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. Inspired
by the example of American freedom and justice, a movement in Franconia
among the peasants, who have revolted several times even before the
arrival from the future of the town of Grantville, an independent
revolutionary movement has arisen, flying the banner of the head of a
ram. The West Virginians fully approve of liberating the peasants from
the nobility, but they are also aware of how revolutionary movements can
lead to bloodbaths. And avoiding that deadly possibility will require
all of their future knowledge and all their plain old American
horse-trading diplomacy. . . .