Eric Flint

In this first installment, a West Virginia town is transported from the year 2000 to 1631 Germany at the height of the Thirty Years' War. Thrust into conflict, the town residents must also contend with moral issues such as who should be considered a citizen.

The alliance between the displaced West Virginians from the 20th century and Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, continues to effect the course of the Thirty Years' War in Europe.

"The newly formed United States of Europe, created by an alliance between the time-displaced Americans from the town of Grantville and the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus, decides to send an embassy to the Chinese empire. One of the main purposes of the embassy is to establish trade in order to gain access to critical resources. The mission is a gamble--some might say, a long shot. The Ming dynasty is on the verge of collapse and China's rulers are...

"It's been more than a year since the cruise ship Queen of the Sea was transported in time and space to the ancient Mediterranean not long after the death of Alexander the Great. Captain Lars Floden and the other "Ship People" are trying to plant the seeds of modern civilization. It's not an easy task, to put it mildly, even if they have a tacit alliance with the co-regents of Alexander's empire, his widow Roxane, and Eurydice, the wife of his half-brother....

"The United States of Europe, the new nation formed by an alliance between Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus and the West Virginians hurled back in time, need a reliable source of opiates for those wounded in action, as well as other goods not available in Europe. USE prime minister Mike Stearns sends a mission to the Mughal Empire of India with the aim of securing a trade deal with the emperor, Shah Jahan. Consisting of both up-timers and down-timers...

In 1636 France, King Louis sends his expectant wife, Queen Anne, into seclusion to keep her safe, while France's foreign enemies as well as traitors within the court make their move, forcing factions both inside and outside of the country to choose sides.

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. Inspired by the example of American freedom and justice, a movement in Franconia among the peasants, who...

King Gustavus of Sweden orders General Mike Stearns of West Virginia to go to Saxony and restore order. Gretchen has been arrested there and is likely to be executed. The revolutionary groups which she has been working with are not about to let that happen, and suddenly there's rioting in the streets and Saxony's ruthless General Baner is determined to suppress the uprising.

"New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling alternate history series. Book #14 in the Ring of Fire series created by Eric Flint. Eddie Cantrell, now married to the king of Denmark's daughter, is sent by Admiral Simpson to the Caribbean to secure access to the most valuable commodity on that continent--not the gold and silver which the Spanish treasure, but the oil which up-time machines and industry need. The admiral has also provided Eddie's...

The Thirty Years War continues to ravage 17th century Europe, and the lost outpost of American freedom and justice must play the United States of Europe against a 17th century Goliath of oppressive feudalism.