The Protector's War
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In Dies the Fire, author SM Stirling explores the consequences of an event that alters the fundamental principles of the universe such that modern technology -- particularly firearms, engines, and electricity -- no longer function. In the time between the onset of the event and the first harvest, the characters must face the physical challenge of survival in a changed world, while devising new social and moral structures better adapted to that world. Unsurprisingly, survival without modern technology demands a basically feudal structure -- and not every would-be king has the best interests of his people at heart. The Protector's War picks up the thread about 8 years later. The chaos and starvation immediately following the event have subsided, and a variety of stable social structures have been formed. The British Isles have reverted to monarchy; America has a number of independent domains in a loose alliance, and a would-be emperor who believes his knowledge of medieval history amounts to manifest destiny. Conflict is inevitable; but can the remnants of modern America learn fast enough to prevail, without losing their souls in the process? In some ways, this novel is misnamed. The Protector's War does not cover the war itself. Instead, it provides the prelude to an inevitable war between the feudal armies of the Protector (also a misnomer!) and the loose alliance of the free peoples. An anticipated third volume will presumably complete the saga. That said, there's little room for disappointment. The hints of how the rest of the world has handled the situation are welcome, and provide an interesting perspective to the experiences of the familiar characters. With the immediate threat of starvation averted, and years of time elapsed, there is an opportunity to explore a more mature social response to the changed world, and Stirling takes full advantage of it, depicting how his chosen characters mold the original loose associations they founded into mature and lasting societies capable of responding to external threats. I highly recommend this series as a thoughtful exploration of the interaction between technology and society. Although there is more than enough material for the traditional fantasy epic, Stirling has consistently avoided the direct appeals to emotion and individual heroism that are the hallmark of such tales. Instead, he keeps his distance and allows the characters to find their own ways to survive and thrive in a relatively non-judgemental fashion. The reader is invited to make judgements, of course, as do the characters themselves; but the author's perspective remains fairly neutral. The focus is clearly on the evolution (or de-evolution) of social structures, including their response to a threatening neighbor, rather than a simple adventure story. And that, ultimately, is what keeps it interesting. |
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