Nonfiction
Assistant Editor's Preface
And here we go—on time, just as promised. Grantville Gazette Volume 8 is ready for our discerning readers. Just what is going on in Europe these days of 1632 – 1635 or thereabouts?
Refrigeration and the 1632 World: Opportunities and Challenges
While putting this article together, I have learned more than just the basic history of refrigeration, which by itself is fascinating. (In fact, I knew quite a bit to start before I started this, but that is another story.) I have learned much more about how truly complex life really is.
New France in 1634 and the Fate of North America
1634 was a pivotal year for the indigenous peoples of North America. It was in that year that the French Jesuit missionaries, in spite of their highest motives, set in motion a series of events that led ultimately to the destruction of those whom they came to both civilize and save for the greater glory of God.
Aluminum: Will O' the Wisp?
There is no doubt that aluminum is a wonder metal. Pure aluminum has a density only about one-third of iron, it is as reflective as silver, and a good conductor of heat and electricity. When exposed to air, it quickly acquires a protective coating of aluminum oxide, which shields it from further corrosion. Alloys of aluminum are extensively used as structural materials in the construction of buildings and vehicles.