Recommended reading order for the 1632 series
(aka the Ring of Fire series)
Updated by: Eric Flint
September 8, 2012
Whenever someone asks me “what’s the right order?” for reading the 1632 series, I’m always tempted to respond: “I have no idea. What’s the right order for studying the Thirty Years War? If you find it, apply that same method to the 1632 series.”
However, that would be a bit churlish — and when it comes down to it, authors depend upon the goodwill of their readers. So, as best I can, here goes.
The first book in the series, obviously, is 1632. That is the foundation novel for the entire series and the only one whose place in the sequence is definitely fixed.
Thereafter, you should read either the anthology titled Ring of Fire or the novel 1633, which I co-authored with David Weber. It really doesn’t matter that much which of these two volumes you read first, so long as you read them both before proceeding onward. That said, if I’m pinned against the wall and threatened with bodily harm, I’d recommend that you read Ring of Fire before you read 1633.
That’s because 1633 has a sequel which is so closely tied to it that the two volumes almost constitute one single huge novel. So, I suppose you’d do well to read them back to back.
That sequel is 1634: The Baltic War, which I also co-authored with David Weber. 1632, 1633, 1634: The Baltic War, 1635: The Eastern Front and this novel constitutes what can be considered the “main line” or even the spinal cord of the entire series. Why? First, because it’s in these five novels that I depict the major political and military developments which have a tremendous impact on the entire complex of stories. Secondly, because these “main line” volumes focus on certain key characters in the series — Mike Stearns and Rebecca Abrabanel, first and foremost, as well as Gretchen Richter and Jeff Higgins.
Once you’ve read 1632, Ring of Fire, 1633 and 1634: The Baltic War, you will have a firm grasp of the basic framework of the series. From there, you can go in one of two directions: either read 1634: The Ram Rebellion or 1634: The Galileo Affair.
There are advantages and disadvantages either way. 1634: The Ram Rebellion is an oddball volume, which has some of the characteristics of an anthology and some of the characteristics of a novel. It’s perhaps a more challenging book to read than the Galileo volume, but it also has the virtue of being more closely tied to the main line books. Ram Rebellion is the first of several volumes which basically run parallel with the main line volumes but on what you might call a lower level of narrative. A more positive way of putting that is that these volumes depict the changes produced by the major developments in the main line novels, as those changes are seen by people who are much closer to the ground than the statesmen and generals who figure so prominently in books like 1632, 1633, and 1634: The Baltic War.
Of course, the distinction is only approximate. There are plenty of characters in the main line novels — Thorsten Engler and Eric Krenz spring immediately to mind — who are every bit as “close to the ground” as any of the characters in 1634: The Ram Rebellion.
Whichever book you read first, I do recommend that you read both of them before you move on to 1634: The Bavarian Crisis. In a way, that’s too bad, because Bavarian Crisis is something of a direct sequel to 1634: The Baltic War. The problem with going immediately from Baltic War to Bavarian Crisis, however, is that there is a major political development portrayed at length and in great detail in 1634: The Galileo Affair which antedates the events portrayed in the Bavarian story.
Still, you could read any one of those three volumes — to remind you, these are 1634: The Ram Rebellion, 1634: The Galileo Affair and 1634: The Bavarian Crisis — in any order you choose. Just keep in mind that if you read the Bavarian book before the other two you will be getting at least one major development out of chronological sequence.
After those three books are read…
Again, it’s something of a toss-up between three more volumes: the second Ring of Fire anthology and the two novels, 1635: The Cannon Law and 1635: The Dreeson Incident. On balance, though, I’d recommend reading them in this order because you’ll get more in the way of a chronological sequence:
Ring of Fire II
1635: The Cannon Law
1635: The Dreeson Incident
The time frame involved here is by no means rigidly sequential, and there are plenty of complexities involved. To name just one, my story in the second Ring of Fire anthology, the short novel “The Austro-Hungarian Connection,” is simultaneously a sequel to Virginia’s story in the same anthology, several stories in various issues of the Gazette — as well as my short novel in the first Ring of Fire anthology, The Wallenstein Gambit.
What can I say? It’s a messy world — as is the real one. Still and all, I think the reading order recommended above is certainly as good as any and probably the best.
We come now to Virginia DeMarce’s 1635: The Tangled Web. This collection of inter-related stories runs parallel to many of the episodes in 1635: The Dreeson Incident and lays some of the basis for the stories which will be appearing in the next anthology, 1635: The Wars on the Rhine. This volume is also where the character of Tata who figures in Eastern Front and Saxon Uprising is first introduced in the series.
You should then backtrack a little and read 1635: The Papal Stakes, which is the direct sequel to 1635: The Cannon Law.
You can then go back to the “main line” of the series and read 1635: The Eastern Front and 1636: The Saxon Uprising. I strongly recommend reading them back to back. These two books were originally intended to be a single novel, which I wound up breaking in half because the story got too long. They read better in tandem.
Then, read Ring of Fire III. My story in that volume is directly connected to 1636: The Saxon Uprising and will lay some of the basis for the sequel to that novel. After that, read 1636: The Kremlin Games. That novel isn’t closely related to any other novel that has yet come out in the series, though, so you could read it almost any time after reading the first few volumes.
That leaves the various issues of the Gazette, which are really hard to fit into any precise sequence. The truth is, you can read them pretty much any time you choose.
It would be well-nigh impossible for me to provide any usable framework for the thirty-four electronic issues of the magazine, so I will restrict myself simply to the six volumes of the Gazette which have appeared in paper editions. With the caveat that there is plenty of latitude, I’d suggest reading them as follows:
Read Gazette I after you’ve read 1632 and alongside Ring of Fire. Read Gazettes II and III alongside 1633 and 1634: The Baltic War, whenever you’re in the mood for short fiction. Do the same for Gazette IV, alongside the next three books in the sequence, 1634: The Ram Rebellion, 1634: The Galileo Affair and 1634: The Bavarian Crisis. Then read Gazette V after you’ve read Ring of Fire II, since my story in Gazette V is something of a direct sequel to my story in the Ring of Fire volume. You can read Gazette V alongside 1635: The Cannon Law and 1635: The Dreeson Incident whenever you’re in the mood for short fiction. Gazette VI can be read thereafter.
And . . . that’s it, as of now. There are a lot more volumes coming.
For those of you who dote on lists, here it is. But do keep in mind, when you examine this neatly ordered sequence, that the map is not the territory.
1632
Ring of Fire
1633
1634: The Baltic War
(Somewhere along the way, after you’ve finished 1632, read the stories and articles in the first three paper edition volumes of the Gazette.)
1634: The Ram Rebellion
1634: The Galileo Affair
1634: The Bavarian Crisis
(Somewhere along the way, read the stories and articles in the fourth paper edition volume of the Gazette.)
Ring of Fire II
1635: The Cannon Law
1635: The Dreeson Incident
1635: The Tangled Web
(Somewhere along the way, read the stories in Gazette V.)
1635: The Papal Stakes
1635: The Eastern Front
1636: The Saxon Uprising
Ring of Fire III
1636: The Kremlin Games
So when is the next book, I just finished the Kremlin Games, I love this series, only problem is that I am a real quick reader, so I usually have to wait. But thanks for writing, and thanks for starting this series.
Richard
The next book coming out in the series is 1636: THE PAPAL STAKES, which I wrote with Chuck Gannon. It’s coming out early in October, about three weeks from now. This is the direct sequel to 1635: THE CANNON LAW.
Eric
Man, every time I think y’all have written my favourite Ring of Fire book…you top it. Thank you!
I’ve purchased as many of the audiobooks as I can find. I managed to find Kremlin Games on Audible.com as well. I’ve been reading them since your first publication of 1632; but I finally convinced my historian husband that he really would enjoy your take. Unfortunately, he prefers to listen in the car on the way to work, home, the store… So, I’ve gotten everything except the anthologies, and Gazettes for him. But he’s running through them so quickly!!! Is there a schedule for making the audiobooks, if any more are being made at all?
I drive 45 min each way to work everyday, I love the audio books but am through all 7 that are out. When will more be recorded?
I don’t know if there’s a schedule as such. What I was told by Jim Minz, Baen’s senior editor who is handling the audio publishing, is that the plan is to release essentially everything published by Baen in audio format. But how long that will take and in what order is not settled yet.
So, there is no definite answer for a scheduled date for any of the 1632 series in audio format, besides what is already out?
MOVIES ! ! ! ???
Please hint that you’ve something in the works getting 1632 on the big screen!!
There’s no movie deal in the works, but I am on the verge of signing an agreement with a well-established British TV production company to do a TV series.
Looking forward to that along with many, many others!
British TV companies are generally better at staying true to the material, so that’s a relief. You might want to make sure they hire people who can actually do a hillbilly accent, and not really horrible British interpretations of them. How much creative control are you keeping for the series and/or who do you think will be directing/producing them? I’m really excited about this for the future. Totally made my day.
Audible books …YES. I don’t want to skip around and audible.com only has 1632, 1633 and 1636 Kremlin Games. Stephanie Hunter, where did you get the audio versions you mentioned?
Kindle can read the books for you not as well as Audibel but you do not to wait. Some book are DRM protected and will not read but not those from Eric.
Do you plan on a sequel to Time Spike? I loved it and so did my husband who is reading Cannon Law at this time. I only own about 5 books of this series and have to get the rest from the Library if they have them [our local bookstore closed and SFBC only carries so many of your books.]
Eric, Drak, Rick, or any other minion who reads this comment: Today is Hans Richter Day. Take a look at my website (RoFindex.com) and if you wish (and I hope you do) email me at bret.hooper@rocketmail.com with your comments. Thank you.
i just finished kremlin games and it looks like there should be a sequel, any idea when we may see one down the road. i truly enjoy the stories and world building embodied by this series.
There will be a sequel to KREMLIN GAMES, but it won’t be written for a while because I need to bring other lines of the story forward first. Right now, Paula and Gorg are working on the first draft of 1636: THE VIENNESE WALTZ, which is one of two sequels to SAXON UPRISING. (The other being a solo novel I’ll be writing next year.)
wow that was a quick response. thanks for taking the time to respond.
When will we get to find out what happened to the group who stayed in england? will there be an earlier English Civil War with a more Republican Oliver Cromwell who has the benefit of hindsight to guide him? (not to mention the fact that most of the nobles that supported him in the OTL have been executed in this one, so I assume a lot his new supporters will be either be Levelers or hopefully quite hilariously the scots and the irish) Sorry for the rather rambling questions.
Andrew Dennis is working on the first draft of the novel. The title of it, by the way, will be 1636: A PARCEL OF ROGUES.
It seems that war between the USE and the Ottoman Empire is on its way. I wonder if the end of the war would end the Ring of Fire series. By defeating the Ottoman Empire the USE would become the most powerful nation in the world!
I really want there 2 be a whole story line about that topic that war would last at least 3 books
Rather slighting to write off the Chinese like they dont have any empire.
They may have an Empire but they don’t have a great Navy by the Middle 17th century and before the end of the 16th Century they had destroyed the Great Fleet.
That may actually change because of the histories now available. After all, the butterfly effect has even changed Japanese. There’s a likely chance we’ll see the Chinese, and they may modernize like Russia after finding out that they’ll lag behind for centuries.
i got hooked on sci-fi novels in Nam since they provided a much needed break from reality i despritly needed to keep myself sane (was dustoff medic). fell into the series by accident and i have read every one of the ring of fire from 1632 to the papal stakes. (gazettes too) i’ve re-read every one, i’ve greatly enjoyed everyone, i’m always saying “dang, this one ended too quick too” if i had a wish list and i do i’d wish for the next one written was centered on Bernie & Natash in Rus and somehow squeezel in Eddie and his kings daughter or Noelle & Janos, i’m not really into the romanic aspects of things normally but i truely believe without the one’s you’ve spun so tightly since Rebecca met Mike in 1632 that i don’t believe i’d keep reading without them.. that all being said, you’ve got refridgerator rights at my house and please look both ways crossing the road.
While I still the feel of a paper book in my hands I am finding the convenience of e-books to be advantageous as I live in a remote rural area and can only get to a brick and mortar store infrequently. Any plans to provide electronic copies of your fantastic series in the future?
Blair – if you go to http://www.baenebooks.com, you’ll find them there. Last time I looked (admittedly, this was a couple weeks ago), every one is available in various DRM free formats (html, MOBI/Kindle, rtf, nook, etc.). There is a page for 1632, but I wasn’t available for purchase. If I remember right, that was because they had to pull it from Baen’s free library because of the Amazon deal. For that matter, you should be able to find them on Amazon, now, due to that same deal.
Getting them from Baen’s ebook site has been so convenient and easy to do.
What books are expected to be published this year?
Since the Ring of Fire universe is pre 9/11 terrorist atacks, it will be interesting to write a book in which a part of an american naval taskforce sent for battle against Iran dissapears in the Ring of Fire universe and what Mike Stearns and his friends think about the post 9/11 USA.
That would be tricky. Not only would they have to go back in time but they would have to sidestep into an alternate reality.
I have read all of the 1632 series and reread several times. I have read Time Spike and the 1812 and 1824 series.
Like most of the people who have read your 1632 series I can’t wait for the next book, (books and more books please) to come out.
I would really like some movies and TV series, but please keep them true to the books.
You are one of my favorite authors. I want to tell you to write quicker because I enjoy the series so much. All 3 of my brothers have read the 1632 series and 2 of the 3 are NOT readers (which says how good it is.) I have laugh and cried reading these books. I just wish my local library carried more of your books. Keep up the good work. My whole family is waiting for the next one. Thank you so much for creating a fun and exciting universe.
I reading the first “Ring of Fire” and I’m so impressed of your history of the 30 years’ war and your knowledge of Gustav II Adolf. Just one “mistake” his first book that he read Every single day was the Bible and then Xenophon. From them he got his knowledge of how to and who you should way war with. But his should have read the first part more careful about the war against the Persian Empire, then he should have understand that the king do not run in front of you soldier that way you will be killed.
Anyone that has not read the Xenophon should read his book they are great book to read.
I’m from Sweden and my favorite person thru the history is Gustav II Adolf. I have read so much about him. He was a very interested person and I so happy to come over you book and I will buy them all now.
BTW I love how you using Gustav II Adolf real Name not the Latin name…. NO, I not am going to write it.
Thanks Roland
for them that are interested of reading Xenophon http://www.amazon.com/Xenophon/e/B000APLSAQ
Please let me start with the positive, as to reading order.
I discovered _1633_ by chance while searching for the Earl
of Strafford; then _1634: The Baltic War_; _1634: The
Bavarian Crisis_; and _1634: The Galileo Affair_ (which I
knew would be a favorite!). Then back to 1632 (for me, the
“prequel”), and _Ring of Fire_ (I), and to _1634: The Ram
Rebellion_. And then _1635: The Cannon Law_; _1635: The
Papal Stakes_ (a clever title!); and _1635: The Dreeson
Incident_. A charm of this route is first encountering
Maria Anna in _The Bavarian Crisis_ as a harbinger of
compassion and religious tolerance in the Catholic world,
and then focusing on the overlapping developments in Rome
in _The Galileo Affair_ and its sequels focusing on the
theological and political dilemmas of Pope Urban VIII.
To place what follows in perspective, I should also add
that I have already purchased and will read _1635: The
Tangled Web_; _1635: The Eastern Front_; _1636: The Saxon
Uprising_; and _1636: Kremlin Games_.
A humorous aspect of this literary adventure is that I
might be tempted to volunteer as Grantville’s disk jockey
to the USE, since much of my everyday musical life for the
last 45 years has focused on the 16th and early 17th
centuries, and my record and CD collection is mostly from
this era or earlier! Then, again, however, not only does
the 1632 canon bar readers from nominating ourselves as
uptimers and bringing our music collections into the 17th
century; but it seems that many downtimers prefer uptime
music anyway — as much fun as it might be to envision a
madrigal collection _Il trionfo di Brillo_!
Very sadly, I must also say that the conclusion of _The
Dreeson Incident_ marks the end of the road for me as far
as purchasing any further books in this series, a decision
made yet sadder by the commendable accessibility of Baen
e-books in HTML (my chosen format in purchasing these
books); your generosity as to copyright issues and
widespread circulation of much of this material on the Web;
and the creative cooperation in the development of this
series.
As a pacifist, I recognize a distinction between legitimate
self-defense, even with deadly force, and practices such as
massacres, or the killing of prisoners in judicial or
extrajudicial executions. It is one thing to describe
brutalizing evil, or to recognize how people opposing it
may not always be able to prevent it as carried out by
allies as well as adversaries.
However, the _Dreeson Incident_ — a gripping, engaging,
and in many ways winning novel with its fascinating young
adult characters and focus on domestic violence as well as
political suspense — definitively crossed the line for me
with an episode I can only call, using a different Nazi
analogy than the novel, “The Fortnight of the Long Knives.”
The idea of a Final Solution of the German Anti-Semitism
and Witchhunting Problem is to me obscene, a point where
any basis for admiring two of the central characters is
totally demolished — unless/until they repent their
pivotal role in facilitating mass murder.
For those who read this book, as I do not mean to
discourage anyone from doing, I would add that neither the
Civil Rights Movement during 1950′s and 1960′s in the
U.S.A., nor local, state, and federal law enforcement
officers called upon to stop lynchings and give effect to
old and new antidiscrimination laws, used death squads and
mass murders as instruments of behavior modification! Some
African-American citizens were indeed armed and prepared to
use deadly force in self-defense or defense of others, as
Dr. Martin Luther King observed was their natural right;
but civil rights activists did not draw up kill lists and
launch a carefully orchestrated campaign to lynch the
lynchers (actual or potential). Rather, age-old Jim Crow
attitudes and behaviors were overcome by the triumph of
nonviolent action and the rule of law.
Finally, this series is to be commended for noting the
abolition of the death penalty in West Virginia — albeit
actually in 1965 rather than in 1976, a small historical
glitch by one admirable character (in _The Ram Rebellion_)
which in no way detracts from the point. As I reflected
while reading that book: “If only someone were circulating
as many copies in German as possible of Tom Paine’s
`Reasons for Preserving the Life of Louis Capet’ (1793)!”
Can’t wait for that BBC TV series alluded to above, as long as they are forced to stay true to the story, and cast people who can actually do the accents of the characters, it should be quite a good watch
Hi Erick,
I’ve been reading both alternate history and novels which retain exact history as they tell a story, while fleshing out that history with honest portrayals of imagined people who must live through that same history.
You’ve made the labor movement mining country become real for me. Ditto for making “Real” the horror of the religious wars of the 17th century. You’ve actually succeeded in making an old, unreconstructed Irish-American guy at least consider that Cromwell (spit on floor) might have been a force for justice and freedom. God! Can’t believe I wrote that!
You may call yourself an author, but you’re really teacher . . . of the real nature of human history & human societal improvement. Keep it up buddy!!!!
Richard Michael Patrick Blake