Dies the Fire

A Novel of the Change

By: S. M. Stirling

Narrated by: Todd McLaren

Michael Havel was flying over Idaho en route to the holiday home of his passengers when the plane's engines inexplicably died, forcing a less than perfect landing in the wilderness. And, as Michael leads his charges to safety, he begins to realize that the engine failure was not an isolated incident.

Juniper Mackenzie was singing and playing guitar in a pub when her small Oregon town was thrust into darkness. Cars refused to start. Phones were silent. And when an airliner crashed, no sirens sounded and no fire trucks arrived. Now, taking refuge in her family's cabin with her daughter and a growing circle of friends, Juniper is determined to create a farming community to benefit the survivors of this crisis.

But even as people band together to help one another, others are building armies for conquest.

©2004 Stirling (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"The novel's dual themes - myth and technology -should appeal to both fantasy and hard SF readers as well as to techno-thriller fans." ( Publishers Weekly)

fantstic

A fantastic book, well written, well read and a brilliant concept. All charactors and storylines are believeable with a hint of imagination and fantasy. Well researched . Please more of the same. S.M Sterling is one of the best Si-Fi writers around. This series as as good as the Terminator2 series. Sterling is what Ipods were made for!!

Good story and characters

What did you like best about Dies the Fire? What did you like least?

Overall the story and variety of interesting characters keep this book going for me. I would have rated it much higher, but could not get past the author's insistance on making some of the "good" characters pagan satan worshipping witches. I would have thought the author might have been intelligent enough to know that this type of plot line would not appeal to 99% of the readers. Other than that, seems like a pretty realistic view of how society would react and collapse following an EMP type of event with a interesting twist. Great perfomance by narrator.

Really Good

This is a really good start for a series. It gives just the right amount of details to keep you going without being 1200 pages long. I plan to listen to the next book as well.

Has potential

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes and no. I think the story idea is great as a concept but didn't like the writing or performance very much. It jumps around too much with no transition. Even a pause at times or a chapter break would have told you that the story was going to change locations, characters or time. Many times the story would be at the height of action and then stop. Later on you might find out what happened but not fully.

Has Dies the Fire turned you off from other books in this genre?

Pretty much.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Entertaining reader and good with different voices.

Do you think Dies the Fire needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. Could be continued but the highlights of the concept have been covered.

excellent book

In a world where all technology has stopped, including guns what would you do? The story is well thought out and well excecuted under that premise. People will do what is necesarry to survive, not all will be good. Society will collapse and people will be left with their skill, nerve and luck.
At least in this book there isn't so much radical right wing fundamentalism. Granted there is Paganism, but there are also christians and people with no faith at all. Isn't that more what the world really consists of anyway? They all find a way to live or they dont.
The narrator is decent, not everyone can be Jim Dale when it comes to accents.

Great Concept and first book of the series

Where does Dies the Fire rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

this ranks up there with some of the best. I read this years ago and the audiobook was just as good as the story I remember. Great end of the world- turned fantasy novel. recommended.

Awsome story, leaves you wanting the next book!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Dies the Fire to be better than the print version?

Haven't read the print version of this book

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dies the Fire?

Hand gliding into the Protector's castle was brilliant.

What about Todd McLaren’s performance did you like?

McLaren keeps you on the edge of your seat with a very good reading

Any additional comments?

Can't wait to download the next book in the series

Amazing book!

A real "page turner"! I had a hard time turning it off! the narrator was great! great with voices!

Fresh take on post apocalyptic life

This book grabbed my full attention before the end of the 1st chapter and maintained it til the end which is rare. S.M. Stirling adds a dramatic twist to the typical post apocalyptic story line that would be the stuff of most characters nightmares, however, the characters embrace the realistic obstacles with strength, ingenuity and a true desire to not only survive but thrive with humility and kindness towards fellow survivors. Can't wait to see how the Protectors War goes. I hope the McKenzies and the BearKillers bring them to their knees!!!

One of the best post apocalyptic stories ever.

Fantastic character development, unique premise (ripped off by the show revolution). Could you survive the change?