Book #18 in the multiple <i>New York Times</i> best-selling Ring of Fire series, and the team behind national bestseller <i>1635: The Kremlin Games</i>. After carving a free state for itself in war-torn 17th century Europe, citizens of the modern town of Grantville, West Virginia contend with aristocratic forces determined to keep their grip on power whatever it takes.<BR><BR>When Grantville, West Virginia was transported back to the year 1631 -- <BR>in the middle of the Thirty Years' War, no less -- many things happened. <BR>Many opportunities arose. It's said that a rising tide lifts all boats. <BR>Perhaps not quite as high as the Barbie Consortium rose, however.<BR><BR>A cabal of ten- to twelve-year-old girls?<BR><BR>They aren't twelve anymore. And they gave up playing with dolls some <BR>years ago, when they sold them all and started an investment consortium. <BR>A consortium that did quite well.<BR><BR>The Barbie Consortium hits Vienna. In several different ways. The <BR>princes and princesses, dukes and duchesses, the common men and women on <BR>the street have no idea what's about to happen.Neither do the girls, but <BR>they're determined it'll happen their way.<BR><BR><b>About <i>1636: The Devil's Opera</i>:<BR></b>“Another engaging alternate history from a master of the genre.”—<i>Booklist</i><BR> <BR>“. . . an old-style police-procedural mystery, set in 17th century Germany. . . . the threads . . . spin together . . . to weave an addictively entertaining story. . . . a strong addition to a fun series.”— <i>Daily News of Galveston County<BR></i><BR><b>About Eric Flint’s Ring of Fire series:<BR></b>“This alternate history series is…a landmark…”—<i>Booklist</i><BR><BR>“[Eric] Flint's <i>1632</i> universe seems to be inspiring a whole new crop of gifted alternate historians.”—<i>Booklist</i><BR><BR>“…reads like a technothriller set in the age of the Medicis…”—<i>Publishers Weekly</i>