The Thirty Years War continues to ravage 17th century Europe, but a new
force is gathering power and influence: the Confederated Principalities
of Europe, an alliance between Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, and
the West Virginians from the 20th century led by Mike Stearns who were
hurled centuries into the past by a mysterious cosmic accident.
The CPE has the know-how of 20th century technology, but needs iron and
steel to make the machines. The iron mines of the upper Palatinate were
rendered inoperable by wartime damage, and American know-how is needed
on the spot to pump them out and get the metal flowing again--a mission
that will prove more complicated than anyone expects. In the maelstrom
that is Europe, even a 20th century copy of the Encyclopedia
Britannica can precipitate a crisis, when readers learn of the 1640
Portuguese revolt, a crisis that will involve Naples as well. Another
factor: Albanian exiles in Naples, inspired by the Americans, are
plotting to recover lost Albanian turf, which will precipitate yet
another crisis in the Balkans.
This troubled century was full of revolutions and plans for more
revolutions before the Americans arrived, and gave every would-be
revolutionary an example of a revolution that succeeded. Europe is a pot
coming to a boil, and Mike Stearns will have his hands full seeing that
it doesn't boil over on to Grantville and the CPE.
