1633 (novel)
A sequel exploring political machinations in a time-displaced America.
1633 is an alternate history novel co-authored by Eric Flint and David Weber, published in 2002 as the second major novel in the 1632 series. It continues the story of the West Virginia town of Grantville, which was transported to 17th-century Germany during the Thirty Years' War. The book is notable for its integration with the shared universe of the series, which mixes canonical anthologies with novel-length works.
Quick Facts
- Author
- David Weber & Eric Flint
- Cover artist
- Dru Blair
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Series
- 1632 series
- Genre
- Alternate history, novel
- Publisher
- Baen Books
- Published
- August 2002
Facts from the source article.
Premise
The series begins on May 31, 2000, when the small West Virginia town of Grantville is exchanged in time and geographic location with a nearly unpopulated region of the Holy Roman Empire during the Thirty Years' War. Flint's goal was to examine the short- and long-term effects of placing a single American town with modern culture, technology, and modes of thought into a historical period. The town elects former pro-boxer Mike Stearns as president, who decides to provide refuge for displaced people and to launch an early American Revolution, founding a 'New United States'. With aid from a cavalry detachment of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden's Green Regiment, the Grantvillers defend south central Thuringia and fight battles that convince various polities to join the NUS. By early 1632, their alliance and manufacturing capabilities draw concerted attacks, and Grantville itself is attacked, teaching Stearns that he needs a protector to buy time, even as the up-timers determine they must gear down to a late nineteenth-century technology base.
Plot summary
1633 continues where 1632 left off, detailing political machinations of the new United States and Cardinal Richelieu's attempts to counter the technological advantage given to Gustavus Adolphus and his Confederated Principalities of Europe. Richelieu forms the League of Ostend, an alliance against the NUS and Gustavus. Mike Stearns sends emissaries seeking allies, some of whom end up behind enemy lines as members of the secret League. The League announces itself at the Battle of Four Fleets, the Dutch Republic nearly falls, and Stearns' emissary becomes trapped in the Siege of Amsterdam. The timeline diverges greatly from actual history as news of the future town brings spies, emissaries, and history textbooks into European courts, with down-timer leaders trying to change their histories while ordinary citizens and Grantville's leaders effect more fundamental changes.
A mix of methodology
In the 1632 series, major novels carry internationally significant events, but characters performing the action are often introduced in 'ground-eye view' short stories that build deep background. Flint has stated that 'history is messy' and not a linear narrative, and he wanted to capture how individual actions in self-interest form the essence of history. The short stories are fundamental to the main novels, introducing characters and development that reappear in longer works. Much of the writing in the anthology Ring of Fire antedated this novel, and events in 1633 were correlated with stories in that anthology, all of which take place before the start of this book. One story, 'In the Navy' by Weber, is a direct prequel to a main plot element in 1633 and its plot threads continue in 1634: The Baltic War.
Reception
Publishers Weekly gave a positive review, praising Flint for showing how new converts can make even 'old Americans' uncomfortable in their zeal for liberty, and Weber for smoothing out characters who were stereotypes in the first book. Booklist gave a mostly positive review, noting that while it takes too many pages for some, others will turn every one and cry for more. The School Library Journal reviewer called the book 'cleanly written, with an enormous cast of interesting characters' and constant action. Library Journal gave a positive review, saying the authors 'take historic speculation to a new level'. 1633 was listed on the Locus Hardcovers Bestsellers List for three months in 2002, peaking at number 2, and later on the Paperbacks Bestsellers List for one month in 2003 at number 1.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was 1633 (novel) published?
1633 was published in August 2002.
Who published 1633 (novel)?
1633 was published by Baen Books.
Who illustrated 1633 (novel)?
1633 was illustrated by Dru Blair.
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