• The Protector's War

  • A Novel of the Change
  • By: S. M. Stirling
  • Narrated by: Todd McLaren
  • Length: 21 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,822 ratings)

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The Protector's War  By  cover art

The Protector's War

By: S. M. Stirling
Narrated by: Todd McLaren
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Publisher's summary

Rising from the ashes of the computer and industrial ages is a brave new world. Survivors have banded together in tribal communities, committed to rebuilding society.

In Oregon's Willamette Valley, former pilot Michael Havel's Bearkillers are warriors of renown. Their closest ally, the mystical Clan MacKenzie, is led by Wiccan folksinger Juniper MacKenzie. Their leadership has saved countless lives.

But not every leader has altruistic aspirations. Norman Arminger, medieval scholar, rules the Protectorate. He has enslaved civilians, built an army, and spread his forces from Portland through most of western Washington State. Now he wants the Willamette Valley farmland, and he's willing to wage war to conquer it.

Unknown to both factions, however, is the imminent arrival of a ship from Tasmania bearing British soldiers.

©2005 S. M. Sterling (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Stirling's blending of fiction and history produces a strange, hybrid civilization, in which the confrontation between warlord and mystic is viscerally satisfying." ( Booklist)
"Readers who relish a battle between the forces of light and darkness...are in for a rousing good time." ( Science Fiction Weekly)

What listeners say about The Protector's War

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Ruined by Juniper McKenzie

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. The first book was good, and the basic premise has potential (though the transition seems a bit fast). But for the love of god, reading the chapters about Juniper McKenzie is like having your teeth drawn!! I could finish the book, and wont be looking as the others in the series.

What was most disappointing about S. M. Stirling’s story?

The endless, endless jibber about Juniper McKenzie and her god this, god that. Also not quite sure I buy the premise that people of America, the land of the litigation, would so easily adopt fudalism and my lady this, my lord that...

Which character – as performed by Todd McLaren – was your favorite?

The performance was sound across the board, so I guess my favourite characters were the bear killers.

Was The Protector's War worth the listening time?

No, couldn't finish it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Protector's War

Awful ! Narration was good. The story is a drag.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I like this point of view

this is one of my favorite post apocalyptic story telling. I love how we as a society have gone back to a simpler time. great story telling.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The narrator/performer makes the story

This is definitely entertaining for those of us that are apoc post apoc fans. And once in a while a story of this genre is good enough to refer or encourage in general to other readers. I however happen to a huge fan of this particular narrator. This guy has a huge range and has worked like crazy the last several years. I’d pretty much listen/read any of his work. He does stuff on YouTube different channels so ya. I like the story and the performance makes it all the better.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

My all-time favorite

The best post-apocalyptic series of all. Totally unique and void of the right-wing dribble so many other series spout.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

love this series

read before in paper back now I'm buying digital copies for long drives. great series

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I love this narrator. But…

The word is BARED not BARRED.

He bared his teeth.
She bared her sword.

It is so incredibly stupid that he pronounces this word wrong in every single instance.

Was there no director? No quality check?

Otherwise I love his narration and he is a whiz with accents. But seriously. Google it. It’ll tell you how to pronounce it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

second in one of my favorite series!

I have enjoyed this series for years. I love how much leg work Stirling did getting the details of the Wiccan faith. Lots of folks seem to complain about it, but honestly, it's how many pagans speak. If you have issues with learning the details and jargon of a different culture then I would suggest you move along. The narrator does stumble on some pronunciation but that doesn't really bother me so much. His distinct voices for each character more than makes up for a few slips.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great story and well read

The reader used accents and pitch-changes sparingly and thus to good effect. The voices were only used on important characters and never distracted from the story. A few words were fumbled in pronunciation but no audio book is without a few slips of the tongue. S. M. Stirling wrote a great story. He changes POV characters more in this than the prequel and makes effective use of asynchronous chapters without confusing readers/listeners.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

well written with strong characters

a. tale that envelopes you in an after-world that draws you in with its strong characters as they struggle to survive and prosper in a world where Death abides.

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