A post-apocalyptic medieval survival story

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:52 pm

I am currently reading the third book in a series by S. M. Stirling. The books so far are, in order,

Dies The Fire
The Protector's War
A Meeting At Corvallis

The setting is the Pacific Northwest of the U.S., mostly Oregon. The first book starts in 1998, the third and most recent is 10 years later. As it happens, Stirling didn't resort to any twisted explanations, alien invasions, or world wars to bring about his apocalypse. Instead he requires our acceptance of his premise and simply gives us the Change. An instant flash of blinding pain, and then the phsical laws of the universe, or at least our planet, are just somewhat different. Explosives don't explode and electricity doesn't flow, basically. (The sun still works, though, so apparently fusion's fine though out of reach.) No cars, no guns, and no 'lectric equals instant chaos and lots and lots of dead people.

The first book is essentially the survivalist phase. The third is detailed medeival war with modern know-how. I haven't read the second, unfortunately, but I'm guessing this is where we pretty much build up our newly established post-Change civilizations. There are a few, some brutal (French feudal), some practical (Wiccan and ex-Marine), some stuck in pre-Change thinking (Academic). Stirling gives thorough descriptions of the clothes and tools that people use and how they make use of the resources at hand, from tack and leaf-spring-steel swords to hydraulic field artillery and seige engines. And he tells all with a wry wit. An example is a graffiti message mentioned in book three: "Help, I've fallen into the RenFaire and I can't get out!" (The Society for Creative Anachronisms figures prominently in the founding of more than one civilization, leading me to think Stirling is a member...) One of the main characters is a elfin-looking young girl, fascinated with the Lord of the Rings books and a very good archer, whom her brother calls "Leg-o-lamb."

Anyway, the series is not without flaws, but definitely an entertaining read. Especially if you like post-apoc stories like I do.

X Rogue · Post by **X Rogue** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:11 am

That's "elven-looking", honey.

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:37 am

Really?

Do tell.

X Rogue · Post by **X Rogue** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:51 am

According to the way Tolkien did it, it is. Therefore apropos for Legolamb.

TsN|Wildchild|xmen · Post by **TsN|Wildchild|xmen** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 3:38 pm

But it is actually clear that Tolkien did not create the fantasy as in elves and dwarves but took them from mythology and folklore... hence elfin is the correct way, yet elven is more Tolkien.

X Rogue · Post by **X Rogue** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:07 pm

Elven is the way Tolkien did it for his stories, I assume to make himself different from the sources he borrowed from. Therefore, if said story character is that fanatical about Tolkien....