Rating: 
Summary: Not another loose end!
Review: The book 1633 left the reader with all too many loose ends. Let's see, there are people stranded in Scotland, the Tower of London, the Dutch Republic, and of course the USE emperor is trapped in a city under siege. What with all this going on the collection of stories from The Ring of Fire leaves us with yet another situation in Bohemia! Come on, do we really need to open another front in Italy before we close out some of the others. It looks like the year 1634 is going to drag out for several years worth of books.Other than my rant about the order of things, the plot was good and featured an expansion of characters that had been largely ignored prior to this point. I would have left this book for later in the series had I been the publisher.
Rating: 
Summary: an affair to forget
Review: the third novel in the series it is by far the least cohesive and boring of the three. The plots were rather thin and the dialogue rather weary. I ended up flipping through pages of the book which is never a good sign. Very disappointing after the very entertaining first 2 books in the series. There were some very funny parts (which is why I am not giving it a 1 star) but I expected more from this book. A rental if you have the time. A pass if you were going to purchase the book
Rating: 
Summary: Good alternate history--but needs more battles
Review: The West Virginia town of Grantville, cast back into the midst of Germany during the 30 years war, has done pretty well for itself. Uniquely in a world where religion was a cause for war, Grantville preached tolerance. And, with the help of modern weapons and strategy and an alliance with Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, they've been able to enforce their will--and peace--on a good part of what is now Germany. Even Austria, humbled by the rebellion of its great general Wallenstein, has backed off. Spain remains an enemy, but it has its hands full with the Netherlands. And France is too careful to risk its armies in the meat-grinder that the United States of Europe has become. Still, there are more ways to defeat than the purely military and the Catholic powers dominate Europe despite the new United States. Prime Minister Stern realizes that he needs some accomodation with the Church and trade. Of the three great trading powers of 1634, England is an enemy, Holland has its own problems, but Venice is desperate for a chance to recover her past glories. Catholic Venice is, therefore, the prize in the latest game of Empire. And all sides send their best agents--the French to disrupt and discredit the Americans, the Spanish to protect themselves, and Grantville to get the materials and allies that it desperately needs. Unfortunately for Grantville, its embassy includes some teenage boys who love adventure and who get caught up in the romance of rescuing Galileo from the inquisition. Never mind that Galileo was never especially badly treated, they become convinced that his rescue would be a glorious blow against entrenched power and for freedom. With a few pushes from the evil French, a hopeless plot becomes a very real danger--something that could destroy everything Stern and his allies have been working for. Author Eric Flint, this time working with author Andrew Dennis has created a fascinating alternate history in his 1632 series. Rather than picking a single hero/king, Flint works from a community--a union town of coal miners and working people. It's a great idea and it works. The 1632 series is a powerful direction in alternate history. 1634: THE GALILEO AFFAIR continues in this tradition, picking up on minor characters from the earlier novels in the series or even from short stories written by others. Flint also manages to mix some romance with his military. 1634: THE GALILEO AFFAIR might have stepped too far in the direction of romance and away from the military. There are no battles in this book, few examples of the technological advances of the West Virginians (using the radio for clever speculation is the primary example), and a bit too much romance. All of which means that GALILEO isn't quite up to the standards set by the original 1632. It is, however, a well written and entertaining story. If you've read the earlier books, you'll definitely want to get this one. If you haven't, you'll want to get this one--and read the other ones first.
Rating: 
Summary: Exceptional Alternative History
Review: There is a good reason Eric Flint's 163x series sells books. They are good fiction combined with an exceptional knowledge of history. In the first book, 1632, readers got a view of Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, but hardly known to most Americans. The situation of a group of Americans stranded in the middle of the 30 years war was a great chance to focus on how American values of tolerance can affect others.
In 1633, the people from the era have learned all about the Americans, have managed to get books from the today, and are trying to change the flow of history. Cromwell is arrested and sent to the Tower of London before he ever thinks of revolt. Richelieu in France buys North America from the British and plans a new empire. There is betrayal galore.
In the new book (with several threads coming from the book of stories, Ring of Fire), a group of Americans is sent to Venice to build trade with the Ottoman Empire, make friends throughout Italy, but most importantly to deal with issues within the Catholic Church. Father Larry Mazzare, the one priest from current America, is the ambassador and he winds up in a deliciously interesting position: defense counsel at an Inquisition trial...for Galileo, who turns out to be not quite as heroic as pictured. The differing shades of gray indtead of clear black and white as representations of motives help make this a fascinating work. There are sub-plots galore and fascinating characters. Not all Americans are good, not all downtimers are evil or stupid.
I consider the series the best in all Alternative History although I also enjoy Turtledove and Stirling. The books are a treat for SciFi fans as well as for those who enjoy good history...even though it is a history that never existed.
I'm already reserving the next book in the series...a full year away.
Rating: 
Summary: Blah: Boring and plodding
Review: THis book is a poor addition to the series. It is dull and most of it is spent on pointless exposition. The characters are not nearly as interesting as in the other books, or even other Flint series. Sharon getting involved with some old Spanish guy months after her husband bought the farm is a stupid plot point. Especially since the guy is about 40 years older than her and from a country technically at war with hers. Waste of time!
Rating:
Summary: The Vatican Rag
Review: This volume in the alternate history series based on Eric Flint's 2000 novel "1632" follows "Ring of Fire" and "1633," and is the first of several planned "1634: ..." books to be published. Even though "Ring of Fire" is an anthology, it should be read before "1634: The Galileo Affair," since stories in it introduce and develop many of the main characters (Father Mazzare, the Stones, Mazarini) and set up much of the plot. "1632" and "1633" should be read as well, of course. At the beginning of "1634: The Galileo Affair," the new United States of Europe is not in the best strategic situation. Simultaneously at war with England, France, Spain, Denmark, Austria and various other polities, it is running short of allies - the Dutch Republic is in dire straights, while Bohemia has its hands full trying to break away from Austria. To try to break out of this encirclement and tap into Mediterranean trade, an embassy is sent to the Venetian Republic. At the head of the embassy are Father Mazzare and Reverend Jones, along with Sharon Nichols and Tom 'Stoner' Stone, a nurse and chemist (respectively), who will be sharing their medical knowledge with the Italians as a demonstration of good faith. Accompanying Stone are his three teenage sons, who (following their hormones and the lovely Giovanna) quickly fall in with a group of incompetent but enthusiastic revolutionaries hoping to Americanize Italy. They are sucked into a wacky, hare-brained scheme to free Galileo from the Inquisition and take him north to Grantville and Freedom. This plot would probably be harmless were it not receiving expert assistance from a French agent provocateur under orders to discredit the USE. Meanwhile, the copies of the Papers of the Second Vatican Council and related twentieth century Catholic theology that were sent to Pope Urban VIII in "Ring of Fire" have been creating quite a stir in the highest ranks of the Church. The Pope is carefully considering what to do about Galileo, as well as the USE and its curious religious toleration. "1634: The Galileo Affair" is quite a bit different from the other novels that have so far been published in the 163x series (and probably from those yet to be published, as well). This seems to be Flint's intention, and the reason he's writing the series with a large number of coauthors. In this volume, he is joined by English lawyer Andrew Dennis, with the result that military and political aspects of the story decrease dramatically, while more time is spent on romance and lawyerly discussion. Although I enjoyed the book overall, this is not my favorite approach. Another notable feature of this volume in the series is that it ignores all of the plot threads developed in "1633," focusing entirely on Italy. According to Flint, "The Galileo Affair" is only the first of several books that will take place in 1634, each pursuing only one story line at a time, though all still tying in with each other. Currently five volumes are planned for this "1634: ..." 'story explosion' - "The Baltic War" (with David Weber), "Escape from the Tower" (Eric Flint solo), "The Austrian Princess" (with Virginia DeMarce) and "Bohemia" (a tentative title, with Mike Spehar) in addition to "The Galileo Affair." While some may be frustrated by the lack of connection to "1633," I personally feel that this approach is much preferable to the 'Robert Jordan method' of trying to cover every plot line at once and ending up not advancing any of them. At any rate, if you enjoyed "1633" and "Ring of Fire," "1634: The Galileo Affair" should be worth checking out. If you're a fan of the series primarily because of Flint's military writing, the library may be the best choice.
Rating:
Summary: The Vatican Rag
Review: This volume in the alternate history series based on Eric Flint's 2000 novel "1632" follows "Ring of Fire" and "1633," and is the first of several planned "1634: ..." books to be published. Even though "Ring of Fire" is an anthology, it should be read before "1634: The Galileo Affair," since stories in it introduce and develop many of the main characters (Father Mazzare, the Stones, Mazarini) and set up much of the plot. "1632" and "1633" should be read as well, of course. At the beginning of "1634: The Galileo Affair," the new United States of Europe is not in the best strategic situation. Simultaneously at war with England, France, Spain, Denmark, Austria and various other polities, it is running short of allies - the Dutch Republic is in dire straights, while Bohemia has its hands full trying to break away from Austria. To try to break out of this encirclement and tap into Mediterranean trade, an embassy is sent to the Venetian Republic. At the head of the embassy are Father Mazzare and Reverend Jones, along with Sharon Nichols and Tom 'Stoner' Stone, a nurse and chemist (respectively), who will be sharing their medical knowledge with the Italians as a demonstration of good faith. Accompanying Stone are his three teenage sons, who (following their hormones and the lovely Giovanna) quickly fall in with a group of incompetent but enthusiastic revolutionaries hoping to Americanize Italy. They are sucked into a wacky, hare-brained scheme to free Galileo from the Inquisition and take him north to Grantville and Freedom. This plot would probably be harmless were it not receiving expert assistance from a French agent provocateur under orders to discredit the USE. Meanwhile, the copies of the Papers of the Second Vatican Council and related twentieth century Catholic theology that were sent to Pope Urban VIII in "Ring of Fire" have been creating quite a stir in the highest ranks of the Church. The Pope is carefully considering what to do about Galileo, as well as the USE and its curious religious toleration. "1634: The Galileo Affair" is quite a bit different from the other novels that have so far been published in the 163x series (and probably from those yet to be published, as well). This seems to be Flint's intention, and the reason he's writing the series with a large number of coauthors. In this volume, he is joined by English lawyer Andrew Dennis, with the result that military and political aspects of the story decrease dramatically, while more time is spent on romance and lawyerly discussion. Although I enjoyed the book overall, this is not my favorite approach. Another notable feature of this volume in the series is that it ignores all of the plot threads developed in "1633," focusing entirely on Italy. According to Flint, "The Galileo Affair" is only the first of several books that will take place in 1634, each pursuing only one story line at a time, though all still tying in with each other. Currently five volumes are planned for this "1634: ..." 'story explosion' - "The Baltic War" (with David Weber), "Escape from the Tower" (Eric Flint solo), "The Austrian Princess" (with Virginia DeMarce) and "Bohemia" (a tentative title, with Mike Spehar) in addition to "The Galileo Affair." While some may be frustrated by the lack of connection to "1633," I personally feel that this approach is much preferable to the 'Robert Jordan method' of trying to cover every plot line at once and ending up not advancing any of them. At any rate, if you enjoyed "1633" and "Ring of Fire," "1634: The Galileo Affair" should be worth checking out. If you're a fan of the series primarily because of Flint's military writing, the library may be the best choice.
Rating:
Summary: terrific alternate history tale
Review: Two forces are at work in 1633-1634 Europe as the Thirty Year War devastates much of the continent. In Germany, the twentieth century West Virginia transplants forge the United States of Europe based on the principle of democracy. On the other extreme resides powerful Cardinal Richelieu who wishes to dominate a European theocracy. He knows that this "Grantville" is a threat to his ambitions especially those alliances with Sweden and the Ottomans. Pope Urban VIII welcomes the displaced Americans who come to Venice to stop the plague from spreading and to offer an alliance with His Holiness. Urban sees this group as a potential counterpoint to the growing influence of Richelieu and considers that odd thinking Roman Catholic priest amongst them could defend Galileo at his upcoming heresy trial. Though the Americans are split on whether to aid the beleaguered astronomer, Cardinal Richelieu has plans to discredit them regardless of what they intend to do. This alternate history series is already one of the best around and each new entry appears better than the previous one, a seemingly impossible feat. 1634: the GALILEO AFFAIR is a terrific tale that provides the audience with a combo slapstick historical techno-thriller that brings to light an intriguing era, but does it with anachronisms and humor. Galileo's theories are placed in a different light than that taught in school adding to the overall mercurial splendor. The ending must have come from "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" as Eric Flint and Andrew Dennis insure nothing remains sacred within their retelling of the seventeenth century. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Slow and steady wins absolutely nothing
Review: Well, I finally gave up. Page 322, if that information is worth anything. I'm not sure who Andrew Dennis is, but if this work is more his than Flint's I blame him. These 1632-series books are pretty much brain candy. They're fun if they flow quickly and are tightly written. Character development isn't what I read this franchise for which is just as well, since it's not the authors' strong point. This one is like brain taffy: sticky, glutinous and more an exercise for the jaw than the taste buds. I suspect that the authors wanted to flesh out the late Renaissance time period with details on the Counterreformation and the condition of the Papacy and the Italian states of the time. What we GET is a 540-some page intellectual taffy-pull about 17th Century commerce and papal politics. And yes, it's exactly as interesting as it sounds. Part of the problem is that we never get any real clarity regarding the opposing positions of the parties involved. Richelieu, Mazarin, Pope Urban, the Grantvillers (especially Fr. Mazzare) all sort of toss their ideas into the stew. None of the ideas are particularly well articulated, and nowhere is there any kind of dramatic tension in this war of ideas. I know that Richelieu was a master intriguer but it's not very interesting to the reader if his intrigues are opaque to us, too. The other problem is that the character development - which, based on the slow, expository pace of this dog, I'm guessing was supposed to be the selling point - isn't very developed. OR interesting. Mazzare, in particular, for all that he's supposed to be the crux of this volume, is a particularly bland and forgettable personality. Stoner is...stoned, his wife Magda is mercenary, the Stoner kids are less distinguishable than Alvin and the Chipmunks (Frank is horny for Giovanna, Ron and Gary are...well, I don't remember WHAT they are, which tells you something!), Sharon is...I'm not sure what Sharon is, either, since it's been 300 pages and all she's done is go shopping and begin a CREEPY affair with a 60-year-old Spaniard. Anyway, I haven't read RING OF FIRE, which may be a handicap, but I can't imagine that it would help that much. I you MUST read this, wait and check it out of the library. I did and I'm SO glad. I'd be really honked off if I'd have paid for it - even if I'd paid $7.99 for the paperback. So far I've kept up with this series, but this one has made me suspicious and I'll not buy another unread. Be warned.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointment
Review: Where do I start? This is really hard for me because I like Eric Flint He is one of my favorite authors, but this book really misses the mark. I found the book to be very boring and tedious, it's filled with pages of useless dialogue. Usually I stay up late into the night reading his books, with this I found it difficult to pick up and continue to read. With sadness I finally gave up at around page 450, it just became too tedious to read. In his afterword he comments that he enjoys collaborating because it helps prevent the series from sliding into a rut. Well he doesn't have to worry about it with this book because this missed the rut and fell off the cliff.
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