Yeah right, really right
Apr. 22nd, 2007 09:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
threemonkeysThe story: a group of George Bush voting, Fox news watching Americans with superior weaponry are inserted into another country. They pacify the locals and invading armies and their neighbours. They bring their political system and way of life to the locals who embrace them with fervour and gratitude. The world is a better place because the Americans had imposed their will. A Republican party strategist's wet dream? No it is 1632 by Eric Flint.
This novel is about a small town in West Virginia which is mysteriously transported to 17th century Germany smack in the middle of the 30 years war. These gun totin', brave and noble folk gather allies and sweep all before them with relative ease and a seemingly infinite supply of ammo as they reestablish the USA on new soil. Are these Americans caricatures? Are they a lampoon of redneck hillbillies? Not a bit of it. They are treated with sympathy and reverence by the author. These almost superhuman characters live in an irony free zone. I guess this book was supposed to be a meeting of the familiar and the strange. For me however, it is the meeting of two alien cultures.
A few things to note. First, this book was published in 2000 - you have to suspect that perhaps it would be a bit different now. Second, this book is the setup for a franchise universe. As such, it sacrifices some narrative for extensive scene setting description. The chunks of extra detail are well worked in, but it is always obvious that this is going on. Third, the historical detail seems well researched and the treatment of the local characters is no less sympathetic than the Americans. Fourth, Flint has a union background - the main political body in his small town is the union - the Republican party never gets a mention but it is hard to see a difference from this distance. Finally, Flint writes military SF. The style of writing charismatic leaders who can always second guess their opponents is clearly an entrenched habit.
Flint is a guest of honour at Conspiracy 2. I have read with interest his Baen magazine editorials on intellectual property and other aspects of publishing. He has done things with Baen which are to be much admired. I am looking forward to meeting him and talking about that stuff. Being a respectful chap, I may just quietly avoid mentioning 1632.
This novel is about a small town in West Virginia which is mysteriously transported to 17th century Germany smack in the middle of the 30 years war. These gun totin', brave and noble folk gather allies and sweep all before them with relative ease and a seemingly infinite supply of ammo as they reestablish the USA on new soil. Are these Americans caricatures? Are they a lampoon of redneck hillbillies? Not a bit of it. They are treated with sympathy and reverence by the author. These almost superhuman characters live in an irony free zone. I guess this book was supposed to be a meeting of the familiar and the strange. For me however, it is the meeting of two alien cultures.
A few things to note. First, this book was published in 2000 - you have to suspect that perhaps it would be a bit different now. Second, this book is the setup for a franchise universe. As such, it sacrifices some narrative for extensive scene setting description. The chunks of extra detail are well worked in, but it is always obvious that this is going on. Third, the historical detail seems well researched and the treatment of the local characters is no less sympathetic than the Americans. Fourth, Flint has a union background - the main political body in his small town is the union - the Republican party never gets a mention but it is hard to see a difference from this distance. Finally, Flint writes military SF. The style of writing charismatic leaders who can always second guess their opponents is clearly an entrenched habit.
Flint is a guest of honour at Conspiracy 2. I have read with interest his Baen magazine editorials on intellectual property and other aspects of publishing. He has done things with Baen which are to be much admired. I am looking forward to meeting him and talking about that stuff. Being a respectful chap, I may just quietly avoid mentioning 1632.
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no subject
Date: 2007-04-24 02:48 am (UTC)It was an uphill struggle to get the basic antispesis practice of washing hands before attending childbirth accepted. Deaths of mothers with hand washing low, deaths of mothers without hand washing high (this was a big medical argument at the start of the C19th) - acceptance of concept: nil.
Army surgeons (they did exist in C17th) would apply antispesis lessons - they were paid to get soldiers back into action - where possible, but a field hospital had a very high through put of injured. Chances for using spares or cleaning equipment - not good.