As the Thirty Years War continues to ravage Europe, the American town hurled from the 20th to the 17th century by a mysterious force has aroused the implacable hostility of Cardinal Richelieu of France, who has allied with this old enemies to stop this new threat to privilege and power. But the Americans and their Swedish allies are also moving behind the scenes, sending a medical team to Venice to prevent a plaque, communicating with the Ottoman Empire, and reaching out to the Vatican, which has misgivings about Richelieu's lust for power. But a Venetian artisan may cause all their plans to come to naught. After reading a 20th Century history book, he has become determined to rescue Galileo from his trial for heresy. The Americans are divided on whether to help him or stop him - and whether he succeeds or fails, the results may be catastrophic for the CPE.
Description:
As the Thirty Years War continues to ravage Europe, the American town hurled from the 20th to the 17th century by a mysterious force has aroused the implacable hostility of Cardinal Richelieu of France, who has allied with this old enemies to stop this new threat to privilege and power. But the Americans and their Swedish allies are also moving behind the scenes, sending a medical team to Venice to prevent a plaque, communicating with the Ottoman Empire, and reaching out to the Vatican, which has misgivings about Richelieu's lust for power. But a Venetian artisan may cause all their plans to come to naught. After reading a 20th Century history book, he has become determined to rescue Galileo from his trial for heresy. The Americans are divided on whether to help him or stop him - and whether he succeeds or fails, the results may be catastrophic for the CPE.
From Publishers Weekly
After the emotionally draining tragedy that concluded Flint and David Weber's 1633 (2002), Flint (The Philosophical Strangler) and newcomer Dennis provide a more lighthearted interlude in Renaissance Italy. Grantsville, a West Virginia mining community that a black hole transported back to the Thirty Years War, now forms the kernel of a fledgling democratic Germany. An embassy to Venice is led by Grantsville's only Roman Catholic priest, whose revelations about Vatican II meet a surprisingly unhostile reception. When the pope appoints this priest advocate for Galileo at his trial for supporting the Copernican theory, teenagers from uptime, combined with local Italian sympathizers, are convinced by Cardinal Richelieu's agents to stage a rescue mission whose assured failure will discredit the Americans' efforts. In many ways this reads like a Tom Clancy techno-thriller set in the age of the Medicis with the Three Stooges thrown in for seasoning. In the tradition of Italy's commedia dell'arte, the rollicking plot serves to bring two lovers together despite formidable obstacles. It's refreshing to read an alternate history where the problems of two people do amount to a hill of beans, which isn't surprising, since all the installments in this popular series to date have focused as much on ordinary people as on kings and generals. The closing chase sequence is literally a riot.
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From School Library Journal
Adult/High School–Fans of 1632 (2000), 1633 (2002), and Ring of Fire(2004, all Baen) will find that while 1634 is long on political intrigue and romance, it lacks the fast-paced military action that was the highlight of those books. It's also clear from the ending that another one is in the works. The back story is the continuing adventures of the citizens of the small mining town of Grantsville, WV, transported to 17th-century Germany, then in the middle of the Thirty Years' War. This fourth installment centers around a trade mission to Venice that leads into an attempt to free Galileo from his trial and house arrest by the Inquisition. That Galileo turns out to be crotchety and unpleasant instead of a noble defender of truth only adds to the mix. This is a good choice for fans of alternative history, although those who prefer the more serious work of Harry Turtledove may find it too upbeat for their taste. Also, familiarity with previous titles is a must as the authors place readers right in the middle of the action.–Sallie Barringer, Walnut Hills High School, Cincinnati, OH
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