1636: Seas of Fortune

Written by Iver P. Cooper

Narrated by George Guidall

A new addition to the multiple New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire series. After carving a place for itself in war-torn 17th century Europe, citizens of the modern town of Grantville, West Virginia, the up-timers and their allies take on continental America and the Japan! A cosmic catastrophe, the Ring of Fire, strands the West Virginia town of Grantville in the middle of Europe during the Thirty Years War. The repercussions of that event transform Europe and, in a few years, begin spreading across the world. By 1636, the Ring of Fire's impact is felt across two great oceans, the Atlantic and Pacific. Stretching Out: The United States of Europe seeks out resources -- oil, rubber and even aluminum ore -- to help it wage war against the foes of freedom. Daring pioneers cross the Atlantic and found a new colony on the Wild Coast of South America. The colonists hope that with the up-timers' support and knowledge they can prosper in the tropics without resort to Indian and African slavery. Then a slave ship visits the colony, seeking water.... and the colonists must make a fateful choice. Rising Sun: In 1633, the wave of change emanating from the Ring of Fire reaches Japan. The Shogun is intrigued by samples of up-time technology, but it's a peek at what fate had in store for Japan in the old time line that has the greatest impact -- setting events in motion whose tremors are felt thousands of miles away and for years to come, as Japan pulls back from a policy of isolation and stakes out its own claim in the brave new world created by the Ring.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781980017851

Reviews for 1636

[readinggeek451 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Another entry in Eric Flint et al's long-running 1632 series, taking the action to the Americas and Japan. A collection of "braided" short stories, this fits the description of a novel in stories except that there are two discrete parts.The upside: This introduces Grantville's effect on far-flung reaches of the world.The downside: It isn't very well written.

[jamespurcell · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Mediocre book, rather limp story lines with characters that could disappear and no one would notice. The West Coast of the USA deserves better. Let us hope that history sustains and the vibrant East coasties prevail against the vapid early arrivals. Certainly, the Mormon white shirters would show provide how more vitality.

[dswaddell · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The first half about colonizing south America was good. The second about the Japanese colonizing California....not so good.

[janientrelac · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I had to read it, to keep up with what's happening in the series but it's along way from Grantville, no charactors I cared about and dull.