Grantville Gazette IV

Infobox Book
name = Grantville Gazette IV
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = The illustration on the cover is “Musicians” by Dirck Hals (1591–1656). It was painted in 1623.
author =
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = Ring of Fire series
subject =
genre = Alternate history
publisher = 1632.org using Webscriptions
release_date = e-zine: January 012008
e-book: February 01, 2008
english_release_date =
media_type = e-zine & e-book
pages =
isbn =
preceded_by = GG03
followed_by = GG05

The "Grantville Gazette IV" ("Main article:" The Grantville Gazettes) is the sixth collaborative mixed-work set in the "'1632verse'" in what is best regarded as a canonical sub-series of the popular Alternate history that began with the February 2000 publication of the hardcover novel 1632 (novel) by author-historian Eric Flint. Overall it is the fifth anthology in the atypical series which consists of a mish-mash of main novels and anthologies produced under "popular demand" after publication of the initial novel which was written as a stand-alone work. This particular sub-series, the various "Grantville Gazettes" include encyclopedia grade fact articles by members of the 1632 Research Committee which cover the technological issues faced in fitting 21st century knowledge and base technology to the 17th century setting of the Milieu. The internet forum Baen's Bar hosts the "1632verse" oriented sub-forums 1632 Tech and 1632 Slush and both forums figure prominently in the background of these works as is covered in the "The Grantville Gazettes" main article. The series as a whole, and this sub-series in particular are an example of "internet-age" collaborative writing in the literary field.

The 1632 series in brief

Eric Flint's novel concept was simple—take a small American town typical of his youth limited in population, stockpiled goods, and manufacturing capabilities— swap them across time and space with an equal volume of real estate in emerging Early Modern Europe in a critical formative time (during the religious strife of the Thirty Years' War)— and "extrapolate what a new history might result" as the American ("up-timer") capabilities and ideas of democracy, labor, religion, equality of the sexes, etcetera mix with "down-time" European attitudes dominated by established State churches, religion, authoritarianism, and class structures and a nascent university structure. The Gazettes and much of the main series as it has developed, are the results of the nearly quarter of a million posts to the webboard chat forum 1632 Tech Manual on publisher Baen Books website Baen's Bar "seriously" exploring that premise.

This particular sub-series, the various "Grantville Gazettes" include encyclopedia grade fact articles by members of the 1632 Research Committee which cover the technological issues faced in fitting 21st century knowledge and base technology to the 17th century setting of the parallel universe milieu. The internet forum Baen's Bar hosts the "1632verse" oriented sub-forums 1632 Tech and 1632 Slush and both forums figure prominently in the background of these works as is covered in the "The Grantville Gazettes" and 1632 Editorial Board main articles. The series as a whole, and this sub-series in particular are an example of "internet-age" collaborative writing in the literary field.

Consequently, the Gazettes are mixed-works which include many fact articles initially published in online e-zine format, all set in the "'1632verse' parallel universe" created by the departure point established in the February 2000 hardcover novel "1632" by author-historian Eric Flint, who serves as editor of the overall mass of works, or co-author of the series. In one volume at least, 34TRR he managed both roles at once.

About the Gazettes

Grantville Gazette Volume IV-Splash

In Paula Goodlett and Gorg Huff’s “Poor Little Rich Girls,” we follow the continuing adventures of the teenage tycoons begun by Huff in “The Sewing Circle” (Gazette #1) and “Other People’s Money” (Gazette #3). The focus in this story, however, is on the younger siblings—the so-called Barbie Consortium—and their down-timer associates and enemies.

Jose Clavell’s “Magdeburg Marines” depict the early days of a reborn U.S. Marine Corps adapting to new circumstances.

Ernest Lutz's and John Zeek's "Elizabeth", depicts the experimentation and formation of the first tactical narrow-gauge railway units (known in 1632 shorthand as TACRAIL) starting with the First Railway Company (Provisional). At the end of the story, this unit became the 141st Railway Battalion. TACRAIL units provide transportation and logistics support using the World War I era narrow gauge railways and tramways as a model. The US Military Railway Band aka "The Glenn Miller USAAF Band of the Thirty Years War" is also mentioned.

David Carrico’s “Heavy Metal Music” continues the story of the interaction between up-time and down-time musicians that he began in last issue’s “The Sound of Music.”

In other stories:

—A German craftsman blackballed by guild masters gets a new start in Karen Bergstralh’s “One Man’s Junk.”

—Grantville has to deal with the tragic accidental deaths of several high school graduates in Kerryn Offord’s “The Class of ’34.”

—In Virginia DeMarce’s “’Til We Meet Again,” a widowed up-timer responds to her husband’s death by joining the faculty in the newly-established women’s college in Quedlinburg.

—Julie Sims’ ex-boyfriend finds a new romance in Russ Rittgers’ “Chip’s Christmas Gift.”

—in Dan Robinson’s “Dice’s Drawings,” an American retiree finds a new life and maybe a new love in seventeenth century Germany.

The fourth volume of the Gazette also contains factual articles dealing with the development of an oil industry, advances in textile and garment manufacture, possible uses of biodiesel technology, and differing views on the prospects of creating a machine gun using the resources and technology available after the Ring of Fire.

E-book Table of Contents

Note: In the earliest three Grantville Gazettes, there were differences between the print published version and the original serialized eMagazine, and then again the intermediate e-book as the 'kinks' were worked out of the experiment. Should additional published works differ, it will be noted in the pertinent article.

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colspan=2|•   or "Revolution in Three Flats", continues a serial begun in GG03|IN="The Sound of Music".
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colspan=2|Full title: "How To Keep Your Old John Deere Plowing: Diesel Fuel Alternatives For Grantville 1631-1639"
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Full title: "How to build a Machine gun in 1634 with available technology: Two alternate views"
First alternative by 16writ|Leonard |Hollar, 16writ|Tom Van |Natta and 16writ|John |Zeek, dissenting Second alternative, by 16writ|Bob |Hollingsworth.

ynopses

E-book Preface

Print version Preface

*This gazette was the last book purchased by Jim Baen from Eric Flint, and is in production at Baen's Books; scheduled for hardcover release in June 2008.

1632-verse Fiction

"Poor Little Rich Girls"

Building on the economic storyline begun in "GG01|in="The Sewing Circle" and "GG03|in="Other People’s Money"", 16writ|Paula |Goodlett and 16writ|Gorg |Huff explore another economic theme centered in the main, on even younger protagonists, dubbed the "16inst|Barbie Consortium" some of them family members of the Sewing Circle teens, and their financial impact on the Europe of 1631—1632.

"Magdeburg Marines"

"Elizabeth"

How can you supply an army without foraging off your own people? A mixed group of Germans and West Virginians led by a Cajun try to find a way. This story marks the start of the TacRail stories.

"One Man’s Junk"

"The Class of ’34"

"’Til We Meet Again"

"Chip’s Christmas Gift"

"Dice’s Drawings"

"Heavy Metal Music"

;or "Revolution in Three Flats", continues a serial begun in "The Sound of Music" in the anthology Grantville Gazette III.16writ|David |Carrico's sometimes whimsical continuing serial (see GG03) is canonical about the cultural effects of Grantville on 17th century music featuring the maestro violist, 16char|Franz|Sylwester who was deliberately and cruelly maimed by a rival in the Archdiocese of Mainz so that his string hand is crippled beyond rehabilitation and his up-time friend and ally Grantviller singer-musician 16char|p=Marla|Marla|Linder| are sought out by other German musicians seeking to learn uptimer knowledge, as well as to ensure Franz is all right, for he is beloved. Marla is put forth as an instructor to the group which has serious reservations about being taught by a woman, but are equally fascinated by the potential of the newfangled Piano technology and possibilities. Another sub-theme is the realization that because of the 16inst|Butterfly effect, many great composers and much music in Europe may never be written, and the group deliberately sets out to also preserve this future-past heritage for the paradoxical neohistorical world. The Franz and Magda stories are some of the most popular and well written in the early Gazettes, and this one is characteristic of their quality, both in the writing skill and emotions invoked in the telling of the tales. This storyline achieves a climax of sorts, and the characters take on major importance in ROF-2 and 34TBW.

Non-Fiction

; Fact Essays from 1632 Research Committee members:

"Drillers In Doublets"

"How To Keep Your Old John Deere Plowing"

: ... "Diesel Fuel Alternatives For Grantville 1631-1639"

"How to build a Machine gun in 1634"

:with available technology: 1Two alternate views by the Grantville firearms roundtable;First alternative :by 16writ|Leonard |Hollar, 16writ|Tom Van |Natta and 16writ|John |Zeek;Second alternative, :by 16writ|Bob |Hollingsworth

"A Looming Challenge"

16writ|Pam |Poggiani's essay "A Looming Challenge" deals with man-power requirements of a technological society that is tied to the land by animal powered agriculture. It really deals with the duel challenges of mass production of cloth, of which the spinning of thread and weaving of cloth (not to mention the sewing of clothes as was touched upon in GG01|s="The Sewing Circle"), demands a large percentage of the labor force in the Europe of the day. Ms. Poggiani's research is into how hard it would be for the up-timers, who are far removed from the clothing industries strongholds whether north or south, to successively overcome the several hurdles and develop the key inventions needed to mass produce spun graded threads, weaving machinery, and so forth.

References and notes

External links

Publishing history

First printing, April 2005Published in the United States of AmericaElectronic version by WebWrights
* http://www.webwrights.com
* [http://www.baen.com DOI: 1011250008]

Copyright 2005, 2008 by Eric FlintAll rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.
* [http://www.baen.com A Baen Books Original]
Baen Publishing EnterprisesP.O. Box 1403Riverdale, NY 10471