1636: The Devil's Opera

Written by Eric Flint and David Carrico

Narrated by George Guidall

It is the year 1636. The United States of Europe, the new nation formed by an alliance between the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus and the West Virginians hurled back in time by a cosmic accident, is on the verge of civil war. His brain injured in the war with Poland, the USE's emperor Gustavus Adolphus is no longer in command. Enter Swedish chancellor Oxenstierna, a leader of aristocratic reaction against democracy. His goal: to assemble the forces of the hidebound ruling class in Berlin and drown the revolution in a bloodbath. In Magdeburg, the capital of the USE, Mike Stearns' wife Rebecca Abrabanel is organizing popular resistance to Oxenstierna's plot. As part of the resistance, the American musician Marla Linder and her company of down-time musical partners are staging an opera that will celebrate the struggle against oppression. Princess Kristina, the heir to the USE's throne, is now residing in Magdeburg and is giving them her support and encouragement. But another plot is underway--this one right in the heart of the capital itself, and with murder as its method. The only people standing in the way are a crippled boy and the boxing champion who befriended him, and an unlikely pair of policemen. Can the American detective Byron Chieske and his down-timer partner Gotthilf Hoch thwart the killers before they succeed in their goal?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9781470360900

Reviews for 1636

[jessmahler · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good read that built on the stories from 1635: Music and Murder but can also be enjoyed as a standalone.

Has a lot more religious focus/influence than most of the series, I'm assuming that's David Carrico's influence. Reads a bit "messagey" in places, but so much so as to be off-putting.

Characters are well developed, multiple plots are skillfully woven together both within this book and tied into the larger series. The final reveal and the explanation behind it seemed a bit forced, but not so much as to detract from the rest of the book.

[bgknighton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very enjoyable entry. I particularly like the way they keep the strands interwoven from the main story while revealing the lives of other characters. I would like to see what becomes of Simon Bayer.

[dswaddell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another book in the Ring of Fire series. Gustuv is returning to the capitol after his long illness....the primary story is a murder, mystery with some political intrique. A good fun read.

[jamespurcell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

1636 Events from a different viewpoint, Two disparate plots woven nicely into a quite good story.

[janientrelac · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is really 2 novellas combined with one tiny common event, the common events were very forced and could have been left out. I liked both story lines, the music more than the crime, but it would read better as alternative chapters rather than jumping back and forth for no reason.

[bidwell9glaze · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

1636: The Devil's Opera takes place at the same time as 1636: The Saxon Uprising, but from a totally different viewpoint. I enjoyed the way the Gazette's music series, with Marla Linder, Franz Sylwester and friends are interwoven with the story. Minor characters become major, and major characters become minor. A new character is introduced, becomes major, and influences characters whom I am looking forward to seeing again. This is a more exciting book than the last few in the series have been.