The Tears of the Sun by S. M. Stirling

This book is set in a post Apocalyptic world where technology has been truncated by some unknown source.  This story focuses on the children of the initial survivors featured in the Dies the Fire, the first three books.  This book is the 5th of seven in the second series set in this world.   Rudi and Mathilda are prominent in this volume but not dominant.  Baroness Tiphaine d'Ath, Grand Constable of the PPA is featured throughout the book but many characters from the previous books have their very own chapters in this book.

This book does a lot of flash backs.  I can't decide if it would clarify or confuse if you were reading it as a stand alone.  Frankly I would not recommend it as a standalone.   It is, in many ways, a summation of much that has gone on before due to the flash backs.  

The beauty of an ongoing saga is that you can do a flash back and flesh out a minor mention in a previous book until it is several chapters in the current book.   This isn't a bad thing if you like reveling in the minutia of the characters, which I do.

Polytheism is a staple throughout the series and some explanation of such is provided in this book.   Based on the way the story jumped from one time and location to another, it often felt like a book of short stories.   In spite of what may appear to be a critical review, I still liked the book.

I highly recommend the series.

Website          http://www.smstirling.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Runner by Patrick Lee

This is one of those books that makes you squirm when you read it.   It is entirely too believable and too plausible.   Sam Dryden finds himself protecting a child he just met against odds that defy imagination. 

The genetic aspect of the book is well researched and oh so frightening.   Sam's past losses make him predisposed to protect a child.  The poiqnant question may be, "who will protect Sam from her?"
The characterizations were quite believable.  

The action was unremitting! 

The plot was a thorough emersion in a Machiavellian pool.

Lee's depiction of corporate greed and governmental intrusion was sadly quite believable for anyone who reads a daily paper or news blog. 

I highly recommend the book but budget enough time to do quickly because you will NOT want to put it down.

Website          http://www.patrickleefiction.com/runner.php

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The High King Of Montival by S. M. Stirling

This book is set in a post Apocalyptic world where technology has been truncated by some unknown source.  This story focuses on the children of the initial survivors featured in the Dies the Fire, the first three books.  This book is the 4th of seven in the second series set in this world.   Rudi and Mathilda are the featured characters in this volume. 

Rudi  and Mathilda, the heirs to the Mackenzie lands and the Association territory are returning from Nantucket in this book.   They pick up allies on the way and face more of the treacherous "Cutters".   The idiosyncrasies established in the preceding books continue.    One of the ways they author keep each volume readable as a stand alone is how he has the characters fill in the back story when they acquire new allies.  

An interesting factor is the demonstration of fracturing society into schismatic ethnic and fantasy groups.  Fiction and religious tracts seem to carry the same weight with resulting  societal implications.  Stirling does an admirable job creating likeable characters with believable foibles. 

I highly recommend the series.

Website          http://www.smstirling.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The Sunrise Lands by S. M. Stirling

This book can be considered a sequel to Meeting at Corvallis or the beginning of a new Change trilogy. Whatever the category, the book is excellent. Set in a post Apocalyptic world where technology has been truncated by some unknown source. This story focuses on the children of the initial survivors featured in the Dies the Fire, the first three books. The kids or young adults are on a quest demanded by the powers speaking through Juniper who is the Chief of the Mackenzies and Rudi’s Mom.

Rudi and Mathilda, the heirs to the Mackenzie lands and the Association territory explore more interpersonal action in this book. Rudi’s two younger, twin sisters are highly entertaining. New allies and new villains are introduced in this book. There is action and treachery abounding. Stories are told over campfires that backfill information that would enable this book to be read without reading the preceding trilogy. I enjoy the character interaction, none are super heroes, they all demonstrate human fragility and are thusly more believable.

Once again, I highly enjoyed a Stirling book and recommend it and the preceding trilogy.

Body of work of S. M. Stirling

Review         Website

Sacrifice by Dakota Banks

The young mother from Dark Time returns. Her quest to bring the demons down continues, complicated by her ambivalent love triangle. Her new mortality is impacting her morality. She faces both internal and external conflict in her ongoing quest.

As I noted in my review of Dark Time, the revoking of her ageless infallibility and her now more credible skill set helps in creating a more believable and likeable Maliha. I find her struggle with the changes she has undergone to make her a more believable character. The skill set she lost needs to be affirmed by the satisfaction of balancing her scale. The conflict between delayed gratification and immediate gratification is one faced by most people on a daily basis. It gives Maliha depth.

In Bank’s cynical, harsh world tragedy and violence abound. This is an action filled dark urban fantasy.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of of Dakota Banks

Web Site http://www.dakota-banks.com/

A Meeting At Corvallis by S. M. Stirling

There is little change in A Meeting at Corvallis.  Technology is still being suppressed by some unknown force. Beliefs and will seem to be gaining strength and becoming more real. The Protector’s

consistent enmity leads to war. Rudy and Mathilda’s relationship continues to grow. War, death and destruction with a peak of light at the end of the tunnel highlights the book.

I really enjoyed the characterization of Mike Havel’s nobility. The Rangers and their Tolkien fascination is both amusing and understandable. I thought the Stockholm syndrome in regards to those forced to live under the Association’s rule was a bit overdone. I did like the flashes of humanity seen in some of the staunches villains and I lamented over the closing act.

I recommend the book. I think Stirling has done a masterful job with this post apocalypse series.

Body of work of S. M. Stirling

Review

Web Site

The Sword of The Lady by S.M. Stirling

I’m beginning to think it is the never ending story. Don’t get me wrong, I love the books but I’m careless about checking the author’s site to determine if this book is finally the culmination of the story. Through trials and tribulations Rudi Mackenzie finally claims his legacy in Nantucket. Along the way, Rudi’s personality and charisma have earned him allies to armor against his implacable foes.

Once again I have to admire the way Stirling stirs the soul. He creates likeable characters and despicably depraved villains. I normally read three or four books simultaneously probably due to my limited attention span. I find it nearly impossible to put down one of Stirling’s books once I start it. My only beef is that the time between books is painful. I want to read more. Once again the book intersperses intense action with in depth human interaction leavened with philosophic pondering.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of S. M. Stirling

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