This edition of the Grantville Gazette Volume 32 is derived directly from the on-line edition at http://www.grantvillegazette.com.

It is different than the editions provided by Baen and webscriptions, has somewhat different content and different formatting.

As always with anything related to 1632, it is provided entirely without DRM of any kind. We hope you enjoy it.

If you aren't familiar with the Grantville Gazette, some background may be in order:

The Grantville Gazette originated as a by-product of the ongoing and very active discussions which take place concerning the 1632 universe Eric Flint created in the novels 1632, 1633, 1634: The Galileo Affair and others set in the Assiti Shards universe. This discussion is centered in three of the conferences in Baen's Bar, the discussion area of Baen Books' web site. The conferences are entitled "1632 Slush," "1632 Slush Comments" and "1632 Tech Manual." They have been in operation for almost seven years now, during which time nearly two hundred thousand posts have been made by hundreds of participants.

Soon enough, the discussion began generating so-called "fanfic," stories written in the setting by fans of the series. A number of those were good enough to be published professionally. And, indeed, a number of them were-as part of the anthology Ring of Fire , which was published by Baen Books in January, 2004.

The decision to publish the Ring of Fire anthology triggered the writing of still more fanfic, even after submissions to the anthology were closed. Ring of Fire has been selling quite well since it came out, and a second anthology similar to it was published late in 2007. Another, Ring of Fire III, is forthcoming. It will also contain stories written by new writers, as well as professionals. But, in the meantime . . . the fanfic kept getting written, and people kept nudging Eric-well, pestering Eric-to give them feedback on their stories.

Hence . . . the Grantville Gazette. The first issue of the electronic magazine sold well enough to make continuing the magazine a financially self-sustaining operation. Since then, more than thirty volumes have been electronically published through the Baen Webscriptions site. As well, Grantville Gazette, Volume One through Five were published in paperback and hardcover editions.

Then, three big steps:

First: The magazine had been paying semi-pro rates for the electronic edition, increasing to pro rates upon transition to paper, but one of Eric's goals had long been to increase payments to the authors. Grantville Gazette, Volume Eleven was the first volume to pay the authors professional rates.

Second: The on-line version. The site at http://www.grantvillegazette.com is the electronic version of an ARC, an advance readers copy where you can read the issues as we assemble them. There are stories posted there which won't be coming out in the magazine for more than a year.

Third: This edition available in a variety of E-book formats from various on line stores.

How will it work out? Will we be able to continue at this rate? Well, we don't know. That's up to the readers. But we'll be here, continuing the saga, the soap opera, the drama and the comedy just as long as people are willing to read them.

• The Grantville Gazette Staff

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