeably advanced, for example: the town is in almost the exact same circumstances that it began the book in. My one main critique of the book however is in the author's penchant for soapboxing on political subjects. Characters will speak, incredibly rudely, to people in positions much higher than themselves about how it is just so much better to be in a democratic system. However, as a fan of alternate history, I will admit that it does well in entertaining its readers and other fans of alt history should check it out, but for those not familiar with the alternate history genre, it will simply be more confusing than I think worthwhile.

I am enjoying the series

Needs more passion.

alternate reality bites back

What we have here is...well, what we don't have here is a typical alternate history shoot-em-up where the manly (and womanly) and superior modern Americans get marooned in time and wind up running the place in 30 days. What we have here instead is a serious politico-philosophical treatise in subtext, with all the entertainment and action you can ask for. Flint and Weber simply demand that you think your way through their novel...and the bad guys are revealed as human beings, just as the good guys are revealed warts and all. There are no deus ex machina reveals. The plot forces the uptimers to clearly confront the limitations of their own wisdom, knowledge, education and technology. The indigenous 17th century citizens are revealed as every bit as capable as their great grand children. After all, do we not stand on their shoulders in politics, in religion, in discovery, in business, in science, and in technology? This is a great read. Better the second time than the first, too. Buy this book.

If You Are Not A Barfly

You will enjoy this book a lot more than I did since Eric (why Barnes&Noble insists on putting David first is a puzzelment) snippeted it too much. I would have liked a scene in both Badenberg (which is entirely fictious) and Jena and possibly a bit more on the economics of Grantville. I had some comments about things I was less than thrilled about on the Bar (they have "aged off" and am awaiting the anthology and "The Baltic War".

Loved it

A great read, Eric has fleshed out characters who were flat before, increased the cast of characters, and changed the focus of the series from small problems, small solutions to world problems and hopefully, world solutions. It's easy to see David Weber's influence in the book as well, while I always find it wrenching when major characters are killed, it's pretty unbelievable for a war to be fought and none of the main characters die. My biggest complaint is the ending, I want the next books NOW, not a year from now.

Great continuation to a fun story

This book is the sequel to 1632. It continues the story of the town of Grantville cast back in time to the 30 years war. All the old characters are here, plus the fleshing out of background characters from the previous book. I liked how the story dealt with issues that anyone placed in that situation would have to deal with. No ultralight aircraft or super weapons out of nowhere to easilly kill and panic the natives, a real fear of disease in the time of great plagues (with no factory of penecillin or some other wonder-drug conviniently available), and a true scarcity of resources that illustrates the old question of 'guns or butter'. These are not supermen out of the future, but real people with real issues.

Disappointing - bland sequel to 1632

A whole lot has happened to Grantsville between 1632 and 1633 - improving the army (making new weapons) plus starting a navy and airforce; many couples had their baby. The book starts with two diplomatic missions one to England headed by Mellisa and Rita and the second to France with a continuation on to Holland headed by Rebecca. Almost all of the book then is setting up the 'grand' ending (including contriving for characters to explain the current and future regular history and explaining how having the Americans back in that time and having access to history books changes things -- GEE, MAYBE) with Cardinal Richelieu plotting and the Americans getting prepared. However; it turns out to be a fairly small ending because most of the big conclusion is evidently in the next sequel(s). This book has a lot of wasted pages with contrived quasi-history talk, much too detailed flying info and flying safety concerns, illness concerns and next sequel setup and has very few pages for the little action and plot advancement of the story - but worst of all it has little of the zest, humor and enjoyment that was throughout 1632. Read it if you really loved 1632 and its characters - otherwise forget it. Do; however, read 1632, maybe even reread 1632 instead of 1633 -- But there is no joy in 1633 Grantville -- mighty Eric has struck out.

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