Thanks a lot for the enthusiastic recommendations! I will pick up 1632 and read it, absolutely. A bit dubious about the whole "spreading democracy" thing (pretty sure that wouldn't really work outside a work of fantasy), but I do like time travel stories and colonization stories.
Oh! Another reason why I avoided Baen books: naval culture and tactics applied in a pretty one-to-one basis in space. Surface of ocean: one-d. space: three-d. ocean depths: three-d but sound carries. Sound does not carry in space. No silent running (I'm looking at you, Wrath of Khan. You too, Wing Commander). Planets not fortified ports. etc.
Anyway: 1632 is the starting point for me. And we'll see where that takes me.
-murmur
Oh! Another reason why I avoided Baen books: naval culture and tactics applied in a pretty one-to-one basis in space. Surface of ocean: one-d. space: three-d. ocean depths: three-d but sound carries. Sound does not carry in space. No silent running (I'm looking at you, Wrath of Khan. You too, Wing Commander). Planets not fortified ports. etc.
Anyway: 1632 is the starting point for me. And we'll see where that takes me.
-murmur