1636: The China Venture

The newly formed United States of Europe sends an embassy to the Chinese empire to establish trade and gain access to critical resources. Zheng Zhilong, a former pirate and admiral for the Ming navy, joins the mission and helps them make inroads into China's complex society. The embassy's knowledge may be the key to saving China from decades of mass suffering and civil war.

Format: Hardback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 03 September 2019
Publisher: Baen Books

The newly formed United States of Europe, created by an alliance between the time-displaced Americans from the town of Grantville and the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus, decides to send an embassy to the Chinese empire. One of the main purposes of the embassy is to establish trade in order to gain access to critical resources. The mission is a gamble—some might say, a long shot. The Ming dynasty is on the verge of collapse, and China's rulers are suspicious of foreigners. The mission experiences one setback after another, but presses on. And they gain an important ally along the way: Zheng Zhilong, a former pirate now an admiral for the Ming navy and the head of an extremely wealthy Fujian province trading family. He knows through his Jesuit missionary connections that, according to Grantville's history books, the Ming dynasty is in danger, from famines, bandit armies, and barbarian invaders. And he is determined that, one way or another, he and his family will survive and even prosper. The embassy is joined as well by a young scholar, who helps them make inroads into China's complex and often dangerous society. Can the up-timers and their friends persuade the imperial dynasty and its mandarins to establish trade and diplomatic relations with the USE? They have one great asset: their knowledge may be the key to saving China from decades of mass suffering and civil war.

About 1636: Seas of Fortune by Iver Cooper: expands the Ring of Fire universe into new or previously limited geography and culture. Stretching Out includes seven excellent entries mostly in South America and the Caribbean built on real events but with a nice Grantville twist. Rising Sun contains five terrific tales ... also built on real events enhanced by historical speculation but with a nice Grant.

Weight: 656g
Dimension: 243 x 167 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781481484237