A new addition to the multiple New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire series. New York Times Best Selling Series Eric Flint and David Carrico serve up the latest entry in the best-selling alternate history saga of them all, the Ring of Fire!
After carving a place for itself in war-torn 17th century Europe, citizens of the modern town of Grantville, West Virginia take on a murderous conspiracy of operatic proportions in Magdeburg, the capital of the United States of Europe.
It is the year 1636. The United States of Europe, the new nation formed by an alliance between the King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and the West Virginians hurled back in time by a cosmic accident, is on the verge of civil war. His brain injured in the war with Poland, the USE's emperor Gustavus Adolphus is no longer in command. Enter Swedish chancellor Oxenstierna, a leader of aristocratic reaction against democracy. His goal, to assemble the forces of the hidebound ruling class in Berlin and drown the revolution in a bloodbath.
In Magdeburg, the capital of the USE, Mike Stearns' wife Rebecca Abrabanel is organizing popular resistance to Oxenstierna's plot. As part of the resistance, the American musician Marla Linder and her company of down-time musical partners are staging an opera that will celebrate the struggle against oppression. Princess Kristina, the heir to the USE's throne, is now residing in Magdeburg and is giving them her support and encouragement.
But another plot is underway--this one right in the heart of the capital itself, and with murder as its method. The only people standing in the way are a crippled boy and the boxing champion who befriended him, and an unlikely pair of policemen. Can the American detective Byron Chieske and his down-timer partner Gotthilf Hoch thwart the killers before they succeed in their goal?
About 1636: The Devil's Opera:
"Another engaging alternate history from a master of the genre" Booklist
". . . an old-style police-procedural mystery, set in 17th century Germany. . . . the threads . . . spin together . . . to weave an addictively entertaining story. . . . a strong addition to a fun series." Daily News of Galveston County
About Eric Flint's Ring of Fire series:
"This alternate history series is 'a landmark'" Booklist
"[Eric] Flint's 1632 universe seems to be inspiring a whole new crop of gifted alternate historians." Booklist
"reads like a technothriller set in the age of the Medicis" Publishers Weekly Views: 231
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. Views: 230
In the second installment of The Star Travelers series, an unexpected guest arrives in the form of Leah Roberts, from Earth. As she finds herself in an entirely new environment, the crew must figure out how to deal with both the human and the deputy, while avoiding the Timen and the Sheriff.Once upon a time I was fishing away when a man appeared across the creek from me. He sat down on a large rock holding an acoustic guitar. Yes sir! Yes sir! He was wearing all black with a fedora, silver chains around his wrists, his mouth was stretched in a large wide smile that went from ear to ear. A white tie hung down to his waist with gold buttons in the middle. Not a single word was spoken between us and we did not even acknowledged that the other person was there. Something was odd about this man. Yes sir! Yes sir! Butterflies seem to be flying around his head as if they were being pulled in by his gravity. He was an eerie man. I do not even think my twisted mind could make him up. His presence wasn't erotic, but it was a sick pleasure. Views: 230
Audrey is a med student who stumbles upon a strange case involving gallbladders and mysteriously goes missing.Read the diary of Audrey Smith, a med student reported missing 12-22-12. Audrey thinks that the rise of gallbladder removals is normal at first, until she notices something strange with the gallbladders. When large amounts of patients begin dying and going insane Audrey decides that she must figure out what is going on. Will she be able to stop the plague before the end of the world? Views: 230
The Fall of Night is an intriguing collection of stories that will bring you into a world of words and unpredictable storylines. The unlocked treasure that awaits you will enhance your reading experience with surprises and rewards.LOST CREEKIt was early Saturday morning in Lost Creek in 1951, two-fifteen a.m. to be exact. Most everyone in Mooneyhan County was asleep. The half-naked body of a woman lay across her bed. The mystery of her death lingers on throughout the pages until the killer is caught. But, did he do it?LOVE LETTERSJo Alice lived and grew up with her parents in a lighthouse in Mossey Creek, Georgia. She was so happy and full of life until a collection of love letters changed her life. They revealed the truth of haunting and dark secrets of the past.MURDERS AT MUD CREEKA truck driver stumbles upon a series of murders in the town of Mud Creek, Louisiana in 1956. When he picks up a prostitute at a truck stop, he doesn’t know what lies ahead for him down the road. He is arrested and faces twelve jurors and one of the jurors holds his answer.TEN BELOW ZEROJanuary 1946, a bus load of inmates are being moved from one prison to another. Caught by a raging snowstorm, they’re trip is anything but smooth. The storm has its own plans for them. They are forced to stay alive against the elements of nature. Will they have a triumphant victory against the odds?CEMETERY ROADAfter the death of Mickey, his son, a well-off business man from Memphis, Tennessee disappears. In his absence, his stepson takes over his business. A lot of suspicions are placed on Mickey’s death. He is unaware that his stepson and Geraldine, his second wife, holds the key to the secret.CONFESSIONSThey say confession is good for the soul. But, is it? Beware of what you m ay say for it may unlock doors that need to stay closed. What secret does the priest hold?THE VALLEY OF A BITTER DAYThis is a story about Vietnam. A platoon of U.S. soldiers is out on patrol gathering information after months in the jungle. On their way back they run into an unexpected surprise that will change their lives forever. Views: 230
Harry Castlemon, Collection Vol 3: Frank in the Woods, Frank among the Rancheros, Frank at Don Carlos\' Rancho. Charles Austin Fosdick (September 6, 1842 – August 22, 1915), better known by his nom de plume Harry Castlemon, was a prolific writer of juvenile stories and novels, intended mainly for boys. He served in the Union Navy from 1862 to 1865, during the American Civil War, acting as the receiver and superintendent of coal for the Mississippi River Squadron. Fosdick had begun to write as a teenager, and drew on his experiences serving in the Navy in such early novels as Frank on a Gunboat (1864) and Frank on the Lower Mississippi (1867). He soon became the most-read author for boys in the post-Civil War era, the golden age of children\'s literature. Fosdick once remarked that: "Boys don\'t like fine literature. What they want is adventure, and the more of it you can get in two-hundred-fifty pages of manuscript, the better fellow you are." Fosdick served up a lot of adventure in such popular book series as the Gunboat Series, the Rocky Mountain Series, the Roughing It Series, the Sportsman\'s Club Series, and The Steel Horse, or the Rambles of a Bicycle. Views: 230
Can a second honeymoon on an obscure planet help Martin shed his rich wife?When Martin marries Eileen, he believes he'll be set up for life but things don't work out quite as expected and Martin is left contemplating murder. Will a planet-hopping second honeymoon to the far ends of the galaxy enable him to achieve it? Views: 230
This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them. Views: 230
Max Wilson is thirty five, unemployed, and still lives at home. His interests are economics, rock music, giving lectures, and buttermilk. He's also a genius. When his mother decides to move to Florida, he devises a plan to ruin everything.Max Wilson is thirty five, unemployed, and still lives at home. His interests are economics, rock music, giving lectures, and buttermilk. He's also a genius. When his mother decides to move to Florida, he devises a plan to ruin everything. It's not easy being a genius and a slob, but Max Wilson does both quite naturally. When he's not busy debating economic professors online, he's blazing a path of destruction to his own benefit. A hilarious story about a Boomer mom and her Boomerang kid! Views: 229
Dark Tales: eVolume One is a micro collection of short, dark fiction. For fans of horror or psychological tales.Dark Tales: eVolume One is a micro collection of short, dark stories. The collection includes three tales:“When Daddy Comes Home”: When Opal Brown's husband leaves her for another woman, she doesn't get angry - she gets determined to keep her family together at all costs. They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach and Opal plans to make him a meal he'll never forget.“Child’s Play”: Maggie is worried about her five-year-old son after his father's death. Max seems oddly detached from the tragedy and has invented a young friend named Edgar he talks to in secret in the middle of the night. Most kids his age have imaginary friends so Maggie tries not to be concerned - that is, until Max confides in her his young friend is actually an adult who comes to play with him when his mommy is sleeping.and“The Storyteller”: Elizabeth's house has been on the market for weeks with no interest. One day, an old woman with a dead hand appears on her doorstep asking to see the place. As they tour the house, Elizabeth gradually becomes uncomfortable with the woman's familiarity of both the house and of her - she's never laid eyes on the old woman before in her life. Or has she? Views: 229
BEGGARS"My dear Maud, I hope I am not lacking in proper pride. But it is an accepted--though painful--fact that beggars cannot be choosers."Lady Brian spoke with plaintive emphasis the while she drew an elaborate initial in the sand at her feet with the point of her parasol."I cannot live in want," she said, after a thoughtful moment or two. "Besides, there is poor little Bunny to be considered." Another thoughtful pause; then: "What did you say, dear?"Lady Brian's daughter made an abrupt movement without taking her eyes off the clear-cut horizon; beautiful eyes of darkest, deepest blue under straight black brows that gave them a somewhat forbidding look. There was nothing remarkable about the rest of her face. It was thin and sallow and at the moment rather drawn, not a contented face, and yet possessing a quality indefinable that made it sad rather than bitter. Her smile was not very frequent, but when it came it transfigured her utterly. No one ever pictured that smile of hers beforehand. It came so brilliantly, so suddenly, like a burst of sunshine over a brown and desolate landscape, making so vast a difference that all who saw it for the first time marvelled at the unexpected glow.But it was very far from her face just now. In fact she looked as if she could never smile again as she said: "Bunny would sooner die of starvation than have you do this thing. And so would I.""You are so unpractical," sighed Lady Brian. "And really, you know, dear, I think you are just a wee bit snobbish too, you and Bunny. Mr. Sheppard may be a self-made man, but he is highly respectable.""Oh, is he?" said Maud, with a twist of the lips that made her look years older than the woman beside her."I'm sure I don't know why you should question it," protested Lady Brian. "He is extremely respectable. He is also extremely kind,--in fact, a friend in need.""And a beast!" broke in her daughter, with sudden passionate vehemence. "A hateful, familiar beast! Mother, how can you endure the man? How can you for a single moment demean yourself by the bare idea of--of marrying him?"Lady Brian sighed again. "It isn't as if I had asked you to marry him," she pointed out. "I never even asked you to marry Lord Saltash, although--as you must now admit--it was the one great chance of your life."Again Maud made that curious, sharp movement of hers that was as if some inner force urged her strongly to spring up and run away."We won't discuss Lord Saltash," she said, with lips that were suddenly a little hard."Then I don't see why we should discuss Giles Sheppard either," said Lady Brian, with a touch of querulousness. "Of course I know he doesn't compare well with your poor father. Second husbands so seldom do--which to my mind is one of the principal objections to marrying twice. But--as I said before--beggars cannot be choosers and something has got to be sacrificed, so there is an end of the matter."CONTENTSBeggarsThe IdolThe New AcquaintanceThe Accepted SuitorIn the DarkThe Unwilling GuestThe MagicianThe OfferThe Real ManThe Head of the FamilyThe Declaration of WarThe ReckoningThe Only PortThe Way of EscapeThe Closed DoorThe ChampionThe Wedding MorningThe Wedding NightThe Day AfterA Friend of the FamilyThe Old LifeThe Faithful WidowerThe Narrowing CircleBrothersMisadventureThe Word UnspokenThe TokenThe VisitorHer Other SelfThe Rising CurrentLight ReliefThe Only SolutionThe FurnaceThe SacrificeThe Offer of FreedomThe BondHusksThe Poison PlantConfidencesThe LetterRebellionThe ProblemThe Land of MoonshineThe WarningThe InvitationThe MistakeThe ReasonRefugeThe Lamp before the AltarThe Open DoorThe Downward PathThe RevelationThe Last ChanceThe WhirlpoolThe Outer DarknessDeliveranceThe Poison FruitThe LoserThe Storm WindThe Great BurdenThe BlowThe Deed of GiftThe ImpossibleThe First of the VulturesThe Dutiful WifeThe Lane of FireThe New BossOld ScoresThe Finish Views: 229
Teo Bojorquez tells the tale of what happened on the plateau of Xitapec, a story of love, loss, and unimaginable horror."The jungle in the morning is a wonderful place: the stirrings of small creatures, the echo of birdsong, the sun filtering through a vaulted green ceiling—I had never loved it as much as I did then.I doubt if I will ever love it again."When Phil Sayre's brother arrives in a small Mexican village, he is met by Teofilo "Teo" Bojorquez, a worker at the uranium mine where Phil had been a supervisor. There's been some sort of accident, and Phil has been injured, or driven mad, or...His brother is there to find out exactly what happened. Teo begins to explain, and tells a tale of love, loss, and unimaginable horror.Told from Teo's point of view, "Lark-Ellen" is a captivating story of eerie mystery by the author of "The Search for Bryant Hunter," Stan Smith. Views: 229
