Eric Flint's 1632 & Beyond: Alternate History Stories

Issue 9 #1: Unintended Consequences

Previous / Next Unintended Consequences George Grant Boston May 1635 Mr. Roger Ludlow looked around his new office with satisfaction. While cruder than anything he would have inhabited in England, as far as he was concerned it was the best there was in the New World. He had achieved his highest ambition. Last year he […]

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Volume 10 #8: Fiddling Stranger

Previous / Next Fiddling Stranger By Russ Rittgers August 1633 Dolf was the first in his farming village to notice the stranger. Not that strangers walking or riding past on their way to or from Aschersleben were unusual. He was ten, old enough to have finished his formal schooling, or so his father said. “Got […]

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Volume 10 #7: The Launcher

Previous / Next The Launcher By Richard Evans Bern, Swiss Confederacy, Early Spring, 1634 “Will this spot work?” “Looks high enough.” A few steps toward the edge of the cliff let Peter gaze down toward the ever—but slowly—growing lake below. The lake, cut out of the fast-flowing River Aare, had been intended to slow the […]

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Issue 8 #6: Stilettos, Part 2

Previous / Next Stilettos, Part 2 Bethanne Kim In up-time West Virginia, a stiletto was a type of women’s shoe with an exceptionally high, exceedingly thin heel. By 2000, most people had forgotten the 1950s origins of the name. Stiletto high heels were named for a specific type of Italian knife with an unusually long, […]

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Issue 8 #5: Emancipation and Education

Previous / Next Emancipation and Education Terry Howard Grantville September 1636 Reverend Mary Ellen Jones had a dilemma. It was Wednesday evening after the midweek service and choir practice, early in September 1636. A nervous young man named William Schmid was waiting until he could speak to her alone. “Reverend Jones, I need your assistance. […]

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Issue 8 #4: The Diablo is in the Details

Previous / Next The Diablo is in the Details Aaron Jameison Greso Venice Late May 1634 Zuan, the pilot boat’s oarsman, kept smiling as he bobbed his head. “They were standing in a line outside the door of the new CPE embassy. I’d swear to it.” “Why would anyone stand in line to buy a […]

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Issue 8 #3: A Week Together

Previous / Next A Week Together Bjorn Hasseler This story follows “Reed and Kathy Sue” (Grantville Gazette 64 and IX). Kathy Sue and Reed wrote letters to each other while Reed was deployed in support of Third Division from June 1635 to March 1636. Reed just returned home the previous evening after the events of […]

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Issue 8 #2: Rites of Passage

Previous / Next Rites of PassageEdith Wild Amalia von Herbert and Maggie Vogel have appeared in three previous stories: “A Christmas Stollen” in A 1632 Christmas “Leftovers” in Grantville Gazette 100 “A Knight’s Tale – Therapies” in 1632 & Beyond Issue 4 Herr Johannes Esslie’s Math Classroom, Grantville High SchoolAfter School, February 2, 1637 Johannes […]

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Volume 8 #1: How Lovely Are Thy Branches

Previous / Next How Lovely Are Thy Branches Garrett W. Vance Dodo Island, The Wonderland Isles Colonies December 21, 1637 It was just before sunrise as Pers finished up his simple breakfast of bread, cheese, and a thin slice of dried beef. Having grown up at sea, he had never developed a taste for what […]

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Volume 10 #2: A Filthy Story

Previous / Next A Filthy Story by Aamund Breivik Daniel Pedersson cursed, and swung the entrenching tool again. It went splat instead of crack, again, and he cursed some more. Not that swearing helped; he was already covered in filthy sewage slush beyond all imagination. The supply depot’s jury-rigged sewer system had worked fine all summer, but now […]

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Volume 10 #1: On The Matter of D’Artagnan

Previous / Next On The Matter of D’Artagnan by Bradley H. Sinor “Charlton Heston or Tim Curry?” mused Cardinal Richelieu. Since there was no one else in the room, the chief minister to His Majesty Louis XIII of France was speaking for his own benefit. Richelieu sat in a large chair behind the huge desk […]

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Volume 9 #27: Butterflies In The Kremlin, Episode 2, A ‘Merican in Moscow

Previous / Next Butterflies In The Kremlin, Episode 2A ‘Merican in Moscow by Gorg Huff and Paula GoodlettSpring, 1633 “Home,” Boris sighed then waved at the white stone walls of the Kremlin which stood sixty feet tall and dominated the mostly wooden city of Moscow. Bernie Zeppi, after the long trip, didn’t care if it […]

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Volume 9 #25: The Essen Chronicles, Part 3: Trip to Paris

Previous / Next Note: The Essen Chronicles series consists of several parts, Crucibellus (Grantville Gazette #7), Louis de Geer (Grantville Gazette #8) and Trip to Paris (Grantville Gazette #9) The Essen Chronicles, Part 3: Trip to Paris by Kim MackeyChapter One October 1632 was an eventful month for Josh and Colette Modi. Their first wedding anniversary prompted Colette […]

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Volume 9 #4: Those Daring Not So Young Men

Previous / Next Those Daring Not So Young Men by Rick Boatright “Thank you for coming.” “Of course we came, lass.” “At least it’s over now.” “Over? What’s over?” “This steam nonsense.” “Tisn’t nonsense, lass. Your grandfather died because he got the last bit working.” “It’s still nonsense, Mr Iverson.” She pointed at the “monster” in […]

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Volume 8 #15: Butterflies in the Kremlin: Part 1

Previous / Next Butterflies in the Kremlin: Part 1A Russian Noble by Gorg Huff and Paula GoodlettSpring, 1632 Boris Ivanovich Petrov pulled the horse to a stop and looked around. “This place is almost worth the trip. See the cuts in the earth where the land was changed. Look at these hills. The structure is […]

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Volume 8 #14: The Essen Steel Chronicles, Part 2

Previous / Next Note: The Essen Chronicles series consists of several parts, Crucibellus (Grantville Gazette #7), Louis de Geer (Grantville Gazette #8) and Trip to Paris (Grantville Gazette #9) The Essen Steel Chronicles, Part 2Louis de Geer by Kim MackeyJuly, 1631 Louis de Geer refolded the letters from his niece in Grantville. Interesting information, he thought. But he […]

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Volume 8 #13: The Doctor Gribbleflotz Chronicles Part 3

Previous / Next The Doctor Gribbleflotz Chronicles, Part 3Doctor Phil’s Distraction By Kerryn OffordApril 1635, The rectory, St. Martin’s in the Fields. South of Rudolstadt Yesterday I helped Stepmama turn Papa’s old Geneva gown. We unpicked the seams, darned threads to reinforce the worst worn spots and re-dyed the fabric before hand sewing it back […]

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The Frontier Culture Museum

I have driven past signs for “this “The Frontier Culture Museum” off Interstate 81 in Virginia many times and have often thought about stopping there, but we were always in a rush to get somewhere. Finally, on the way home from DragonDon 2024, we had the time. As an added bonus, we had perfect weather. […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue 7 #5: Mail From Up-Time, Episode 2: Atlantic Giant

Previous Mail From Up-Time, Episode 2: Atlantic Giant By George Grant Editor’s Note:             “Mail From Up-Time” appeared in Issue 5.  The stories are connected by the discovered mail but do not share any characters. In “Mail From Up-Time”, the author established that some mail for people left up-time was set aside for later delivery […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue 7 #4: Summer’s Kitchen

Previous / Next Summer’s Kitchen Marc Tyrrell Editor’s Note:s Various combinations of Sandy, Summer, Bob, Paul, and Helmut previously appeared in: “Schrödinger’s Spouse,” Grantville Gazette 102 “A Meeting at Midsummer, Part 1,” Eric Flint’s 1632 & Beyond, Issue 2 “A Meeting at Midsummer, Part 2,” Eric Flint’s 1632 & Beyond, Issue 3 “Making Hay While […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue 7 #3: Stilettos

Previous / Next Stilettos Bethanne Kim Grantville High School CafeteriaOne Month Before Prom, Spring 1636 Ryan Bonnaro couldn’t help but grin. His friend looked like a lovelorn Italian straight out of a movie. The fact that the lovelorn Italian in question had become one of his best friends since he arrived in Grantville was the […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue 7 #2: Trudi’s Trenchers

Previous / Next Trudi’s Trenchers Gorg Huff Editor’s Note: Trudi von Bachmerin was previously seen in 1636: The Viennese Waltz. Grantville High SchoolMonday, November 3, 1631  Trudi von Bachmerin looked at the high school in something close to terror. This was her first trip to Grantville and the wide, blacktopped Route 250 had been only […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue 7 #1: Ceaseless the River Runs

Previous / Next Ceaseless, The River Runs By Garrett W. Vance Previously in this storyline: Retired samurai Nishioka Yoriaki and his wife Nishioka Momo fled fled the Nihonmachi Japanese enclave in Ayutthaya for Safety in Phnom Phen, Cambodia with help from their friend and Dutch captain Blom Coneliszoon. Five years later, Blom returns to take them […]

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Volume 7 #11: Essen Steel, Part 1: Crucibellus

Previous / Next Note: The Essen Chronicles series consists of several parts, Crucibellus (Grantville Gazette #7), Louis de Geer (Grantville Gazette #8) and Trip to Paris (Grantville Gazette #9) Essen Steel, Part 1: Crucibellus By Kim Mackey Chapter One By early morning they had passed beyond the siege lines and lay hidden in a copse of woods four […]

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Volume 7 #10: Dr. Phil Zinkens A Bundle

Previous / Next Dr. Phil Zinkens A Bundle By Kerryn Offord Jena, 1633 The new chemical “battery” was most interesting. Just by adding two electrodes of different metal into a glass container of weak oil of vitriol one could generate enough of the new electricity to light the small light bulb. Dr. Phillip Theophrastus Gribbleflotz […]

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Volume 7 #9:The Dr. Gribbleflotz Chronicles, Part 2

Previous / Next The Dr. Gribbleflotz Chronicles, Part 2Dr. Phil’s Amazing Essence Of Fire Tablets By Kerryn Offord and Rick Boatright 1633, Jena, Dr. Gribbleflotz’s office Dr. Phillip Theophrastus Gribbleflotz took another look at the bill. He was spending that much on candles? Surely not. “Frau Mittelhausen. This bill for candles. Who has been using wax candles […]

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Volume 89 #3: A Puritan Voice, Part 4

Previous / Next A Puritan Voice, Part 4by Michael Lockwood Chapter 4: Outside Amiens Phillippe looked around him trying to gauge if Gerard was where he needed to be before Phillippe could begin his part of the plan. Gerard was to circle quietly around the Englishman’s campsite to intercept him should he try to flee. […]

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Volume 86 #5: A Puritan Voice Part 1

Next A Puritan Voice Part 1by Michael Lockwood Chapter 1: Le Havre Nicholas Knapp, known aboard the ship by the stolen name of Jean-Marc Crevier, stood at the bow of the ship, enjoying his first taste of freedom from his cramped cabin in months. His first taste of cold freedom, he thought as he wrapped […]

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Volume 6 #12: Dr. Phil’s Aeolian Transformers

Previous / Next Dr. Phil’s Aeolian TransformersKerryn Offord and Rick Boatright Jena It had been a hard day of almost wasted discussions with the scholars at the university. John Grover and Ken Butcher, accompanied by Derrick Mason, a young radio operator on loan from the army, had been trying to identify the materials and skills […]

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Volume 6 #11: Dr. Phil’s Amazing Lightning Crystal

Previous / Next Dr. Phil’s Amazing Lightning CrystalKerryn Offord Jena, Freedom Arches Tasha Kubiak tried to tune out the pompous ass who was still pontificating. Somehow both Tracy Kubiak and Danielle Kowach, the two other members of the Kubiak Country partnership who could speak competent German, had managed to be needed elsewhere when this trip […]

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Volume 6 #10: The Doctor Gribbleflotz Chronicles, Part 1: Calling Dr. Phil

Previous / Next CONTINUING SERIALS The Doctor Gribbleflotz Chronicles, Part 1: Calling Dr. PhilKerryn Offord Sunday. After Church Lunch, Drahuta Property Deep in the middle of “Kubiak Country” the extended Kubiak clan had gathered at the home of Belle and Ivan Drahuta for Sunday lunch. Grown men and women were messing about playing touch football […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue 6 #1: Passing Fair

Previous / Next Passing FairVirginia DeMarce Editor’s Note: References are given at the end of the story. Grantville, SoTFNovember 1636 “Where’s Master Marmion?” Renee Carson demanded The rest of the high school’s advanced drama class (elective; juniors and seniors only; may be repeated for credit a second year; non-mandatory option for participation with community theater […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue 6 #2: From Cramps To Matrimony

Previous / Next From Cramps To MatrimonyTerry Howard The Holiday Lodge, just outside the Ring Wall, GrantvilleSpring 1636 “Room service, my wife is having cramps, and she requires a cup of Raspberry Mint tea. And I’d like a cup of Green Apple tea.” The telephone, with its horn cup to one’s ear and another cup […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue 6 #3: Cassini Runs Home

Previous / Next Note: The Cassini Plays Ball series consists of five stories: “Cassini at the Plate,” (Grantville Gazette 93);“Cassini Takes First,” (Grantville Gazette 96); “Cassini Slides to Second” (Grantville Gazette 101), “Cassini Rounds Third” (1632 & Beyond Issue 3), and “Cassini Runs Home” (1632 & Beyond Issue 6). Cassini Runs HomeRobert E Waters “Nothing’s ever been as fun as baseball.” […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue 6 #6: Inside Baseball

Previous Inside BaseballBjorn Hasseler Since Robert finished his Cassini cycle of baseball stories in this issue, I decided on a baseball name for this column. It’s the inside scoop, the nuts and bolts, perhaps a little of how the sausage is made. Most of the staff of Eric Flint’s 1632 & Beyond just got home […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue 6 #4: A Guest at the New Year

Previous / Next A Guest At The New YearTim Sayeau Bramall Hall, EnglandJune 1635 Sir William Davenport stared at the oilskin packet held in the mercenary captain’s hand. Behind that worthy was another mercenary holding the reins of his captain’s horse. When the troop appeared in the lane leading to Bramall Hall, Sir William had […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue 6 #5: Buzz! Beekeeping in the 1632 Universe Part 2

Previous / Next Buzz! Beekeeping in the 1632 Universe, Part 2 Iver P. Cooper Transplanting Bees The European honey bee has been deliberately transported to regions outside its native range, notably North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, and Japan. There are obvious problems with shipping bees overseas on sailing ships. The voyages are […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue #006

Welcome to our July 2024 issue. We hope you enjoy it! Next Introduction and Table of ContentsBjorn Hasseler Introduction Magdeburg Messenger (1632 Fiction) 1. Passing Fair Virginia DeMarce 2. From Cramps to Matrimony Terrry Howard 3. Cassini Runs Home Robert E. Waters 4. A Guest at the New Year Tim Sayeau 5. Buzz! Beekeeping in […]

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Grantville Gazette 5 #9: Euterpe

Previous / Next Euterpe, Episode 3 By Enrico M. Toro To Father Thomas Fitzherbert SJ,Illustrissimus Collegium AnglicanumRoma From Maestro Giacomo Carissimi,Grantville, USASeventh day of October, in our Lord’s year 1633. Dear and honored father, How are you? I received your letter today. It was waiting for me at the Church of Saint Mary. I’m glad […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue 5 #7: Buzz! Beekeeping in the 1632 Universe

Previous Buzz! Beekeeping in the 1632 Universe, Part I Iver P. Cooper Honey is the oldest sweetener; there is an eight thousand-year-old rock painting in Spain that shows someone climbing a tree to gather honey from a bee hive. By ancient Egyptian times, humans had learned to manage honey bee hives to ensure a reliable […]

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1632 & Beyond 5 #5: Among the Faithful

Previous / Next Among the FaithfulBob Finegold “What have I done unto thee?” – Numbers 22:28 Worms, Rheinpfalz (Rhineland Palatinate) June 1635 “Grandfather! A Korrespondenzausschüsse column occupies Mainz!” Christian burst into his grandfather’s study, the horrible news of protestors being shot and summary hangings trembling on his lips. At the sight of the dour-faced men […]

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1632 & Beyond 5 #5: Making Hay While The Sun Shines

Previous / Next Making Hay While the Sun ShinesMarc Tyrrell Refugee Center near the Power Plant Wednesday, July 2, 1631, 7:35 a.m. Hermann Peter Stieff looked up as his name was called. “Hier!” He stood up and took the bag he was handed, even as the man who handed it to him called out another […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue 5 #3: Mail From Up-Time

Previous / Next Mail From Up-TimeGeorge Grant Grantville Post Office May 1635 “Shit!” Bernita Jenkins’ day had started normally. The work had even been rather light. She and Selma had sorted the flats and letters, thrown parcels, sorted and distributed the accountables, and gotten a start on putting up the box mail before the window […]

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1632 & Beyond Issue 5 #1: A Rose By Any Other Song

Previous / Next A Rose By Any Other SongVirginia DeMarce Grantville, SoTFSeptember 1635 “And now, we bring you News from the Netherlands.” The general manager of the Voice of America pondered as he listened. “It’s a good skit.” The VOA disk jockey grinned. “Tom and Dick Quiney are, if nothing else, reliably irreverent,” John Grover […]

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Volume 3 #8: Euterpe, Episode 2

Previous / Next Euterpe, Episode 2 Enrico M. Toro To Father Thomas Fitzherbert SJ of theIllustrissimus Collegium Anglicanum in RomeFrom Maestro Giacomo Carissimi inThuringen Gardens, GrantvilleAugust 1633 Very Reverend Father, I am sorry it took so long to write you again, but a journey through Europe in these days is everything but short and comfortable. […]

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