1634 The Bavarian Crisis, Eric Flint
1634 The Bavarian Crisis, Eric Flint
2 Rating(s)
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1634: The Bavarian Crisis

Author: Eric Flint, Virginia DeMarce

Narrator: George Guidall

Unabridged: 24 hr 14 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 03/20/2015


Synopsis

THE MAELSTROM THAT IS EUROPE, COMPLICATED BY IRON, LOVE AND 20TH-CENTURY AMERICANS

The Thirty Years War continues to ravage 17th-century Europe, but a new force is gathering power and influence: the United States of Europe, forged from an alliance between Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, and the West Virginians from the 20th century, led by Mike Stearns, who were hurled centuries into the past by a mysterious cosmic accident.

This troubled century was full of revolutions and plans for more revolutions before the Americans arrived, and gave every would-be revolutionary an example of a revolution that succeeded. Europe is a pot coming to a boil, and Mike Stearns finds himself walking the fine line between keeping the pot boiling while keeping it from boiling over and destroying the USE in the process.

The USE has the know-how of 20th-century technology, but needs iron and steel to make the machines. The iron mines of the upper Palatinate were rendered inoperable by wartime damage, and American ingenuity is needed on the spot to pump them out and get the metal flowing again—a mission that will prove more complicated than anyone expects. First, because the expedition sent to revitalize the mining industry in the upper Palatinate walks into the middle of a ferocious battle between the USE and the Duke of Bavaria. Second, because in the maelstrom that is Europe, even a 20th-century copy of the Encyclopedia Britannica can precipitate a crisis from the most unexpected quarters. The young and beautiful daughter of the Austrian emperor, sent to marry the Duke of Bavaria for reasons of state, comes to an unforeseen conclusion based on her study of up-time history. The decision she makes as a result transforms the Bavarian war into a crisis for all of Europe.

About Eric Flint

Eric Flint was a bestselling American author and editor celebrated for his influential contributions to science fiction and alternate history. He is best known as the creator of the Ring of Fire series, which begins with 1632, a landmark novel that reimagines a modern American town transported to seventeenth-century Europe. The series became a cornerstone of the genre, praised for its blend of rigorous historical detail, political realism, and expansive world-building.

Flint's writing frequently explored themes of social change, technology, and collective action, often emphasizing how ordinary people shape history under extraordinary circumstances. In addition to his novels, he was a longtime editor at Baen Books, where he championed innovative storytelling and supported emerging voices in speculative fiction. His collaborative projects and open-universe approach helped redefine how shared-world series could evolve.

Known for his clear, energetic prose and idea-driven narratives, Eric Flint's work translates especially well to audiobook format, where the scope and momentum of his stories shine. His legacy endures through a vast body of work that continues to engage listeners who enjoy intellectually stimulating, history-rich speculative fiction.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Dan on November 29, 2020

Yet another great read from a great series. 2018 re-read: In this novel, we get to meet, and absorb new characters, and bit players to date become far more developed. Quite worthwhile.......more

Goodreads review by Charlene on July 09, 2019

This series continues to be great fun -- it's combination of science fiction and historical novel. The intrepid West Virginians from the year 2000 are continuing to be mighty change agents in 1630s Europe. This time their Swedish/German confederation, "United States of Europe", is reaching out to Ve......more

Goodreads review by Ramsey on March 02, 2023

I am giving this 5 stars because of enjoyment alone. Was it the best book ever written? No, but I did have a blast readinging it. Great moments of young love and interesting theology. Good characters that don't get a lot of page time in the main part of the series. Also cool looks at medical tech an......more

Goodreads review by Caleb on October 28, 2019

I'm going to give very high praise to this particular entry. After reading so many novels in the series, it's nice to take the story out of the usual environs and away, mostly, from the usual suspects. Having this fun little adventure with the Stone boys on one side, and Father Mazzare on the other,......more

Goodreads review by Dale on April 19, 2008

This was not a commute book - this was a "hanging around the house" book. Because I have to save the commute books for the actual commute, of course, but sometimes I feel like reading when I'm home. 1634:The Galileo Affair lasted me a looooong time. It's been on my currently-reading list for as long......more