Lynda C. (Readnmachine) reviewed on 9/23/2019 + 1474 more book reviews

This post-apocalyptic novel set mostly in Oregon includes good characterizations and lots of action, but the reader will have to accept some fine coincidences and some unexplained hocus-pocus about the cause of The Change.

A never-explained phenomenon (Aliens? Angry deities? Overlapping realities) suddenly causes all electrical systems all over the world to simply ... die. Not even dry-cell batteries will work. Nor -- and this is important to the story, so either suck it up or find something else to read -- will explosives of any kind. No guns, no bombs, not even steam power (but homemade napalm is okay -- go figure). Civilization promptly crumbles, and starvation and disease are rampant as the remaining population struggles to stay alive.

The story centers on two groups, who ultimately meet and combine forces to survive both the suddenly-Dark-Ages technology and to defend themselves against the rise of the eternal bully-boys who see the chance to take up cudgel and sword against less organized and more peacefully-inclined neighbors.

There are lots of characters here, but most are drawn clearly enough to be memorable. As noted above, the reader either accepts the notion that the survivors who find each other are all uniquely qualified by arcane skills or knowledge to survive in this world with its new set of rules. Stirling excuses himself by having characters say, on more than one occasion, "Well, we had to be damned lucky and skillful just to survive long enough to meet each other." We'll give him that because this is a ripping good yarn.

It's also the start of a multi-book saga "Novels of the Change". With 15 entries in the series to date, anyone who wants to explore further in Stirling's world, will have plenty of reading to do.

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