The Anaconda Project
Encyclopedia
The Anaconda Project is the eleventh full length work of the popular shared universe
Ring of Fire book series
(also known as the 1632 series) but only the second solo novel of the twenty-six works by milieu creator Eric Flint
, and something he has longed to get back to doing (solo novels) despite the success of the other works in the extensively co-written series
, for which he also serves as gate-keeper of the series canon
, and editor.
for 2008. The series suffered a lengthy delay and time lag between print releases in the 2004-2006 period because of the inability of the two busy best selling lead writers to synchronize schedules and writing windows—which in turn held up other works in the series lest plots be spoiled. This work, released in e-published form only, signals the end of the bottle-neck. It is the direct sequel to the novelette "The Wallenstein Gambit". In the latter, the famed general Albrecht Wallenstein comes to Grantville for medical attention after being shot near-fatally by Julie Sims Mackay at extremely long range during the Battle of Alte-Vista, which ends the lead novel.
In the tradition of Dickens, sections of "The Anaconda Project" appear in separate issues of the Gazettes, and must be purchased separately, to continue the story.
"The Wallenstein Gambit" (TWG) which began neohistorical story expansion toward and into the Eastern half of Europe, the so called Eastern European thread, and the novel begins soon after the (late 1633) close of The Wallenstein Gambit which began the long anticipated plot thread, about which fan complaints have been growing increasingly impatient.
The beginning deals directly with Morris Roth the Jewish jeweler-protagonist of TWG, who is made General by king Albrecht Wallenstein, the new king of Bohemia
—he'd asked Mike Stearns to consider doing what he could to avert the infamous massacres of Jews in Eastern Europe at least three times, and Stearns cut a deal with Wallenstein who claimed as the novelette began, that he could avoid the pogroms. The book title refers to a military operations map with phase lines, color coded for dating, which snakes eastwards from Bohemia—resembling nothing else so much as a giant Anaconda to Roth.
The neohistorical timeline divergences from our up-time written history become stark as this plot thread opens act II: Wallenstein, a peasant who became famous as a ruthless but extremely capable mercenary
general
becomes king of Bohemia, which he wrestled (part of The Wallenstein Gambit prequel) from Ferdinand III
in the Old Time Line, who was also king of Hungary
; and the heir apparent
of the pious Ferdinand II
, the Habsburg
Holy Roman Emperor
who was the leading force behind the devastating Thirty Years' War
.
But the divergences grow extremely obvious by the end of most of the novels set in 1634 (Four, all more or less running concurrently with one another and with this novel) and in particular at the end of 1634: The Bavarian Crisis
Ferdinand III succeeded his father as "King of Rome
", the predecessor and prerequisite office to being crowned Holy Roman Emperor—whereas in our timeline Ferdinand II and III continued on for years undisturbed in their offices outlined previously—so the repressive anti-protestant Habsburg policy remained in place; another divergence, as his dying act Ferdinand II revoked the Edict of Restitution, a major underlying "secular" (Greed) reason underlying the causes of the Thirty Years War, creating another departure point for the alternative speculative history.
Shared 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....
Ring of Fire book 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...
(also known as the 1632 series) but only the second solo novel of the twenty-six works by milieu creator Eric Flint
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 :...
, and something he has longed to get back to doing (solo novels) despite the success of the other works in the extensively co-written series
Collaborative fiction
Collaborative fiction is a form of writing by a group of authors who share creative control of a story.Collaborative fiction can occur for commercial gain, as part of education, or recreationally - many collaboratively written works have been the subject of a large degree of academic research.-...
, for which he also serves as gate-keeper of the series canon
Canon (fiction)
In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
, and editor.
Background
Flint is also co-author of all the long fiction in the series. It is the seventh of the eight novels in the series which acharacteristically for science-fiction or alternate history, is predominated by short canonical fiction, in the main the long book length Grantville Gazettes, which are canonical e-zines first and mostly—future print versions will be "best of" book collections, though Grantville Gazette IV is scheduled in hardcoverHardcover
A hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
for 2008. The series suffered a lengthy delay and time lag between print releases in the 2004-2006 period because of the inability of the two busy best selling lead writers to synchronize schedules and writing windows—which in turn held up other works in the series lest plots be spoiled. This work, released in e-published form only, signals the end of the bottle-neck. It is the direct sequel to the novelette "The Wallenstein Gambit". In the latter, the famed general Albrecht Wallenstein comes to Grantville for medical attention after being shot near-fatally by Julie Sims Mackay at extremely long range during the Battle of Alte-Vista, which ends the lead novel.
In the tradition of Dickens, sections of "The Anaconda Project" appear in separate issues of the Gazettes, and must be purchased separately, to continue the story.
Place in the series
The Anaconda Project is a direct sequel to the 2003 noveletteNovelette
A novelette is a piece of short prose fiction. The distinction between a novelette and other literary forms is usually based upon word count, with a novelette being longer than a short story, but shorter than a novella...
"The Wallenstein Gambit" (TWG) which began neohistorical story expansion toward and into the Eastern half of Europe, the so called Eastern European thread, and the novel begins soon after the (late 1633) close of The Wallenstein Gambit which began the long anticipated plot thread, about which fan complaints have been growing increasingly impatient.
The beginning deals directly with Morris Roth the Jewish jeweler-protagonist of TWG, who is made General by king Albrecht Wallenstein, the new king of Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
—he'd asked Mike Stearns to consider doing what he could to avert the infamous massacres of Jews in Eastern Europe at least three times, and Stearns cut a deal with Wallenstein who claimed as the novelette began, that he could avoid the pogroms. The book title refers to a military operations map with phase lines, color coded for dating, which snakes eastwards from Bohemia—resembling nothing else so much as a giant Anaconda to Roth.
The neohistorical timeline divergences from our up-time written history become stark as this plot thread opens act II: Wallenstein, a peasant who became famous as a ruthless but extremely capable mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
becomes king of Bohemia, which he wrestled (part of The Wallenstein Gambit prequel) from Ferdinand III
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
in the Old Time Line, who was also king of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
; and the heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
of the pious Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
, the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
who was the leading force behind the devastating Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
.
But the divergences grow extremely obvious by the end of most of the novels set in 1634 (Four, all more or less running concurrently with one another and with this novel) and in particular at the end of 1634: The Bavarian Crisis
1634: The Bavarian Crisis
1634: The Bavarian Crisis is a novel in the alternate history 1632 series, written by Virginia DeMarce and Eric Flint as sequel to Flint's novella "The Wallenstein Gambit"; several short stories by DeMarce in The Grantville Gazettes; 1634: The Ram Rebellion; and 1634: The Baltic War. The novel's...
Ferdinand III succeeded his father as "King of Rome
King of Rome
The King of Rome was the chief magistrate of the Roman Kingdom. According to legend, the first king of Rome was Romulus, who founded the city in 753 BC upon the Palatine Hill. Seven legendary kings are said to have ruled Rome until 509 BC, when the last king was overthrown. These kings ruled for...
", the predecessor and prerequisite office to being crowned Holy Roman Emperor—whereas in our timeline Ferdinand II and III continued on for years undisturbed in their offices outlined previously—so the repressive anti-protestant Habsburg policy remained in place; another divergence, as his dying act Ferdinand II revoked the Edict of Restitution, a major underlying "secular" (Greed) reason underlying the causes of the Thirty Years War, creating another departure point for the alternative speculative history.