Prequel to 1636: The Viennese Waltz. The Barbies are rising. After their West Virginia town is transported to 1630s continental Europe, a group of teenage girls discover that bringing future technology and future business practices to a backward Europe just emerging from the Middle Ages can be very lucrative indeed—and might even change the course of empire. At the publishe Prequel to 1636: The Viennese Waltz. The Barbies are rising. After their West Virginia town is transported to 1630s continental Europe, a group of teenage girls discover that bringing future technology and future business practices to a backward Europe just emerging from the Middle Ages can be very lucrative indeed—and might even change the course of empire. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
1636: The Barbie Consortium
Prequel to 1636: The Viennese Waltz. The Barbies are rising. After their West Virginia town is transported to 1630s continental Europe, a group of teenage girls discover that bringing future technology and future business practices to a backward Europe just emerging from the Middle Ages can be very lucrative indeed—and might even change the course of empire. At the publishe Prequel to 1636: The Viennese Waltz. The Barbies are rising. After their West Virginia town is transported to 1630s continental Europe, a group of teenage girls discover that bringing future technology and future business practices to a backward Europe just emerging from the Middle Ages can be very lucrative indeed—and might even change the course of empire. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
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Roy –
Who would have believed that economics could be so exciting? A pleasure to read, and probably the best single example of what I like about the Ring of Fire series. Showing how powerful the economic ideas of the 20th Century can be, equaling the political and technological impacts in these books about modern ideas spreading in 17th Century Germany. I had read most of these as short fiction over several years, and had remembered them as a really fun set of stories in which teenagers, learning the v Who would have believed that economics could be so exciting? A pleasure to read, and probably the best single example of what I like about the Ring of Fire series. Showing how powerful the economic ideas of the 20th Century can be, equaling the political and technological impacts in these books about modern ideas spreading in 17th Century Germany. I had read most of these as short fiction over several years, and had remembered them as a really fun set of stories in which teenagers, learning the value of their irreplaceable uptimer artifacts (including the Barbies of the title) think about using them as investments to help their families and community. Now brought together into one book, these stories also provide a great introduction to the whole Ring of Fire series, since the major effects of the 5-year story are touched on as it effects the teenagers and their endeavors. And it is still a fun youths-come-of-age story. In some ways this is YA comfort food, but if so it is the best of such works.
Laura –
Not thrilling but nice It's okay, but it has the feel of being shoved into the mold of what's going on in the mainline books. Prince Karl's introduction felt clipped. The ending was abrupt enough that I kept trying to find the next page, and almost wonder if there was an error in formatting the ebook. Not thrilling but nice It's okay, but it has the feel of being shoved into the mold of what's going on in the mainline books. Prince Karl's introduction felt clipped. The ending was abrupt enough that I kept trying to find the next page, and almost wonder if there was an error in formatting the ebook.
Debrac2014 –
I originally thought to skip this book because it was about the Barbies! I'm so glad I didn't! I thoroughly enjoyed it! 2020 reread! This time around I understood more of the economics! I enjoyed it! I originally thought to skip this book because it was about the Barbies! I'm so glad I didn't! I thoroughly enjoyed it! 2020 reread! This time around I understood more of the economics! I enjoyed it!
Kay –
This compilation of tales regarding Judy the Younger Wendell and her friends is a bringing together of some previously published stories regarding the Sewing Circle and the Barbie Consortium into one collection, with the addition of some new material. As the various characters from both the Sewing Circle and the Consortium grow up, they are being carried into the mainline ROF stories in various positions of power, so having this compendium to fall back on as I read the next novels will be quite This compilation of tales regarding Judy the Younger Wendell and her friends is a bringing together of some previously published stories regarding the Sewing Circle and the Barbie Consortium into one collection, with the addition of some new material. As the various characters from both the Sewing Circle and the Consortium grow up, they are being carried into the mainline ROF stories in various positions of power, so having this compendium to fall back on as I read the next novels will be quite a help. Plus, it was just plain fun to read about smart high school kids. And I actually got schooled in economics as well...
Andy –
Intricate as ever, fun story Following a thread of an intricate alternative history that would rarely be told "uptime", this story is an excellent and unique addition. The number of characters, plots, and concepts is overwhelming at times, but the story is fun, refreshing, and well told. Intricate as ever, fun story Following a thread of an intricate alternative history that would rarely be told "uptime", this story is an excellent and unique addition. The number of characters, plots, and concepts is overwhelming at times, but the story is fun, refreshing, and well told.
Kathryn Baron –
This was originally composed as story stories filled out with a little new material and it shows. Enjoyment and comprehension is dependent on knowledge of other works. Between one chapter and the next character is suddenly dead and there is no explanation of why, not even a comment to jog my memory.
Luci –
I like the Barbies and the whole economic discussion of the events in Grantville and beyond. The characters are well developed and their situations are very realistic. This was a fun collection of their tales to move the entire narrative forward.
Ken Lewis –
Filling in the Gaps The book fills in the gaps in the in many of the Ring of Fire books. Not only with the characters but the story also. It also helps to develop the characters of the Barbie Consortium and how they got into other books from The Fire series. It is a good read.
James –
A good addition to this franchise.
Hugues –
It's a compilation of the Sewing Circle's and the Barbies Consortium's stories previously pubished in Grantville Gazette, but the sewing aren't well made. It's a compilation of the Sewing Circle's and the Barbies Consortium's stories previously pubished in Grantville Gazette, but the sewing aren't well made.
Seb –
Didn't think a book about time-travelling teenagers starting a mutual fund in the 1630's could be that much fun. Definitely in the top half of the 1632 serie. Didn't think a book about time-travelling teenagers starting a mutual fund in the 1630's could be that much fun. Definitely in the top half of the 1632 serie.
Ted Laurvik –
Good story
Beth –
Another in the continuing story of Grantville as its residents try to cope with being thrown back in time. A lot of background information that has been covered in other stories is fleshed out here and given context. It reads like a collection of stories than a single novel, but it takes a lot of characters who are more peripheral in the main line books and gives them life. The girls in the Barbie consortium and David Bartley in particular, become fully fleshed individuals, as teens trying to co Another in the continuing story of Grantville as its residents try to cope with being thrown back in time. A lot of background information that has been covered in other stories is fleshed out here and given context. It reads like a collection of stories than a single novel, but it takes a lot of characters who are more peripheral in the main line books and gives them life. The girls in the Barbie consortium and David Bartley in particular, become fully fleshed individuals, as teens trying to cope with the sudden changes wrought by the Ring of Fire, integrating 20th century culture into 17th century Germany and vice versa. I enjoyed all the little touches that made these characters more real, and connected the dots where they had only been seen in glimpses in other books. Definitely looking forward to seeing what happens when the Barbie Consortium hits Vienna.
Warren Dunham –
The year 1632 has lots of opportunities for people from Grantville. In this case it turns out that cheep barbies from a thrift store are a novelty for downtime collectors and there for worth a lot of money. This book follows what a group for young teenagers do with the money they get for, short story they start a business and invest it. What follows is a story about how a little kids become independently wealthy how they deal with it how they keep control of their money when they are minors. Now The year 1632 has lots of opportunities for people from Grantville. In this case it turns out that cheep barbies from a thrift store are a novelty for downtime collectors and there for worth a lot of money. This book follows what a group for young teenagers do with the money they get for, short story they start a business and invest it. What follows is a story about how a little kids become independently wealthy how they deal with it how they keep control of their money when they are minors. Now you would think a story about investments cooperation and mutual funds would be boring but actually it manages to stay interesting even while educating about finances. It does suffer from apparently being a series of short stories rather than a concise novel. I say apparently because its organized in chapters not separate stories which sometimes feels a little jarring but when not breaking between stories its actually reads pretty well. I probbably would have given a 5th start but for that.
Ed –
Interesting compilation This is a compilation of several stories from the ring of fire dealing with the Barbie Consortium. Parts are really excellent, but towards the end the snippets do not stand on their own well. We see different events in the series and the impact on the characters, but the characters become almost cardboard cutouts of themselves. There is not enough of the surrounding tale to give the events impact and without having read all of the books, Newsletters, forums and other mate Interesting compilation This is a compilation of several stories from the ring of fire dealing with the Barbie Consortium. Parts are really excellent, but towards the end the snippets do not stand on their own well. We see different events in the series and the impact on the characters, but the characters become almost cardboard cutouts of themselves. There is not enough of the surrounding tale to give the events impact and without having read all of the books, Newsletters, forums and other material the end snippets read like writer school exercises more than full stories. The book ends suddenly, without any sense of having reached an ending. This is mainly for fans of the ring of fire, and those fans will have read most of these stories in other contexts.
Pointsandwheels –
Well, that ended rather abruptly. I'm very glad I didn't even know this book existed until well after _Viennese Waltz_ came out. If you haven't read any of the 163x books, don't start with this one. But if you liked _1632_, and like slice-of-life stories, this is pretty darned good. It's not truly a novel. It's a melding of a ton of short stories that have appeared in the Ring of Fire anthologies and the _Grantville Gazette_s. I've read most of the early stories, but none of the later stuff. It's Well, that ended rather abruptly. I'm very glad I didn't even know this book existed until well after _Viennese Waltz_ came out. If you haven't read any of the 163x books, don't start with this one. But if you liked _1632_, and like slice-of-life stories, this is pretty darned good. It's not truly a novel. It's a melding of a ton of short stories that have appeared in the Ring of Fire anthologies and the _Grantville Gazette_s. I've read most of the early stories, but none of the later stuff. It's fantastic to have them all in one place, and edited together so that the reader has a much better understanding of the time span. $4.99 is a bit steep for an unproven eBook for me, but in this case, I definitely got my money's worth.
Karen –
After the Twilight books, I was leary of anything with teenagers as the protagonists. This book is very well written and so much less whiny, it was a joy to read. Realizing just how much their leap into the past has changed the opportunities for the teenagers in Grantville makes for a great story line.
Barbara Ghylin –
I was happily reading when the book ended! I wasn't NOT ready for that to happen. I guess I will have to buy the next one. The teenage girls are pretty smart and they really know what they are talking about. I was happily reading when the book ended! I wasn't NOT ready for that to happen. I guess I will have to buy the next one. The teenage girls are pretty smart and they really know what they are talking about.
David –
Practically ends in mid-sentence Much of this already exists and has been published as short stories, and it had a very abrupt ending. Apart from that though, strong characters and narrative as is usual for this series
Brian M Grover –
Nice to have it all in one place I read most of this before but worth the price to have it together. Makes "Viennese waltz" make more sense. Nice to have it all in one place I read most of this before but worth the price to have it together. Makes "Viennese waltz" make more sense.
DONALD A Black –
Barbie Consortium A good read but too much of a repeat of the Gazette. I would have enjoyed a newer version of this subject.
Kathleen –
David Aspinall –
Joanna –
Gremlinus –
Geoff –
Pat Mcdonald –
Jack A. Burris –
Exlibrisfeline –
Gail Gurman –