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romanjones's review
3.0
Great book and excellent edition to the 1632 universe. For me, it starts off slow in the beginning but gradually picks up and before you realize it you’re hooked and invested in Franz and Marla’s love story. The core of the narrative is that love story and it works.
You can tell David Carrico has a passion for music and possesses the technical knowledge of the history, the composers, and the language that comes with that world. Carrico works that expertise into the narrative organically. You feel like you’re learning some real world history and musical terms, but not being talked down to.
There are times where the prose drags and Carrico gets too stuck on minutiae for my tastes. Also, this book should have been called “1635: Music (and Murder)” because the murder mystery short stories at the end felt tacked on. I understand this book is composed of multiple serials from the Grantville Gazettes all gathered into one place, but the “murder” part was too jarring compared to the bulk of the novel and the remaining 2 music short stories (“Sound of Sweet Strings” and “Elegy”) put a downer ending on an otherwise uplifting larger story.
The main story ends with “Motifs,” which makes for a good epilogue. That’s where this book should have ended, with the remaining 5 stories shunted off into a separate Ring of Fire Press novelette. Other than those nitpicks, if you love the 1632 universe and are interested in how music begins to develop in this alternate world, highly recommend.
You can tell David Carrico has a passion for music and possesses the technical knowledge of the history, the composers, and the language that comes with that world. Carrico works that expertise into the narrative organically. You feel like you’re learning some real world history and musical terms, but not being talked down to.
There are times where the prose drags and Carrico gets too stuck on minutiae for my tastes. Also, this book should have been called “1635: Music (and Murder)” because the murder mystery short stories at the end felt tacked on. I understand this book is composed of multiple serials from the Grantville Gazettes all gathered into one place, but the “murder” part was too jarring compared to the bulk of the novel and the remaining 2 music short stories (“Sound of Sweet Strings” and “Elegy”) put a downer ending on an otherwise uplifting larger story.
The main story ends with “Motifs,” which makes for a good epilogue. That’s where this book should have ended, with the remaining 5 stories shunted off into a separate Ring of Fire Press novelette. Other than those nitpicks, if you love the 1632 universe and are interested in how music begins to develop in this alternate world, highly recommend.
jessmahler's review
4.0
A generally enjoyable read.
Like all short story collections, some stories were better than others, but the main characters were well developed and enjoyable, the stories well written, and the musical jargon slipped in smoothly so a reader without a music background doesn't get lost.
Stories were divided into two sections, the "Music" section follows Marla Linder, Franz Sylwester, and their friends as they introduce modern music to 1635 Germany. The "Murder" section follows Byron and Gotthilf (can't recall their last names) as they clean of the streets of Magdeburg and, in Byron's case, introduce modern ideas about police and the right of even a lowly beggar to the services of the city's constabulary.
Of the two I prefer "Music", which has a well developed over-arching storyline that ties together all the various stories, but the stories of "Murder" are well worth reading.
I'm a bit burnt out on the 1632 Universe, but David Carrico manages to bring some fresh air to an old series.
Like all short story collections, some stories were better than others, but the main characters were well developed and enjoyable, the stories well written, and the musical jargon slipped in smoothly so a reader without a music background doesn't get lost.
Stories were divided into two sections, the "Music" section follows Marla Linder, Franz Sylwester, and their friends as they introduce modern music to 1635 Germany. The "Murder" section follows Byron and Gotthilf (can't recall their last names) as they clean of the streets of Magdeburg and, in Byron's case, introduce modern ideas about police and the right of even a lowly beggar to the services of the city's constabulary.
Of the two I prefer "Music", which has a well developed over-arching storyline that ties together all the various stories, but the stories of "Murder" are well worth reading.
I'm a bit burnt out on the 1632 Universe, but David Carrico manages to bring some fresh air to an old series.
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