The Sword of the Lady

If you like the Change series books, you will enjoy this one. I thought it was one of the better, fast paced novels in the series. Got it in used hardback cheaper than new soft cover. Loved it.

Rudi Mackenzie continues his dangerous trek across what was once the United States in his quest to learn more about the Change that crippled the superpower turning the world into literally a darker neo Dark Ages in which electricity ceased. His goal is to go the source in Nantucket. Along the way, he has made friends, several of whom are traveling with him, and many enemies. He attains his destination only to find a stranger world that makes what he seen before seem normal. Nantucket Island is totally woodland with no more than two hundred confused people who insist they come from other eras, but somehow were transported to the center of the Change. Nothing makes sense to the wary and weary Rudi as Nantucket offers no answers that he can fathom. However, there is one house made of stone still standing. Still searching for clues to what caused the Change over two decades ago; Rudi enters and immediately is drawn to a sword that he picks up as if the weapon was calling him. What he thought he knew will be sliced and diced forever. The third Change post apocalyptic thriller (see SUNRISE LANDS and THE SCOURGE OF GOD) continues Rudi and company's trek across the battered dying land trying to come back to life two plus decades later. The troupe has reached their destination, but Nantucket is nothing like what they or the audience expected when they set out; for that matter the trip across the country was also filled with inexplicable unexpected happenings as the gods intruded along the way. Although it is imperative to have recently at least read THE SCOURGE OF GOD, fans will enjoy this excellent epic that will stun the reader with the direction S.M. Stirling spins as Rudi has come a long way to grab the sword and apparently has a long way still to go. Harriet Klausner

I just recently finished reading this novel and I must say that I was bowled over by the story, especially the ending. Stirling continues to improve with each novel of this series. One area of improvement is his detailed descriptions of the various settings and exotic cultures that Rudi and company encounter on their way to Nantucket, the source of the Change. I disagree with one of the reviewers who said that the descriptions of the winter scenes were overkill. I, for one, was totally immersed in those particular settings. And also the ending, I think, was not "fluff." It was totally awe-inspiring and was my favorite part of this novel. I won't reveal too much about it, but I will say that it involves the true nature of the "Change." The explanation neatly ties together the "Island in the Sea of Time," trilogy and the current "Emberverse," series, which includes this book. I can hardly wait for the next book in this highly entertaining series.

We continue following the group from the west, led by Rudi Mackenzie as they make their way across the continent of what used to be the U.S.A. The goal is to reach Nantucket, where a sword, referred to as the Sword of the Lady awaits Rudi to take it. He is now acknowledged by his group as the High King of Montival, which encompasses the territories of Oregon, Washington, parts of Idaho and the general areas in between. This news reaches the heads of Clan Mackenzie, the Bearkillers and the Portland Protective Association. Surprisingly enough, given their previous rivalries, they seem to realize that Rudi is their only hope of uniting and defending against the Church Universal and Triumphant (CUT), in its attempt to conquer all territories It can. CUT is lead by "possessed" leaders, who use the supernatural powers they have to attack and conquer as many areas as possible in the western part of what once was the U.S.A. This novel picks up with the group in Iowa and follows them through Wisconsin, out onto the Great Lakes, into what was once Maine and thence to Nantucket. All the while they are pursued by the Cutters (CUT group), lead by a High Seeker (a diabolical priest with supernatural powers) and Major Graber, an officer in the CUT Army and a thoroughly brainwashed, obsessive military leader, willing to sacrifice his own and all his mens' lives in pursuit of CUT's diabolical ends. Although there are battles and pursuit all across the Midwest and to Nantucket, unfortunately Graber and the High Seeker may still be alive at novel's end. At Nantucket, Rudi and some of his followers receive visions in which it is explained how important it is to battle and defeat CUT, which is in the control of what are probably best described as diabolical forcesand more about the forces behind The Change and who is behind the CUT. Rudi takes the Sword of the Lady, and prepares to return westward to organize and lead all of Montival against the Cutters. If you enjoy this theme, you will find no better books, starting with Dies the Fire, followed by The Protectors war, and then A Meeting at Corvallis. This series, set years later starting with the Sunrise lands, followed by The Scourge of God and now The Sword of the Lady, takes this changed world farther along and reveals something of the forces behind "the Change" which started it all. Run and buy this book. You will be very happy you did. Holdt Garver

One of the joys of this series is that in the manner of C.J.Cherryh's Company Wars each book stands on its own. Characters come and go and the metastory goes on but you can start anywhere and have a wonderful time. Stirling has done something unique and wonderful here. You have a story of a near future America where modern tech doesn't work and the young ones have now come of age regarded the technoworld that we live in as a lost age of vanished miracles [which doesn't stop the princess from having titanium armor] . However we also have here a Ring Quest by characters who know their Tolkein cold and see themselves in those terms rather than as something out of classic myth. In this book Stirling builds beyond his prior teasers to clearly add magic to the mix. However even here the magic is done so beautifully that we are left back at Clark's Law wondering at what point technowonder beyond our ken becomes magic and visa versa. The speculative imagery is all there for wonderful debates but the story itself is high adventure of the greatest sort, a party of heroes fighting what to all intents and purposes is demonic evil expressed in both human and otherworldly form, while coming of age and choosing one among them to be the fated High King of future tales. Add in Stirling's usual extremely vidid ability to evoke travel, character and combat while deftly moving between threads of the story [even his villians are fully fleshed and believable] and you have a book you will both insist on finishing in one reading and come back to many times in the future. If you love high adventure and glorious quests this is a book you will treasure.