A Meeting at Corvallis

A Novel of the Change

By: S. M. Stirling

Narrated by: Todd McLaren

Length: 23 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

In the 10th year of the Change, the survivors in western Oregon have learned how to live in a world without technology. The city-state of Corvallis has preserved its university, and trade flourishes via riverboats and horse-drawn railways. Under the strong hand of Michael Havel, the Bearkillers hold the lands west of Salem in peace and order. And in the eastern half of the Willamette Valley, the Clan Mackenzie flourishes under the charismatic leadership of Juniper Mackenzie, bard and High Priestess.

Together, they have held the Lord Protector, Norman Arminger - the warlord of Portland - at bay. With his dark fantasies of a neofeudal empire, Arminger has extended his power over much of the Pacific Northwest, spreading fear with his knights, castles, and holy inquisition. Even more dangerous, and perhaps Arminger's most powerful weapon of all, is the ruthlessly cunning mind of his consort, Lady Sandra.

The tensions between these factions have been building for some time, and the only reason they haven't confronted one another on the battlefield is because Arminger's daughter has fallen into Clan Mackenzie's hands. But Lady Sandra has a plan to retrieve her - a plan that threatens to plunge the entire region into open warfare.

©2006 S.M. Stirling (P)2008 Tantor

Great finish to the first trilogy

What did you love best about A Meeting at Corvallis?

Finishes the trilogy quite well. I especially liked how the Dúnedain Rangers, more specifically how Astrid and Eilir come of age in this book.

What did you like best about this story?

It's simplicity

What about Todd McLaren’s performance did you like?

Todd McLaren is a masterful story teller.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no it's to long.

Any additional comments?

none.

mostly good

great story, but does have some groan-worthy cheesiness in parts. The voice actor is only ok.

A decent trilogy finale

I enjoyed this episode better than the preceding installment, but I don't feel at all inclined to continue plowing my way through this seemingly endless Renaissance Fair fantasy series where people get to hack people up with swords and spears.

The books provide a level of detail that is really over the top. For example, there must be pages and pages of description and dialog for a tangential pagan wedding ceremony that doesn't really serve to further the plot, but merely fills more pages for those of use who buy books by the pound (or by the hour). There are also detailed descriptions of every dish at so many gourmet meals, you would think that destroying modern society would be the best thing that ever happened to haut cuisine.

Kind of hard for a science fiction fan to suspend disbelief on this whole series because the plot device that invalidates all modern technology selectively so blatantly violates principles of physics and chemistry when a flash of light disables guns, steam engines, electronics, and even batteries, yet leaves cutting torches and electro-chemical processes within the body intact. The whole thing just seems contrived to impose medieval society on the modern world.

I also feel as though I should say something about the billions of people who had to die to create this bucolic rural survival fantasy, and it saddens me a little to see that the picture created (with the gourmet food and happy back to the earth farmers) actually seems attractive in a sweaty calloused hands sort of way.

third in my favorite series

as always McLaren's ability to give each character their own voice and his ability to draw you in does amazing things to the words written by Stirling. while this is not my first time reading this book it is the first time I have listened to it and it is as enchanting being listened to as it is being read. Thanks again to Stirling for all the work you did to make the witches of your story true to their beliefs and portraying them so well.

Great story!! Mostly good narration

Great storyline!! The narration is good most of the time. If you have an American sense of pronunciation, you will never think of the word ration again.

Excellent.

My favorite book in my favorite series. I love how Stirling mixes in different faiths in a way that shows them all in a good light and highlights the darkness that comes when they are twisted.

Series Finding It's Stride

The war promised in the previous book does come to pass. Familiar faces return and a few lesser known characters are explored in more detail. Story is split between 4-5 major factions as the action becomes more diverse.

This book seems more "comfortable" with itself and hits the mark promised by the basic premise of the series. Descriptions become a little less repetitive and some characters get a lot more interesting.

Narration is good and addresses some of the more common complaints about pronunciation found in previous books. Could stand to have a slightly longer moment of silence when a scene ends dramatically and before the next scene begins some time later.

Worthwhile reading.

Great series but.....

Repeated detailed descriptions of the local plants, animals, food, clothing, and locality get a bit tedious and detracts from from a really good story.

Good for drive listening

Just about right for times like driving when you don't want to be too distracted from the road
Light listening

great listen

loved it, great supporting characters,sm Stirling really hit it out of the park with this series