The Laughing Wolf

Another Good Read

Ring of Fire, edited and created by Eric Flint, is a VERY good read. The collection of shorter stories goes with the books 1632, by Eric Flint, and 1633, by Eric Flint and David Weber. These are set in a universe where a cosmic accident/art project sends a chunk of West Virginia back in time to the year 1632. The implications of what could happen, and what it will take to survive and make it happen, are more than merely fascinating. For anyone interested in the history of technology, and what it takes to bring non-tech cultures up to speed, it is a must read. For those just looking for a good read, a fun read, then I would say the same. A good bit of the philosophy within the books is also well worth considering by anyone interested in the present day war on terror and false or stagnant ideologies, as some of the fundamental roots of such are rather starkly exposed in the books.

All of the stories in this volume are well done, and unusual in any anthology is the crucial role these stories play in the “real” books by Flint (and Weber). In that respect, the book is a radical departure from traditional anthologies in any genre, and it is a departure that works. Then again, this should be no surprise as Baen Books, the publisher, makes a fair bit of money bucking the established trends. As a result, you get good reads that introduce key characters and concepts, flesh out existing characters, and generally set the stage for the next major novel – one that better be coming soon. It also avoids some previous pitfalls, including a character that said “I am Vasa!” so often that it came very much to remind me of “I Am Weasel!”

Yes, it is hardcover, but well worth the expenditure. Thank you, Stacy, for my copy. If you have not yet read 1632 and 1633, go get them in paperback and enjoy. Then get this anthology, and enjoy.

LW