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emellaich · 10-06-2009, 10:52 AM

I'm fine with the 'conservative-bias' of the Honourverse but, if you are looking from books from the opposite viewpoint, and if you enjoy military fantasy (instead of military sci-fi) check out Eric Flint. He has two great series in this area.

The Belisaurius Series involving wars fought between the eastern Roman empire and an Indian empire after the far future sends back a pair of competing computer-like intelligences in order to change the past. From wikipedia:
* An Oblique Approach (1998)
* In the Heart of Darkness (1998)
* Destiny's Shield (1999)
* Fortune's Stroke (2000)
* The Tide of Victory (2001)
* The Dance of Time (2006)

Then there is the 1632 series. The plot device assumes that a small town in present day west Virginia is suddenly transported to 1632 Germany. The books explore the implications for Europe of the time. True to his politics, Flint highlights the importance of the modern Union movement and a "Committees of Correspondence" group that is decidedly populous and even socialistic in its orientation. However, even though I tend to be more conservative in my politics, I didn't find Flint's orientation to be intrusive or to get in the way of what was a good tale of empires.

I should note however that some here have found the series too US-centric (and anti-Europe) for their tastes. I feel that that more comes from the setting -- a modern day town (U.S.) transplanted to its past. Frankly, in 1632 there was no U.S. to speak of, and its heritage was European. To me, any bias is more modern day versus the past, but YMMV. From wikipedia:
* 1632, which started the phenomenal buzz, growth, and subsequent history. Primary characters and setting are in fictional Grantville, WV now part of Thuringia.
* 1633 (2002) with David Weber, which is co-sequel with the following Ring of Fire anthology.
* Ring of Fire (Jan 2004, 1st of many 1632 canonical anthologies, currently supplemented by the Grantville Gazettes. For a while the title of this work was used as the series name.)
* 1634: The Galileo Affair (April 2004) with Andrew Dennis; this work takes stories from four Ring of Fire short stories and launches the second major storyline (called a 'thread' by Flint) in the milieu.
* Grantville Gazette I print release, November 2004
* Grantville Gazette II print release, March 2006
* 1634: The Ram Rebellion April 2006 with author-historian and key 1632 Research Committee member Virginia DeMarce. Together with stories from Ring of Fire and several Grantville Gazettes, this work launches the third major storyline thread in the novel which will be set primarily in Austria, though this book spends much time in Grantville, WV.

(Note: Two to three additional Novels are planned in 1634 alone, including another with David Weber who is contracted for five total)

* 1634: The Baltic War (May 2007) with David Weber; writing schedule conflicts between Flint and Weber delayed this sequel to the anguish of fans world wide. This novel closes out many loose ends left hanging in the Central Europe threads predecessor novel: 1633.
* 1635: The Cannon Law (October 2006) with Andrew Dennis; Sequel to 1634: The Galileo Affair
* 1634: The Bavarian Crisis (October 2007) with Virginia DeMarce
* Ring of Fire II (January 2008)
* 1635: The Dreeson Incident (December 2008)
* The Grantville Gazettes

The first books of both Belisaurius and 1632 are available in the Baen free library.

10-06-2009, 10:52 AM	#62
emellaich Wizard Posts: 1,101 Karma: 4388403 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Palm>Ebookman>IPaq>Axim>Cybook>Kndl2>IPAD>Kndl3SO>Voyager>Oasis	I'm fine with the 'conservative-bias' of the Honourverse but, if you are looking from books from the opposite viewpoint, and if you enjoy military fantasy (instead of military sci-fi) check out Eric Flint. He has two great series in this area. The Belisaurius Series involving wars fought between the eastern Roman empire and an Indian empire after the far future sends back a pair of competing computer-like intelligences in order to change the past. From wikipedia: * An Oblique Approach (1998) * In the Heart of Darkness (1998) * Destiny's Shield (1999) * Fortune's Stroke (2000) * The Tide of Victory (2001) * The Dance of Time (2006) Then there is the 1632 series. The plot device assumes that a small town in present day west Virginia is suddenly transported to 1632 Germany. The books explore the implications for Europe of the time. True to his politics, Flint highlights the importance of the modern Union movement and a "Committees of Correspondence" group that is decidedly populous and even socialistic in its orientation. However, even though I tend to be more conservative in my politics, I didn't find Flint's orientation to be intrusive or to get in the way of what was a good tale of empires. I should note however that some here have found the series too US-centric (and anti-Europe) for their tastes. I feel that that more comes from the setting -- a modern day town (U.S.) transplanted to its past. Frankly, in 1632 there was no U.S. to speak of, and its heritage was European. To me, any bias is more modern day versus the past, but YMMV. From wikipedia: * 1632, which started the phenomenal buzz, growth, and subsequent history. Primary characters and setting are in fictional Grantville, WV now part of Thuringia. * 1633 (2002) with David Weber, which is co-sequel with the following Ring of Fire anthology. * Ring of Fire (Jan 2004, 1st of many 1632 canonical anthologies, currently supplemented by the Grantville Gazettes. For a while the title of this work was used as the series name.) * 1634: The Galileo Affair (April 2004) with Andrew Dennis; this work takes stories from four Ring of Fire short stories and launches the second major storyline (called a 'thread' by Flint) in the milieu. * Grantville Gazette I print release, November 2004 * Grantville Gazette II print release, March 2006 * 1634: The Ram Rebellion April 2006 with author-historian and key 1632 Research Committee member Virginia DeMarce. Together with stories from Ring of Fire and several Grantville Gazettes, this work launches the third major storyline thread in the novel which will be set primarily in Austria, though this book spends much time in Grantville, WV. (Note: Two to three additional Novels are planned in 1634 alone, including another with David Weber who is contracted for five total) * 1634: The Baltic War (May 2007) with David Weber; writing schedule conflicts between Flint and Weber delayed this sequel to the anguish of fans world wide. This novel closes out many loose ends left hanging in the Central Europe threads predecessor novel: 1633. * 1635: The Cannon Law (October 2006) with Andrew Dennis; Sequel to 1634: The Galileo Affair * 1634: The Bavarian Crisis (October 2007) with Virginia DeMarce * Ring of Fire II (January 2008) * 1635: The Dreeson Incident (December 2008) * The Grantville Gazettes The first books of both Belisaurius and 1632 are available in the Baen free library.