A 17th-century alchemist confronts modern science with unintended and
amusing results. Another sparkling addition to the multiple New York
Times best-selling Ring of Fire alternate history series created by
Eric Flint.
SCIENCE AND MEDICINE VS. FLIM-FLAMMERY
Thomas "the Great Stoner" Stone once performed miraculous surgery upon
Phillip Theophrastus Gribbleflotz, the World's Greatest Alchemist, using
his bare hands, no anesthesia, producing no pain, and leaving no scar.
It would have been wonderful if it was real.
But Dr. Tom Stone, the face of modern medicine, has been engaging in
fake treatments--bringing all modern medicine into question. Phillip,
who has learned a thing or two about actual science from those uptime
elopers from Grantville, West Virginia, decides to go to Padua and turn
his problems into Tom Stone's problems.
Meanwhile, the wily Bernardo Ponzi has assembled a team to support his
evangelical touring roadshow featuring a light show, faith healing and
yet more psychic surgery. Now Gribbleflotz and Stone are on a collision
course with the Magnificent Ponzi, who has moved beyond showman-like
fakery to causing actual harm to many people. It's time for Gribbleflotz
and Stone to resolve their differences, debunk one of history's greatest
bunko artists, and save the reputation of modern science and medicine
from ruin!
About Eric Flint's Ring of Fire series:
"This alternate history series is ... a landmark..." --Booklist
"[Eric] Flint's 1632 universe seems to be inspiring a whole new crop
of gifted alternate historians." --Booklist
". . . reads like a technothriller set in the age of the Medicis . . ."
--Publishers Weekly
