Ed Piazza, the Secretary of State of the small United States being forged in war-torn Germany during the Thirty Years War, has a problem on his hands. A religious conference has been called in nearby Rudolstadt which will determine doctrine for all the Lutherans in the nation. The hard-fought principle of religious freedom is at stake, threatened alike by intransigent theologians and students rioting in the streets. As if that weren't bad enough: \* the up-time American Lutherans are themselves divided; \* a rambunctious old folk singer is cheerfully pouring gasoline on the flames; \* and a Calvinist "facilitator" from Geneva is maneuvering to get the U.S. involved with the developing revolutionary movement in Naples. Stories include: \* Portraits by Eric Flint \* Anna's Story by Loren Jones \* Curio and Relic by Tom Van Natta \* The Sewing Circle by Gorg Huff \* The Rudolstadt Colloquy by Virginia DeMarce \* Radio in the 1632 Universe by Rick Boatright \* They've Got Bread Mold, So Why Can't They Make Penicillin? by Robert Gottlieb \* Horse Power by Karen Bergstralh

The sixth rollicking, thought-provoking anthology of tales set in Eric Flint's phenomenal New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire series—all inspired and edited by the creator himself, Eric Flint. A cosmic accident sets the modern West Virginia town of Grantville down in war-torn seventeenth century Europe. It will take all the gumption of the resourceful, freedom-loving up-timers to find a way to flourish in mad and bloody end of medieval times. Are they up for it? You bet they are. Edited by Eric Flint, and inspired by his now-legendary 1632, this is the fun stuff that fills in the pieces of the Ring of Fire political, social and cultural puzzle as supporting characters we meet in the novels get their own lives, loves and life-changing stories. The future and democracy have arrived with a bang. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). Eric Flint is the author of the New York Times best seller 1634: The Galileo Affair (with Andrew Dennis)—a novel in his top-selling "Ring of Fire" alternate history series. His first novel for Baen, Mother of Demons, was picked by Science Fiction Chronicle as a best novel of the year. His 1632, which launched the Ring of Fire series, won widespread critical praise, as from Publishers Weekly, which called him "an SF author of particular note, one who can entertain and edify in equal, and major measure." A longtime labor union activist with a master's degree in history, he currently resides in northwest Indiana with his wife Lucille.