Dies the Fire: A Novel of the Change

Mr. Stirling has written another great book, a side story to his "Island in the Sea of Time" series. What happens when our familiar world stops, no electric, no steam power, no gun powder or explosives, etc. This translates into a break down in civilization and only the smart and strong survive. The only drawback, in my opinion, was too much Wiccan stuff, not necessary to the story and at times I felt maybe he was leading up to a semi fantasy story. Thankfully, it was not so, but still distracting. I can see a sequel to this in the future, though I would like to see another "Island" book first. Wonderful read!! Thanks, Mr. Stirling.

I enjoyed reading the book. Whatever happened to change the world seems rather unlikely. The happy ending promises more than it should. I still think it is worth reading if you like apocalyptic fiction

Was in interesting story. It is good to read along or as part the series.

Was a very believelble out come from an electronic ending event.

Really like the characters.

Verry good read.

Interesting story. I enjoyed the crafting of the storylines and their intersection. Enjoyable read and a bit thought provoking. Love the Northwest setting and reminded me of The Drylands by Mary Rosenblum.

I enjoyed the start of the book; the characters are fairly well developed, the storyline has a lot of potential. ZGetting past the idea that not only electrical devices would fail to work, but gunpowder as well seemed like a bit of a stretch. Whatever works...

I was able to get into the different factions, and it seemed to me that the different groups where each understandable; I could get the motivation of each group.

I even like the wiccan group, but after a few chapters of gaelic phrases for every single event got just too old. I really don't mind the wiccan bend on te story, but good grief it became such a major part of the story that I just couldn't get past how frustrating it is...It is like the annoying uncle who has a catchphrase for every mundane event. You just don't want to hear about it.

I found myself skipping through the storyline of the wiccan group just to avoid having to hear the gaelic translation of the blessing of the cheese or whatever the phrase dejour was.

To me it ended up be a wiccan advertisement based in a post apaocalyptic world, with a couple good side stories.

I can't really reccommend it unless wicca is your thing.

I have read this story several times and I always enjoy it. Stirling has written a very believable story. It has all the elements that make for reading, fact mixed with fiction. Read them all and you will have enjoyable experience.

What would you do? It will come ... change is the only constant. How will you choose the right path and what strength will guide you. Trite, and predictable yes, in parts but if you must plan your future even simple choices can change your world. Look around your everyday and what can you live without? What power will you use to not just survive but thrive. BLESSED BE

These are really compelling books, especially the first three. What would happen if the laws of physics shifted, so that electricity, gunpowder, and steam and gasoline engines no longer worked? Our food supply would collapse. Public order would collapse. Cities would become mass tombs. Only a few lucky people would survive, and chances are they would be eccentrics who were able to figure out quickly enough that ordinary life was over. Dies the Fire and its sequels provide a fascinating and compelling “history” of how some of the survivors make do. The books are also funny. Tolkien fanatics become leaders, good and bad. Pseudo celts found clans. The SCA belatedly finds its raison d’être. Stirling is clearly deadly serious and having a great time, all at once.

"Dies the Fire" is based on an interesting premise, poewer and explosives no lomnger wiork and mankind must adjust. Stirlng pulls that idea off well by creating some interesting characters and placing them in an interesting situation. If you enjoy end of civilization stories or even socery and swordplay, I strongly recommende it

Excellent book and series that fully develops a number of characters. I would say almost any reader can find someone they can identify with. Highly reccomend this book to anyone that loves a good story and will make you think.

The best introduction book I've read since The Wheel of Time. The only thing I can think of to critique this book is the time gaps at the end, but it still works with the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre. I can't wait to dive into book two

This book is amazing! All the "what ifs, how could it work, and what would you do if..." we're brought to life in this story. It brought out the savagery and beauty of a world turned upside down. I was not disappointed. I can't wait to read the next book!

I read this after reading Stirling's 3 vol. Nantucket trilogy. Although I read mostly horror, I love post-apocalyptic fiction (The Stand, Swan Song, Malevil, etc.). All of these Stirling books, ostensibly time-travel, are also, and to a greater extent, post-apocalyptic.

Dies the Fire, the most recent of them, is the best (and two sequels are planned!). This is one of the best books I've read in recent years. The characters are people I'd like to know (as are the ones in Nantucket).

A great, enjoyable, and unfortunately all-too-fast read.

Found the book after reading about Revolution television show and thought I would enjoy Dies the Fire.

Great concept but I found myself speed reading through a great deal of the book (especially the Wicca themes) - just to get to the action! There were times during the fight scenes that suddenly it was over and I thought I had skipped some paragraphs (read it using Kindle app).

I downloaded the Kindle sample of Island in the Sea of Time and it seems like it will be more enjoyable than Dies the Fire.

It had interesting premise but I sort of lost interest and just wanted to get through it to finish it.

There is a difference between plagiarism and inspiration and you can make a case for both in this and the Ceres of interconnected novels that follow. As a post appocalyptic tale, it's great. The author can tell a story. But the inordinate amount of stolen dialogue from Tolkein, Star Trek, Star Wars is irritating and the outright theft of whole characters, story line and dialogue from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The White Company and Sir Nigel is worse. Using other people's characters is fine in not for profit fan fiction, but Stirling has taken credit (and cash) for other people's work. Where are the copyright police? How many of his readers are crediting with someone else's creations? The mystery to me is why he did it ? Because his own characters and stories are strong enough on their own. It would be better without the endless descriptions of weapons and battles and he uses exactly the same similes in book after book. A good editor would cut him by about 30%. Still, he earned the three stars for the turn the page quality and the likability of his protagonists.

The beginning of a very interesting series. There may be plenty of post apocalyptic stories out there, but in this one, explosives don't work. No guns, no engines, no fireworks. People need to learn to function again. Strong characters and plenty of twists.

This is a great read! It was delivered very quickly too. I recommend this book for anyone interested in science fiction, apocalyptic themed books. This one seems fairly realistic and I really loved it! The heroes in this book are like real people trying to do the right thing and vice versa for the evil guys!

This book is a wonderful example of letting your imagination go wild. The premise of everything mechanical not working is great, and really makes you wonder how you would do in the same situation.

S.M. Stirling has become one of my favorite authors with this series. He tends to dabble alot with the Wiccan culture and has completed his homework when describing it.

I look forward to the rest of the series!

The beginning of a very interesting series. There may be plenty of post apocalyptic stories out there, but in this one, explosives don't work. No guns, no engines, no fireworks. People need to learn to function again. Strong characters and plenty of twists.

This is a great read! It was delivered very quickly too. I recommend this book for anyone interested in science fiction, apocalyptic themed books. This one seems fairly realistic and I really loved it! The heroes in this book are like real people trying to do the right thing and vice versa for the evil guys!

This book is a wonderful example of letting your imagination go wild. The premise of everything mechanical not working is great, and really makes you wonder how you would do in the same situation.

S.M. Stirling has become one of my favorite authors with this series. He tends to dabble alot with the Wiccan culture and has completed his homework when describing it.

I look forward to the rest of the series!

WOW, SM Stirling really knows his stuff about humanity and our foibles. I love this book. I have read the whole group and I still think this first one was the best in the series. I have reccomended it to several friends and have given it out as gifts 7 times. Definatly a good choice for young adults who need a better understanding of what would happen if out technology was suddenly gone. :)

I really find myself believing in the world & the concept after reading the book, much more that I did merely by reading about the idea online. I'm looking forward to the other books in the

series. It will be interesting to see how the societies of the

different groups develop. I especially like Corvallis, that's where

I'd want to end up if I was in the area during the Change.

Fascinating premise on this post-apocalyptic novel. You easily become attached to "the good guys" who are carefully developed. Story line is gripping but fairly gory, but it's not in a genre that I usually read, so it's probably "normal" given the whole post-apocalyptic novel thing.