Ryder
05-07-2007, 01:00 AM
"Dies the Fire" by S.M. Stirling
From Publishers Weekly
What is the foundation of our civilization? asks Stirling (Conquistador) in this rousing tale of the aftermath of an uncanny event, "the Change," that renders electronics and explosives (including firearms) inoperative. As American society disintegrates, without either a government able to maintain order or an economy capable of sustaining a large population, most of the world dies off from a combination of famine, plague, brigandage and just plain bad luck. The survivors are those who adapt most quickly, either by making it to the country and growing their own crops—or by taking those crops from others by force. Chief among the latter is a former professor of medieval history with visions of empire, who sends bicycling hordes of street thugs into the countryside. Those opposing him include an ex-Marine bush pilot, who teams up with a Texas horse wrangler and a teenage Tolkien fanatic to create something very much like the Riders of Rohan. Ultimately, Stirling shows that while our technology influences the means by which we live, it is the myths we believe in that determine how we live. The novel's dual themes—myth and technology—should appeal to both fantasy and hard SF readers as well as to techno-thriller fans.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Just got through reading this first in "the Emberverse" trilogy and I must say that I like it. In a nutshell, some unknown event "the Change" has caused all electrical functions to cease with the added effect that gunpowder and other explosive will not work. Later it is found that even steam power cannot get up to a workable pressure. Some of the universes fundamental laws have been changed..but by who?
Story follows 2 groups of survivors and thier struggle to survive. One is lead by Mike Havel, a bush pilot that manages to bring his passenger out of a plane crash caused by the effect. An ex-Marine, he eventually gets up a large "warrior" group called "Bearkillers". Traveling to reach a land plot held by one of his former passengers family, his group grows and helps out other surviving communities with bandit and "eater" problems.
The second group is lead by Wiccan "Lady Juniper". Her group also grows and thrives, all based on a combination of the Wiccan religion and historic Scottish Clan hierarchy. A bit much on the whole "Wiccan" scene, but good none the less.
IMHO shows what would likely happen and how people would act in a SHTF event where there isn't a immediate die off of a large portion of the popluation. Starvation, cannibalism and brigandage abound.
From Publishers Weekly
What is the foundation of our civilization? asks Stirling (Conquistador) in this rousing tale of the aftermath of an uncanny event, "the Change," that renders electronics and explosives (including firearms) inoperative. As American society disintegrates, without either a government able to maintain order or an economy capable of sustaining a large population, most of the world dies off from a combination of famine, plague, brigandage and just plain bad luck. The survivors are those who adapt most quickly, either by making it to the country and growing their own crops—or by taking those crops from others by force. Chief among the latter is a former professor of medieval history with visions of empire, who sends bicycling hordes of street thugs into the countryside. Those opposing him include an ex-Marine bush pilot, who teams up with a Texas horse wrangler and a teenage Tolkien fanatic to create something very much like the Riders of Rohan. Ultimately, Stirling shows that while our technology influences the means by which we live, it is the myths we believe in that determine how we live. The novel's dual themes—myth and technology—should appeal to both fantasy and hard SF readers as well as to techno-thriller fans.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Just got through reading this first in "the Emberverse" trilogy and I must say that I like it. In a nutshell, some unknown event "the Change" has caused all electrical functions to cease with the added effect that gunpowder and other explosive will not work. Later it is found that even steam power cannot get up to a workable pressure. Some of the universes fundamental laws have been changed..but by who?
Story follows 2 groups of survivors and thier struggle to survive. One is lead by Mike Havel, a bush pilot that manages to bring his passenger out of a plane crash caused by the effect. An ex-Marine, he eventually gets up a large "warrior" group called "Bearkillers". Traveling to reach a land plot held by one of his former passengers family, his group grows and helps out other surviving communities with bandit and "eater" problems.
The second group is lead by Wiccan "Lady Juniper". Her group also grows and thrives, all based on a combination of the Wiccan religion and historic Scottish Clan hierarchy. A bit much on the whole "Wiccan" scene, but good none the less.
IMHO shows what would likely happen and how people would act in a SHTF event where there isn't a immediate die off of a large portion of the popluation. Starvation, cannibalism and brigandage abound.