Almost by reflex, I would give David Weber a 5 star on every book he has written; I have read all of them and enjoyed all of them, especially his Honor Harrington series. I read and enjoyed the previous book in this series, "1632", and although I didn't review it, I had the same reservation. But let's talk about the "good stuff" first: Flint and Weber have as the device to create their "world" of the 17th Century, a mysterious event that sends a section of West Virginia back in time, to the era of The Thirty Years War. It was a vicious time of intense religious and political conflict which seriously depopulated Central Europe. The conflict between modern man and 17th Century civilization comes off superbly, and the authors have captured the era almost perfectly. While military action occurs, this book is more than traditional military sci-fi, and as such, it is as near great work of fiction, as is "1632", and if you decide, as I hope you do, to try this book, you should read "1632" first. This is a stand alone book, to be sure, but it is a continuation of the earlier work in which nearly all of the characters in "1633" first appear. Which leads me to my only reservation about these books. Eric Flint's bio tells us that he is a labor organizer, and his belief in the superiority of the blue collar guy and his disdain for the "suits" becomes almost preachy. And ,please don't e-mail me as anti-labor; I ain't. I just don't like to have a ripping good yarn interrupted by statements about the writer's socio-political beliefs. I don't like it when Tom Clancy does it and I don't like it when Flint does it; it disrupts the story and contributes nothing to the plot (By the way, I enjoy e-mail from folks who agree or disagree with a review; I just want to be clear on this criticism). Despite my single reservation about these books, they still represent a very high level of adventure fiction, and I look forward to "1634".

The West Virginia natives transplanted into the 30 years war in the 1600s have weathered the first storm, but now the Cardinal Richelieu has decided to put his own weight, and that of France behind the Hapsburg monarchies that wish to stomp out the republican threat that ex-union boss and current United States President Mike Stearns represents. The wealth of France and the armed might of Spain make the military genius of Augustus Adolphus and the limited technology possessed by the Americans seem small indeed. Worse, Richelieu. the Spanish, and Charles of England have gotten their hands on American history books. They know the consequences of their mistakes and are resolved not to make them.

Authors Eric Flint and David Weber personalize this alternative history telling the stories of Stearns, of his political opponent and now Admiral Simpson, of Stearns' wife and sister as each battles to transform the brutal history of our own world and to survive the reaction. The story flips from central Germany to the courts of Paris to the Tower of London to the Amsterdam of Rembrant and the Prince of Orange.

Although much of their 21st century technology is depleted, Stearns and his United States (now largely made up of Germans) are gradually rebuilding an appropriate technology base. They have had the advantage of tolerance, accepting help from Jews, Catholics, and Protestants when each is an oppressed group somewhere, and of their libraries. Yet tolerance is one lesson that Richelieu is quick to learn. He won't force his enemies to unite--rather, he will welcome them with open arms--if doing so allows him to eliminate the Swedish threat and carve out a place for his beloved France.

So much for the plot--how did it work. 1633 spent way too much time (perhaps the first 200 pages in the hardback version) setting the stage and managing the transition from the single novel 1632 to the larger series that is to follow. Frankly, some of this was grim reading with characters lecturing one another at great length about history, politics, modern medicine, and the importance of not being biggotted. Once Flint and Weber finally got through this stage setting, however, the novel definitely took shape. Even more so than in 1632, Fint and Weber personalized the battles and made the reader feel the sacrifices that the Americans and their German friends were making. Like any 'middle book' in a series, 1633 left many ends unraveled and opened a number of plot devices that are almost certainly intended for use in future novels. Still, the 400 pages were fast reading and emotionally compelling.

If you haven't read 1632 yet, please start there. This book _can_ stand on its own, but is much easier to appreciate in proper context as second in a series. That said...

In 1633 the authors spend much of their time fleshing out characters who were shortchanged in 1632 -- especially the Simpsons. They also show the effect of 1999 history books on 17th century politics, and of manned flight on a world that only recently thought it impossible.

I found the book absolutely fascinating. It's meatier than 1632. Not as much of a romp, but ultimately more satisfying to digest. Now, they just need to get the NEXT book out in record time!

This book was a fitting conclusion to "In Death Ground." I especially enjoyed learning more about the Bugs. The book's failures are not due to story-telling but rather due to inevitability of the Alliance's victory. There was not as much suspense as in the previous book due to this fact.

Something interesting to note: In "Insurrection," a battlegroup of about 8 Monitors and 10 SDs is desrcibed as being bigger than any group to fight in a single battle in IW4 - which is the war being discussed in this book if I am not mistaken...of course, far larger fleets are involved in individual battles in this war...I wonder if the authors didn't read "Insurrection" prior to writing "IDG" and "TSO"...

I would appreciate a book concerning itself with the Orion - Human relationship (or any of the other allies actually).

Worth buying? Of course...now if we can just get a book that takes place after "Insurrection"...

The Shiva Option is the fourth by Weber and White in the Starfire series. The first volume, Insurrection, chronologically follows this novel, but the other two are prequels. While it can be read separately, this story is a continuation of the events described within In Death Ground.

This duology describes a war similar in many ways to the Pacific theater of World War II. The enemy has the worst aspects of the Japanese military, but exaggerated to the ultimate degree. IDG has the desperate battles prior to Midway and the Coral Sea and TSO has the grinding battles thereafter, successively retaking island after island until finally Okinawa is taken. The Divine Wind is prominent in this book, but the amphibious assaults and ground combat of that war are mostly eliminated by the Shiva Option. Considering that the defensive phase of war in the Pacific took only a few months yet the offensive phase took four and half years, it is obvious why this book is so long. If the enemy can be stopped, it most often must be done quickly or not at all; defeating the enemy, however, is long and hard.

The prologue occurs shortly after the failure of Operation Pesthouse. Fleeing the Bugs, Survey Fleet 19 encounters a new set of sentient beings, the Star Union of Crucis, who have already had violent contact with the Bugs. This new group joins with SF19 to destroy the pursuing Bug fleet and then both withdraw to the Star Union.

Meanwhile, back at Alpha Centauri, the Joint Chiefs of the Grand Fleet, and their staffs, meet to discuss strategy now that the Bugs have terminated their current offensives. Naval Intelligence reports that a new class of warships, designated Monitors and even larger than superdreadnoughts, has been deployed by the Bugs. They also state that analysis of the Bug artifacts has shown five distinctly different construction techniques, probably indicating five separate manufacturing centers, designated as Home Hives. Moreover, the initial Bug contact was probably with Home Hive Five.

After a spate of shipbuilding and stockpiling, the Grand Fleet takes the offensive at Zephrain. Sixth Fleet sneaks into the enemy system through a closed warp point. Since the warp point is not known to the Bugs and therefore unguarded, Sixth Fleet precedes under cloaking and successfully engages their initial targets before being detected. After they destroy the Orbital Weapons Platforms and fight off a suicide attack, they send in the fighters to attack the planet with weapons of mass destruction. The resulting megadeaths create a traumatic disturbance in the surviving Bug population that greatly degrades their performance and the fleet sterilizes the system. Later analysis determines that the system was Home Hive Three.

The remainder of the novel is a series of strategic offensives against the remaining Home Hives. Like its prequel, this volume is full of spatial warfare. It also includes several nuclear bombardments of enemy planets -- the Shiva Option -- and one planetary assault with subsequent ground combat.

The Arachnid civilization in Starfire owes a lot to the Bugs in Heinlein's Starship Troopers, but the approach in this series is entirely different and much wider in scope. These novels concentrate primarily on naval combat and equipment; the only use of armored combat suits is by the Telikans in the above mentioned planetary assault.

It is obvious from this novel that the Arachnids are telepathic and form group minds within each Home Hive system. Since Bug telepathy cannot bridge warp points, smaller group minds must exist within each separated system or fleet unit. Moreover, the Arachnids have specialized warrior and worker castes and, since there are Bug analysts, probably also have a thinker caste. No information on Bug propagation is available in this novel, so it cannot be determined if the hives are organized around a queen as in the Heinlein novel.

This novel also makes it obvious that the Arachnid civilization has never developed psychosocially beyond the pure survival level. Since the entire Arachnid population can be considered to be only five true individuals, social relationship would obviously remain simple. Thus, each Home Hive and its auxiliary units would behave much like its spider namesake: rapacious and efficient. Maybe it's good that we don't know anything about their sex life or reproductive methods.

My one criticism of this novel is the portrayal of politicians; everyone of them has the civilian mindset. So do the reporters, but who cares. Why aren't there any ex-military politicians? Surely the Fringe Worlds, at least, would sent a few reservist to the Legislative Assembly.

This novel is recommended to those who like realpolitik, naval combat, and politician bashing -- i.e., Heinlein fans -- and inside jokes (think Operation Bughouse). If a sequel is forthcoming, I hope it takes less time. And I further hope there are a few knowledgeable politicians -- such as in HH novels -- in the next one.

Well, they did it. Weber and White wrote the book that was hinted at in Insurrection. But there is a little bit that most of the other reviewers seemed to have missed. We may not have seen the last of the bugs. Not giving anything away, but stay tuned for more.

As far as the action, it is top-notch. If you liked In Death Ground, you're gonna love this. While some of the book is repetitive, it doesn't detract from the book. There is the usual Weber touch, making us feel something for the characters, sort of like the Harrington series. And Mr. White can write like nobodies business. I can't wait to see what comes next.

Go out and buy this book, with the caveat that you should read the first book, "In Death Ground". But you will not be dissappointed.

The author takes a very "medical" look at heartburn. What this pamphlet (at 96 pages, half of which are blank or almost blank, I cannot call this a book) preaches is the same nonsense that medical doctors have preached to me for years, but there's just one problem: their four phase "treatment" process does not work very well in the long run, if at all. The first part of the book explains (in incredibly simplistic to the point of insult) terms what heartburn is, and what may cause it. This explanation and treatment process are completely one sided, as the author never for a second mentions that it may be the DEFICIT of stomach acid, not an increase, that may cause reflux and symptoms of heartburn. Unfortunately, medical doctors in this country swear by the process that is described in this book, and this is likely why this country has the largest occurrence of heartburn. Phase One is "lifestyle changes with occasional liquid antacid use." Garbage. If the cause of heartburn is in the DEFICIT of stomach acid or digestive enzymes, taking antacids will make the condition worse over time. Phase Two is "addition of H-2 blockers and more liberal use of antacids." The nonsense piles up. Phase Three is the "addition of stronger acid-blocking agents." You see the pattern. And finally Phase Four is surgery which promises symptom relief for "as long as five years." What exactly happens afterwards, the author does not say. He then proceeds to outline costs of each phase of the process. It becomes clear that the only ones benefiting from it are the MDs, drug companies, and pharmacies -- but not the patients. The book is also full of useless little facts. For instance, did you know that in 1994, a 6 year old burped 844 consecutive times which set a new world record? Finally, while the author fails to mention any alternative treatment methods that have actually been shown to work, he does provide about a dozen recipes said to prevent or reduce reflux. Let me close this review by saying that one of those wonder-recipes contains 3 cups of marinara sauce. Here comes heartburn salvation! NOT.

I began searching for educational materials on heartburn after I had lived with it for several years and had poured all kinds of antiacids into my stomach. This book is very informative, explaining the causes, treatments, and even the long-range effects of continuing heartburn. It educated me to where I was able to discuss my condition knowledgeably with my physician and had no "fear of the unknown" when it came time to begin treatment.

I am a tremendous Honor Harrington fan and enjoy reading about her adventures. Unfortunately this book was not about Honor Harington. This book reminds me of the several anthologies which have been much poorer than the series because of their random off track stories (the only reason they are worth reading is the occasional Honor or treecat story). Unfortunately the author spent far too much time on the Havenites side of the story (I found myself looking ahead several times while reading to find out how many pages I was going to have to wade through before I got back to something I cared about). The Havenites are the ENEMY, we don't care about them! Yes, a certain amount of info on their thought processes and actions is important to the story (as was accomplished very well in the earlier books), however, it seems that more Havenite fluff is put in every succeeding book in the series. Hopefully the author will realize that the series is about Honor and return to her as the central character. The previous 9 books I rated a 5, this one gets a 3 from me. The anthologies of course only rate a 3 as only about half (at most) of each of them is worth reading (although that half is very good). If the author continues in this trend I will probably, regrettably, stop reading further books in the series and simply reread the beginning books over again.

Decent book but definitely a thinker's book and not a book of action. Nearly the entire length was given to political discussions and character disseminations. There was very little of the action that characterized the rest of the books in the series.

My biggest complaint is that too much of the expository background was inserted into the characters' thoughts. Honor repeatedly "thought" what the author wanted us to know. She would "think" seven pages of thoughts to get us up to speed while only a second of 'real time' had passed. I am not sure about the rest of the world, but I cannot think seven pages of exposition in a split second. Every time this happened, the spell the book had managed to weave was broken, and I was jarred back to reality. The pages of exposition (while admittedly fairly important) ruined the rhythm of the work.

That being said, I am facinated by the characters of Honor, Hamish, Emily, and Elizabeth and am interested in seeing where the convoluted relationships go. I plan to purchase the next book in the series and fervently hope that some of the dross that filled this one to overflowing will have been eliminated in the eleventh in the series.

Final Word: A decent, fairly intellectual read, but not the best by far.

I agree that this is long. There's not nearly the action in this novel that was in some of the others in the series. But...

The groundwork is now laid for at least two - three more novels in the series. (An upcoming war with the Solarian League should be in the offing.) And there is a depth to the characters that normally isn't explored in a science fiction series. The comments that Honor is acting like a teenage girl - think about it (and her) for a second. Prolong kept her gangly - then she was assaulted and nearly raped. Paul Tankersly was killed because he loved her. She has lost an arm and an eye. And she happens to be one of the wealthiest women in the Star Kingdom - who also has a full time naval career in addition to being a Steadholder. Now answer this question.

When has she had TIME to find out about love and her inner feelings?

As a seasoned reader of the series, after a while the space combat really becomes secondary to the characters. You get to know these people as friends - Rafe, Scotty, Sir Horace, Shannon Foraker. Action is nice - but after a while, it's all the same.