Ring of Fire II
Encyclopedia
Ring of Fire II is a 2008 anthology created by editor-author-historian Eric Flint
. It is the second anthology in the 1632 series
following after Ring of Fire
(2004).
, but especially and uncharacteristically by doing so without the control of the milieu creator, its author. Flint, in explanation, has self-styled himself as something of a gambler; he demonstrated that by deliberately asking the other writers to share in creating the main threads and plot lines of the milieu so that this work and the large second full novel in the series, 1633
, were written contemporaneously.
Flint is on record that large portions of 1633 were adjusted drastically, even thrown out and rewritten as later submissions in the collected stories in Ring of Fire
impacted the various and diverse story threads. For a fuller precise on this interesting and historic literary development see Assiti Shards series
.
Flint's e-book preface refers to this work as being a prequel to his own short novel (below), but the title does not agree with the credited work on 1632.org's timeframes spreadsheet.
The story focus on four former mercenaries who worked for Count Tilly before being exempted on good behavior and becoming horse traders in Grantville. While returning to Grantville following a horse trade in France, the traders encountered a foreign mercenary army contingent preparing to attack Grantville's allied city, Badenburg. They also observed that the mercenaries are equipped with American Civil War
era equipment and doctrines that they had somehow acquired from modern history books. The traders and with help from the American militia made several skirmishes against the army before finally eliminating them.
A story by Bradley H. Sinor about the birth of tabloid journalism
in Grantville. The plot structure begins with a suggestion that it might be a tale of investigative journalism
, but it ends with a humorous twist. There are tight connections between this story and "The Wallenstein Gambit"
A story by Gunnar Dahlin and Dave Freer
about an attempt to raise the Vasa from its resting place in Stockholm
harbor. Or, is it an elaborate fraud?
This vignette by Gorg Huff and Paula Goodlett returns to the story of the two groups maturing of tycoons known respectively as the Sewing Circle and the Barbie Consortium introduced initially in the "The Sewing Circle", continued again in "Other People’s Money", and other seminal background tales.
The story recounts the deeds of Father Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld on the day of his former death.
This continuation of the "Franz and Marla" stories by David Carrico, ties in with a brief mention of the story behind and within the concert as told here. The same tale, from a different prospective was used as background for the entrance of Admiral John Simpson and wife Mary as they come on stage during the end of the industrial disaster that begins the novel 1634: The Baltic War
.
As a continuation and perhaps climax of the Franz and Marla saga, the tale reveals Marla in a triumphal debut among the rich and famous in Magdeburg
, while the lovable and tragic Franz finds a new musical groove—and is able to play again publicly — while, finally, proving worthy in his own eyes of "getting the girl". Like the preceding Franz and Marla stories, it is an excellent tale told with skill and is good at evoking emotions and painting complex characters undergoing lives' pressures.
The story recounts the tribulations of a peasant family immigrating to Grantville.
The story focus on an African Jesuit layman who has an urgent mission in Grantville and elsewhere.
The story focus on the trials of Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi
and a Grantville housewife.
This story is a sequel to "Grand Tour," which appeared in Grantville Gazette X, in which historical figures Thomas Hobbes
and a young William Cavendish
(the Earl of Devonshire) have arrived in their destination in Grantville and befriending several of the young ladies of the "Barbie Consortium."
There is a scene set at a down-time tennis court, and it's worth noting that Iver also wrote an article on down-time tennis ("Tennis: The Game of Kings") which appeared in Grantville Gazette XV.
Set as a prequel to 1634: The Baltic War
, the story focus on Eddie Cantrell, who was captured by the Danish in the confused aftermath the Battle of Wismar depicted in 1633
, became involved with the daughter of Christian IV of Denmark
.
The story discloses the events leading to marriage between the parents of Noelle Brigitte Murphy.
This short novel by Flint features a return to the enigmatic secret agent, Nowell Murphy, introduced in 1634: The Ram Rebellion
who considered becoming a Catholic
Nun
(see "Enter the Ram").
Eric Flint
Eric Flint is an American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works are alternate history science fiction, but he also writes humorous fantasy adventures.- Career :...
. It is the second anthology in the 1632 series
1632 series
The 1632 series, also known as the 1632-verse or Ring of Fire series, is an alternate history book series and sub-series created, primarily co-written, and coordinated by Eric Flint and published by Baen Books...
following after Ring of Fire
Ring of Fire (anthology)
Ring of Fire is the third published book by editor-author-historian Eric Flint of the 1632 series, an alternate history series begun in the novel 1632 . The Ring of Fire is both descriptive of the cosmic event as experienced by the series' characters, but also is at times used as the name for the...
(2004).
Premise of the series
The initial Ring of Fire book was a notable departure in that it heralded a new era in writing series fiction by being set in an authors' milieu shared with other writersShared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
, but especially and uncharacteristically by doing so without the control of the milieu creator, its author. Flint, in explanation, has self-styled himself as something of a gambler; he demonstrated that by deliberately asking the other writers to share in creating the main threads and plot lines of the milieu so that this work and the large second full novel in the series, 1633
1633 (novel)
1633 is an alternate history novel co-written by Eric Flint and David Weber, and sequel to 1632 in the 1632 series. 1633 is the second major novel in the series and together with the anthology Ring of Fire, the two sequels begin the series hallmarks of being a shared universe with collaborative...
, were written contemporaneously.
Flint is on record that large portions of 1633 were adjusted drastically, even thrown out and rewritten as later submissions in the collected stories in Ring of Fire
Ring of Fire (anthology)
Ring of Fire is the third published book by editor-author-historian Eric Flint of the 1632 series, an alternate history series begun in the novel 1632 . The Ring of Fire is both descriptive of the cosmic event as experienced by the series' characters, but also is at times used as the name for the...
impacted the various and diverse story threads. For a fuller precise on this interesting and historic literary development see Assiti Shards series
Assiti Shards series
The Assiti Shards series is a fictional universe invented by Eric Flint. It is a shared universe open to authors of many calibre levels, concerning several alternate history worlds, related to a prime timeline. The defining characteristic of the fictional universe is the existence of the "Assiti...
.
"Noelle Comes Home"
- by Virginia DeMarceVirginia DeMarceVirginia Easley DeMarce is a historian who specializes in early modern European history, as well as a prominent author in the 1632 series collaborative fiction project. She has done prominent genealogical work on the origins of the Melungeon peoples.-Biography:DeMarce received her Ph.D...
Flint's e-book preface refers to this work as being a prequel to his own short novel (below), but the title does not agree with the credited work on 1632.org's timeframes spreadsheet.
"Horse Thieves"
- by Karen Bergstralh
The story focus on four former mercenaries who worked for Count Tilly before being exempted on good behavior and becoming horse traders in Grantville. While returning to Grantville following a horse trade in France, the traders encountered a foreign mercenary army contingent preparing to attack Grantville's allied city, Badenburg. They also observed that the mercenaries are equipped with American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
era equipment and doctrines that they had somehow acquired from modern history books. The traders and with help from the American militia made several skirmishes against the army before finally eliminating them.
"Second Issue?"
- by Eric FlintEric FlintEric Flint is an American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works are alternate history science fiction, but he also writes humorous fantasy adventures.- Career :...
and Bradley H. Sinor
A story by Bradley H. Sinor about the birth of tabloid journalism
Tabloid journalism
Tabloid journalism tends to emphasize topics such as sensational crime stories, astrology, gossip columns about the personal lives of celebrities and sports stars, and junk food news...
in Grantville. The plot structure begins with a suggestion that it might be a tale of investigative journalism
Investigative journalism
Investigative journalism is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. An investigative journalist may spend months or years researching and preparing a report. Investigative journalism...
, but it ends with a humorous twist. There are tight connections between this story and "The Wallenstein Gambit"
"Diving Belle"
- by Gunnar Dahlin and Dave FreerDave FreerDave Freer is a South African-born science fiction author writing mostly humorous or alternate history novels.He was conscripted into the South African Defence Force and sent to the Angolan Border as a medic....
A story by Gunnar Dahlin and Dave Freer
Dave Freer
Dave Freer is a South African-born science fiction author writing mostly humorous or alternate history novels.He was conscripted into the South African Defence Force and sent to the Angolan Border as a medic....
about an attempt to raise the Vasa from its resting place in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
harbor. Or, is it an elaborate fraud?
"A Trip to Amsterdam"
- by Gorg Huff and Paula Goodlett
This vignette by Gorg Huff and Paula Goodlett returns to the story of the two groups maturing of tycoons known respectively as the Sewing Circle and the Barbie Consortium introduced initially in the "The Sewing Circle", continued again in "Other People’s Money", and other seminal background tales.
"This'll Be the Day..."
- by Walt Boyes
The story recounts the deeds of Father Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld on the day of his former death.
"Command Performance"
- by David Carrico
This continuation of the "Franz and Marla" stories by David Carrico, ties in with a brief mention of the story behind and within the concert as told here. The same tale, from a different prospective was used as background for the entrance of Admiral John Simpson and wife Mary as they come on stage during the end of the industrial disaster that begins the novel 1634: The Baltic War
1634: The Baltic War
1634: The Baltic War is the direct novel sequel to 1633 in the collaboratively written alternate history shared universe 1632 series by David Weber and Eric Flint...
.
As a continuation and perhaps climax of the Franz and Marla saga, the tale reveals Marla in a triumphal debut among the rich and famous in Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
, while the lovable and tragic Franz finds a new musical groove—and is able to play again publicly — while, finally, proving worthy in his own eyes of "getting the girl". Like the preceding Franz and Marla stories, it is an excellent tale told with skill and is good at evoking emotions and painting complex characters undergoing lives' pressures.
"Ellis Island"
- by Russ Rittgers
The story recounts the tribulations of a peasant family immigrating to Grantville.
"Malungu Seed"
- by Jonathan Cresswell
The story focus on an African Jesuit layman who has an urgent mission in Grantville and elsewhere.
"Trials"
- by Jay Robison
The story focus on the trials of Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi
Artemisia Gentileschi
Artemisia Gentileschi was an Italian Early Baroque painter, today considered one of the most accomplished painters in the generation influenced by Caravaggio...
and a Grantville housewife.
"The Chase"
- by Iver Cooper
This story is a sequel to "Grand Tour," which appeared in Grantville Gazette X, in which historical figures Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury , in some older texts Thomas Hobbs of Malmsbury, was an English philosopher, best known today for his work on political philosophy...
and a young William Cavendish
William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire was the son of William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire....
(the Earl of Devonshire) have arrived in their destination in Grantville and befriending several of the young ladies of the "Barbie Consortium."
There is a scene set at a down-time tennis court, and it's worth noting that Iver also wrote an article on down-time tennis ("Tennis: The Game of Kings") which appeared in Grantville Gazette XV.
"Eddie and the King's Daughter"
- by K.D. Wentworth
Set as a prequel to 1634: The Baltic War
1634: The Baltic War
1634: The Baltic War is the direct novel sequel to 1633 in the collaboratively written alternate history shared universe 1632 series by David Weber and Eric Flint...
, the story focus on Eddie Cantrell, who was captured by the Danish in the confused aftermath the Battle of Wismar depicted in 1633
1633 (novel)
1633 is an alternate history novel co-written by Eric Flint and David Weber, and sequel to 1632 in the 1632 series. 1633 is the second major novel in the series and together with the anthology Ring of Fire, the two sequels begin the series hallmarks of being a shared universe with collaborative...
, became involved with the daughter of Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
.
"Second Thoughts"
- by Virginia DeMarce
The story discloses the events leading to marriage between the parents of Noelle Brigitte Murphy.
"The Austro-Hungarian Connection"
- by Eric Flint
This short novel by Flint features a return to the enigmatic secret agent, Nowell Murphy, introduced in 1634: The Ram Rebellion
1634: The Ram Rebellion
1634: The Ram Rebellion is the seventh published work in the 1632 series, and is the third work to establish what is best considered as a "main plot line or thread" of historical speculative focus that are loosely organized and classified geographically...
who considered becoming a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
(see "Enter the Ram").