The Thirty Years War
continues to ravage 17th century Europe, but a new force is gathering
power and influence: the Confederated Principalities of Europe, an
alliance between Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, and the West
Virginians from the 20th century led by Mike Stearns who were hurled
centuries into the past by a mysterious cosmic accident.
The CPE
has the know-how of 20th century technology, but needs iron and steel
to make the machines. The iron mines of the upper Palatinate were
rendered inoperable by wartime damage, and American know-how is needed
on the spot to pump them out and get the metal flowing again—a mission
that will prove more complicated than anyone expects. In the maelstrom
that is Europe, even a 20th century copy of the Encyclopedia Britannica
can precipitate a crisis, when readers learn of the 1640 Portuguese
revolt, a crisis that will involve Naples as well. Another factor:
Albanian exiles in Naples, inspired by the Americans, are plotting to
recover lost Albanian turf, which will precipitate yet another crisis in
the Balkans.
This troubled century was full of revolutions and
plans for more revolutions before the Americans arrived, and gave every
would-be revolutionary an example of a revolution that succeeded. Europe
is a pot coming to a boil, and Mike Stearns will have his hands full
seeing that it doesn’t boil over on to Grantville and the CPE.
Description:
The Thirty Years War continues to ravage 17th century Europe, but a new force is gathering power and influence: the Confederated Principalities of Europe, an alliance between Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, and the West Virginians from the 20th century led by Mike Stearns who were hurled centuries into the past by a mysterious cosmic accident.The CPE has the know-how of 20th century technology, but needs iron and steel to make the machines. The iron mines of the upper Palatinate were rendered inoperable by wartime damage, and American know-how is needed on the spot to pump them out and get the metal flowing again—a mission that will prove more complicated than anyone expects. In the maelstrom that is Europe, even a 20th century copy of the Encyclopedia Britannica can precipitate a crisis, when readers learn of the 1640 Portuguese revolt, a crisis that will involve Naples as well. Another factor: Albanian exiles in Naples, inspired by the Americans, are plotting to recover lost Albanian turf, which will precipitate yet another crisis in the Balkans.
This troubled century was full of revolutions and plans for more revolutions before the Americans arrived, and gave every would-be revolutionary an example of a revolution that succeeded. Europe is a pot coming to a boil, and Mike Stearns will have his hands full seeing that it doesn’t boil over on to Grantville and the CPE.