The Protector's War

A Novel of the Change

By: S. M. Stirling

Narrated by: Todd McLaren

Length: 21 hrs and 56 mins

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)

In line with the rest of the series!

The performance and storyline are on par with the rest of the series to date, thoroughly enjoyed it!

...and then what happened?

I really enjoyed "Dies the Fire" so listening to the second book was a must. Once again SM Sterling captured my attention and I was glad to follow more of the story. I have already ordered "Meeting at Corvallas".

great continuation

great series to dive into, book 2 dive deeper into the coming conflict and brings new characters to the front as the groups normalize their lives in the change times and come to the brink with long time enemies

... and then what happened?!

I really enjoyed "Dies the Fire" so listening to the second book was a must. Once again SM Sterling captured my attention and I was glad to follow more of the story. I love a book that once you are finished, you find you miss the characters and wonder what they are up to! I am officially hooked! I have already ordered "Meeting at Corvallas".

A bit confusing in audio form

This was a good story and a compelling sequel for Dies the Fire, but the non-chronological way in which the story was told made it somewhat confusing to listen to, when I couldn't easily go back and check dates that certain scenes were happening. But all in all I enjoyed it.

Keep growing stronger

This series is slow for me. I prefer more action and suspense to keep me interested in the story. However, there is something that tugs at me to keep listening. To see what the group will encounter next in their life trials and how it will make them grow stronger as a clan. I look forward to the next book in the series.

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.

Great book, but not effort to correctly say names

Where does The Protector's War rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Good book and the narrator does voices well. He does not make any effort to correct pronounce the regional names. As someone who grew-up where the books are set, it is painful to hear so many names mispronounced. It's obvious they didn't do their due diligence to check how the names are pronounced.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Todd McLaren?

Probably, but need more effort on the names.

The Best Fantasy / Post Apocalypse Ever!

This is my 3rd "read", but the first time listening. Stirling is a master. I cannot recommend this series and "The Island in the Sea of Time " highly enough. I have several authors that I have read every book: Clancy, Burroughs, King, Koontz, Cussler, Lincoln, Child, L. Ron Hubbard, Grisham, Cornwell, Llamour, and many others. Out of them all, Stirling stands out!


The only criticism, at all, is that he tends to use certain personal, unique descriptions throughout the series. The way Burroughs describes Tarzan in his series using the same description / word choice many times in each novel in the series. Rather than being a distraction, it is a comfortable reminder, like seeing a familiar face again.

So far, I have enjoyed this third read of each series the best of all!

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.