Previous / Next Dog Days Written by Richard Evans Spring 1632, Grantville, Thuringia, Germany, early morning Old Pete sat in his favorite spot and huffed out a breath of air that made his mouth flap comfortably. He laid his head down onto his paws and watched the streets through the white wooden pickets of the […]
Previous / Next The Whippoorwill Written by John Zeek “I’m getting too old for this shit.” Anse Hatfield swung off his horse, the dull pains in his back and legs reminding him that camping rough and riding all day was a young man’s game. He waved to Sergeant Albrecht. “Hold off making camp. Now that […]
Previous / Next A Falcon Falls Written by Kerryn Offord Saturday Morning, December 31, 1633, Grantville “Swan Lake! How does she expect us to do Swan Lake? And in Magdeburg. The woman is raving.” Harvey Matowski glanced back up the road. Nearly half a mile away, just outside the high school, he could see the headlights […]
Previous / Next Breakthroughs Written by Jack Carroll General Electronics laboratoriesMarch 1634 Something didn’t fit, and it looked important. Else Berding had gone to the break room for a cup of coffee. She came out to see Jennifer Hanson in the hallway, carrying on a conversation through a ham walkie-talkie. It was a little bit […]
Previous / Next The Old Gray Goose Written by Terry Howard GrantvilleThanksgiving, 1635 “Why are you not happy, Herr Benito? We have a half day off.” The new butcher’s helper, Hans Knefler, glanced over at the man he’d been assigned to work with out of the corner of his eye as they walked home from […]
Previous / Next A Pirate’s Ken Written by Iver P. Cooper The lookout squinted. In the east, a horizon-hugging bank of clouds glowed red, heralding the imminent sunrise. In the west, the sky was a deep azure, with only a few stars still glimmering. Below his perch was a dark skeleton of masts and spars. […]
Previous / Next The Summer of Our Discontent Written by Virginia DeMarce Grantville, May 1634 Susan Logsden sat in the front pew of Grantville’s rebuilt Presbyterian church, flanked on one side by Grampa Ben and Grandma Gloria and on the other by her half-sister Pam Hardesty and half-brother Cory Joe Lang. She couldn’t stop the […]
Previous / Next The Anaconda Project, Episode Four Written by Eric Flint Krzysztof Opalinski was obviously puzzled by Morris’ reference to himself as Gandalf. But, to Melissa’s surprise, his companion Jakub Zaborowsky grinned. “Not exactly, Herr Roth—at least, not from our viewpoint. You are more in the way of our Elrond. Perhaps Galadriel.” Morris gaped […]
Previous Soundings and Sextants, Part One, Navigational Instruments Old and New Written by Iver P. Cooper In Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, the tyrannical senior midshipman, Mr. Simpson, given a navigation problem by the sailing master, computes the ship’s position as being in Central Africa. The captain acidly praises him for discovering the source of the Nile. Poor […]
Previous / Next Second Hand Help Written by Vincent W. Coljee In Grantville Gazette, Volume 10, vaccinations in the 1632 universe were discussed as something Grantville would introduce to early modern Europe and beyond. Vaccinations are an extremely useful and beneficial healthcare innovation both from the societal and personal perspective. Widespread use of vaccinations can prevent […]
Previous / Next Metallic Fusion: Putting it Together in 1632 Written by Kevin H. Evans The construction of machines and devices requires that sections of material be attached to each other. This can be accomplished by friction, adhesives, mechanical connections, and welding. Down-time fastening methods were mostly mechanical. That is the methods depended on adhesion […]
Previous / Next Radio Killed the Video Star: Mass Communication Development in the 1632 Universe Written by Jay Robison As we have seen so far in both fiction (“Waves of Change” Grantville Gazette, Volume 9) and non-fiction (articles by Rick Boatright and others), the mass media of radio and television are bringing big changes to seventeenth […]
Previous / Next Stretching Out, Part Three: Maria’s Mission Written by Iver P. Cooper Grantville, September 1633 “You’ve heard the news, Mevrouw Vorst?” David de Vries brandished a folded copy of the Grantville Times. Maria Vorst turned to face him. “Who hasn’t, Captain? Is it really as bad as the papers say?” “Probably worse. Over sixty […]
Previous / Next Joseph Hanauer, Part Three: All Creatures Stand in Judgment Written by Douglas W. Jones 10th of Tamuz, 5391 ( July 10, 1631 ) The trip by cart from Grantville to a wooded hillside above Magdala had only taken a day. Seen from the hillside, the village looked large. Yossie had expected Magdala to be […]
Previous / Next Cinco de Mayo . . . er, der Fünfte Mai Written by Edith Wild “So what the heck is a taco, really?” asked Maria, David’s girlfriend. It was with great fanfare that the owners of the Thuringen Gardens added real honest-to-god tacos to their menu in May of 1634. May 5th, Cinco de Mayo, was to be […]
Previous / Next School Days, School Days, Dear Old Golden Rule Days Written by Terry Howard February, 1635, Grantville It all started on the first day of school. Chaim was in the hallway when he heard a kid say, “Hey, Hans. Look! A Shirley Temple haircut!” “What are you talkin’ about?” “The banana curls, just […]
Previous / Next Stepping Up Written by Jack Carroll American Electric WorksThe president’s office7:30 PM Gottfried voiced an untranslatable grunt of frustration. “How on earth do they come up with this?” Landon looked at the page. “Hmm. Yes. You have every right to be confused, the author should have shown some intermediate steps. Well, let’s walk […]
Previous / Next The New Romantics Written by Kerryn Offord Grantville, February 1634 Hazel Patton couldn’t stand not knowing what the giggling was all about a moment longer. She poked her head around the corner to find three of her teacher trainees giggling over a book. Walking over to them she held out a hand […]
Previous / Next Songs and Ballads Written by Virginia DeMarce Judith Roth claimed no expertise at the piano—only lessons from the seventh through the sixteenth years of her life. She had been profoundly grateful when the last teacher to whom she had been assigned at the Levine School of Music had concurred with her own […]
Previous / Next Gearing Up Written by Sean Massey Happy AcresOctober 1633 “Du dummes, undankbares Stück scheiße!” Jost Neubert screamed. He waved his arms and hit the old John Deere Model B tractor with his hat. The tractor hadn’t seen this much work in decades, and steam now poured out of the radiator. “Warum jetzt??” Jost […]
Previous / Next A Matter of Unehrlichkeit Written by Kim Mackey The breeze along the Rhine was beginning to freshen again when Philipp Hainhofer glanced once more towards the gates of Cologne. Where are you Georg? It’s been over an hour! His youngest daughter, Sophie, noticed his look. “He’s probably in a beer tavern somewhere with […]
Previous / Next Bats in the Belfry Written by Garrett W. Vance Late May, 1634 Pam Miller walked briskly down Grantville’s main street, hoping to avoid the friendly looking fellow heading her way from the Freedom Arches. It looked like he may be trying to get her attention; she had no idea why and was […]
Previous / Next Mrs. Schumacher Written by Gorg Huff and Paula Goodlett “Lena! Lena! It’s here!” Helena looked up from the pot she was stirring to see her cousin Dorothea Kellerin pushing open the door. The girl was barely able to hold on to the basket of food she’d bought at the market, considering the […]
Previous / Next Jenny and the King’s Men Written by Mark Huston And thus a mighty deed was done by Jenny’s valiant hand,Black Prelacy and Popery she drove from Scottish land;King Charles he was a shuffling knave, priest Laud a meddling fool,But Jenny was a woman wise, who beat them with a stool! The column […]
Previous / Next The Anaconda Project, Episode Three Written by Eric FlintChapter 3 Fortunately, they were hungry—or James might have spent half an hour instead of three minutes making wisecracks about Lord and Lady Roth and the way they bid fair to make pikers out of any European aristocrats barring maybe the odd emperor here […]
Previous Turn, Turn, Turn Written by Virginia DeMarce July 1634 Father Nicholas Smithson, S.J., cleared his throat for the third time. Crossing his arms over his chest, he leaned back against the wall of St. Mary’s rectory. After a pause, he cleared his throat for the fourth time. With obvious reluctance, Father Athanasius Kircher, S.J., […]
Previous / Next Sunday Driver Written by Laura Runkle GrantvilleJuly, 1634 Father Nicholas Smithson stood by the side door and shook hands after early mass at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church. Father Athanasius Kircher was greeting parishioners coming out of the main door, but some always left by the quicker route. He smiled as he saw […]
Previous / Next The Spark of Inspiration Written by Gorg Huff and Paula Goodlett Neil O’Connor looked over at Johan. “Say what ever you like, man, that girl is fine.” He continued to turn the spark plug wrench as he talked. “She may be pretty but she is too forward, I think,” Albrecht Knopf said. […]
Previous / Next Plugging Along Written by Kerryn Offord The Saale Industrial Zone, winter 1633-34 Larry Karickhoff turned the key of the pickup. The engine fired a few times, backfired, and stopped. “What’s the hold up, Larry? Day’s over, everyone wants to get home,” Johann Rademacher said. Larry tried the engine again, with the same result. […]
Previous / Next Supply and Demand Written by Rick Boatright Tink tink tink… The little yellow screwdriver rang against the side of the Cora’s mug as Father Nicholas Smithson sat silently in the rectory kitchen. “Why so glum, Nick?” Father Nicholas Smithson looked up from staring into his coffee mug to see his good friend […]
Previous / Next The Doodlebugger Written by Iver P. Cooper Wietze Oil Field, near Celle, in the Duchy of CalenbergEarly, 1634 “Hans, dammit! Where’s the report on the new mine cars?” “In a moment, sir.” Hans started rummaging through the files, at first calmly, then more frantically. “I am sure it’s here somewhere.” “Perhaps it’ll […]
Previous / Next Guilds 101 Written by Karen Bergstralh Guilds had a long history. Depending upon your exact definition, a form of guilds can be traced back over 4,000 years. By the twentieth century all but a few guilds had disappeared and the handful that remain had altered greatly. A major factor in their disappearance […]
Previous / Next The Wooden Wonders of Grantville Written by Iver P. Cooper The “Wooden Wonder” (or “Timber Terror”) of World War II was the De Havilland Mosquito, a highly successful aircraft, made primarily from wood, used in both fighter and bomber configurations. The fact that it competed effectively with aluminum-based aircraft shows that it […]
Previous / Next The Music of the Spheres . . . er, Ring Written by David Carrico A lot has been said in the various 1632 discussion threads on Baen’s Bar, as well as in print, about how early modern Europe’s populace really weren’t too different from people of today. They were technically adept, given the tools that they […]
Previous / Next Butterflies in the Kremlin, Part Five,The Dog and Pony Show Written by Gorg Huff and Paula Goodlett Natasha alighted from the carriage at her family’s dacha outside of Moscow, along with her aunt, Sofia Petrovna. Both were wearing full regalia, “dressed to the nines,” as Bernie put it. Aunt Sofia served as […]
Previous / Next Joseph Hanauer, Part Two:These Things Have No Fixed Measure Written by Douglas W. Jones 12th of Sivan, 5391 ( June 12, 1631 ) As Yossie walked down the road Thursday morning, he was struck by an unlikely fact. His surroundings no longer shocked him. When he’d arrived in Grantville, the well-painted houses […]
Previous / Next Sailing Upwind Written by Kevin and Karen Evans Late September 1633 “Sally, did Mr. Pridmore say where he was going?” Reva leaned toward the young receptionist, to keep the conversation a little more private. Reva worried about Marlon. He hadn’t been eating or sleeping well for the last week. Just like he […]
Previous / Next The Truth According to Buddha Written by Terry Howard “Hey, Jimmy Dick.” Bubba sidled up to the bar and waited for Jimmy to order him a beer. It was Thursday and Bubba was broke. “You hear about the horrible way the school treated preacher Wiley’s kid?” “No. What happened?” “He was up […]
Previous / Next Out of a Job? Written by Iver P. Cooper I am no ordinary assassin. As one of the foreign agents of the Most Serene Republic, it is my task to bring our wayward glassmakers back into the fold. I prefer the carrot to the stick, and the stick to the dagger. But […]
Previous / Next The Ear of the Beholder Written by Terry Martin “No way, man, I thought they were Brits!” “Way, dude. They were Brits. But their first record was in German.” Danny grunted to signify that was settled. “Not only that, but it was recorded in Paris.” “France?” “Is there any other?” “Well, not […]
