by Eric Flint
First published 2003
Mike Stearns leads the West Virginia town that time travel threw into the middle of the Thirty Years War. His people have allied with King Gustavus of Sweden to form the Confederated Principalities of Europe. Now Cardinal Richelieu has built a coalition to crush their experiment in freedom and justice. Europe's greatest naval war explodes around them. Rebecca, Mike's wife, sits trapped in Amsterdam as war consumes the city. His sister Rita languishes in the Tower of London. Mike wants to transform tyrannical seventeenth century Europe through reason and democracy. But American technology may be their only hope against Richelieu's alliance. At least Julie still carries her Olympic marksman's rifle when sweet reason fails to convince their enemies.
Genres: science-fiction, historical-fiction, military-fiction, alternate-history
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: West Virginia, Europe, Amsterdam, London
Period: Thirty Years War, 17th Century
673 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Baen