Perhaps one of the more glaring weaknesses of the beginning story line is the glossed over estimated hard life expectancy of the 3500 or so Grantville West Virginians. I for one find the first 88 pages of 1632 rather unbelievable.
I am also wondering if anybody else has noticed this glaring weakness in what usually is a very solid story line? Considering the average American town of the period only has a less than 10 days food supply, things to me look very grim.
What exact time of year did the 'Ring of Fire' happen? Does anybody know? How would they possible survive long enough to get a crop into the ground and enjoy the fruits of their labors? Where would all the seed stock come from?
There may be expedient ways to produce safe drinking water, but again, my fear is that just the 1630 diseases would carry away 5% of them in one month, 10-20% in 3 months and 50%+ in one year...if they were lucky. And...if they live that long.
Up time firearms? So what? No matter how much ammo that town could be reasonably expected to have, they would burn through it in just a couple days...perhaps just a few hours if attacked in mass. Tilly's mercenaries surround them.
Yep, things would be very grim. It would be a race as to what would kill all the 'up timers' dead FIRST; thirst, hunger, disease or violence. I for one only give them a maximum of maybe 6 months. And...let's not talk about the winter.
Has anybody else noticed this stuff? It would have been easy to place into the story line some little zingers that would somehow insure the survival of the Hillbillies for at least a couple of years. Just me. HB of CJ (old coot) Cm.
I was born and raised in Roanoke VA, so I feel as if I am one of them. Yikes! I love this forum.
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