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1632 (Assiti Shards)
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1632 (Assiti Shards)
Author: Eric Flint

Book Information
Publisher: Baen
Book Type: Paperback
Rating:

ISBN-13: 9780671319724 - ISBN-10: 0671319728
Pages: 608


Other Versions of this Book: Hardcover

Book Description:
In Flint's novel of time travel and alternate history, a six-mile square of West Virginia is tossed back in time and space to Germany in 1632, at the height of the barbaric and devastating Thirty Years' War. Repelling marauding mercenaries and housing German refugees are only the first of many problems the citizens of the tiny new U.S. face, problems including determining who shall be a citizen. In between action scenes and descriptions of technological military hardware, Flint handles that problem and other serious ethical questions seriously and offers a double handful of memorable characters: a Sephardic Jewish family that establishes commercial and marital ties with the Americans, a cheerleader captain turned lethal master sniper, a schoolteacher and an African American doctor who provide indispensable common sense and skill, a German refugee who is her family's sole protector, and, not least, King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. Not, perhaps, as elegant as some time-traveling alternate histories, Flint's is an intelligent page-turner nevertheless. -- Roland Green, Booklist

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Similar books to this author and title:
Weapons of Choice (The Axis of Time Trilogy, Book 1)1633The Grantville Gazette


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Top Member Book Reviews

Janelle C. (jscrappy) wrote on 9/25/2007...

4 member(s) found this review helpful.

A fun time-travel book, wherein a contemporary West Virginia town is transported to 17th-century Germany, in the middle of the Thirty Years' War. I enjoyed finding out more about this period of history, and the author comes up with some very entertaining ideas about how this clash of cultures might play out. The rest of the series is less entertaining, but this first book is really enjoyable.

Elizabeth W. wrote on 1/8/2007...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

This book is a fantastic alternate history of Germany- or what happens when the small town of Grantville, West VA, of the 20th Century, suddenly appears smack in the middle of the history of Germany in the 1600s.

Ben R. (benrob22) wrote on 1/12/2009...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This started a series of books by Flint that seem to have no end at the present time. This was an excellent start and a good read in of itself. A West Virginia town is transport thru time to 1632 amid warfare and social upheaval...of course causing even more social upheaval. Mr. Flint is definitely a pro-labor writer as his main "hero" is the union head and the ideas espoused support this bias. This is only an observation not a real criticism of the storyline. Good characters from both the upstream side of things as well as the normal time characters are used and used well. A good read recommended. Book is also available online.

Rebecca R. (photobug) wrote on 9/13/2008...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

A very good combination of time-travel and historical fiction. The characters are believable and you can easily lose yourself in their world. It can bog down just a little in parts if you are not a military history buff, but for the most part it's a really fun read!

Cheryl R. (lupielady) wrote on 8/6/2008...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

A treat for lovers of action-SF or alternate history

Chris V. (monchero) wrote on 5/25/2008...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

A friend gave this book to me. She really liked it and thought I would too. Reading the back, I kept putting it off. It really did not sound that interesting to me. I read about 10 pages and put it down again. Then I finally picked it up & read it. I absolutely loved it. There are some hard to believe areas, but over all a brilliant read. Just ordered 1633.

Linda P. (goddesslovingbookworm) - Garland, TX wrote on 4/13/2008...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This book is AWESOME! Having never read alternate history, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it opened my eyes to a whole new genre! My family history includes West Virginia coal miners so that aspect had me picking up the book--the thoroughly researched history of the Thirty Years' War kept me reading until I was finished. Now I collect the series. Eric Flint is a genius and all his co-authors as the series expands are well-known with sci-fi of their own. At least the first three books benefit from being read in order so the characters develop properly; the books then splinter those characters into situations of their own. Mr. Flint, please keep them coming!

Andy R. (AndyR) wrote on 3/22/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Creative and well written. An interesting alternate history scenario.

Tiffany M. wrote on 11/3/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I absolutely love this book. An interesting story of "What if...", with engaging characters and a well-written plot.

Mark M. (ClownsareCreepy) wrote on 8/25/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Great book! I have already added 1633 to my wish list. I can't wait to check out the next book in this one! I recommend this book!


Please Rate these Book Reviews

Deanna L. (misssteps) wrote on 9/16/2009...


An entire West Virginia town is transplanted through time and space to 1632 Germany in the midst of a war. As you'd assume, their superior firepower makes quick work of the armies they face.

I picked this up because I'd read another alternate history book, Weapons of Choice, and a friend recommended it. I'd agree with the reviewer who says it bogs down in places - the descriptions of battles got a little tiresome sometimes. However, unlike Weapons of Choice, Flint does a GREAT job of getting you hooked on his fun, believable characters, both the West Virginians and the Germans (a young boy from 17th Century Germany who LOVES the 20th Century vehicles ends up having to drive a school bus in an emergency situation - one of the funniest parts of the book).

There were times I wasn't sure I wanted to continue this series after I finished this one, but I will definitely read at least 1633, which was written by Flint. The rest of it seems to get muddled with different authors writing and co-writing, and the timeline is screwy (not chronological from book to book and story to story, in the case of the short story ones). That being said, my husband has really enjoyed the first four.

Kit R. (magikit) wrote on 9/13/2009...


Fantastic beginning to a time travel/alternate history series.

Vanessa B. (daisythecat) wrote on 9/2/2009...


I decided to get it based on member reviews, and i really really enjoyed it!


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