The Sword of the Lady: A Novel of the Change (Change Series)

• Publisher:   Roc Hardcover
• Number Of Pages:   496
• Publication Date:   2009-08-25
• ISBN-10 / ASIN:   0451462904
• ISBN-13 / EAN:   9780451462909

The New York Times bestselling author continues his "epic of survival and rebirth" (Library Journal), chronicling a modern world without technology. Rudi Mackenzie has journeyed far across the land that was once the United States of America, hoping to find the source of the world-altering event that has come to be known as The Change. His final destination is Nantucket, an island overrun with forest, inhabited by a mere two hundred people who claim to have been transported there from out of time. Only one odd stone house remains standing. Within it, Rudi finds a beautifully made sword waiting for him-and once he takes it up, nothing will ever be the same...

With this many volumes in a series, you would expect the quality to begin to taper off. But that is certainly not the case for this book. It kept my interest through the whole 484 pages and my immediate action after finishing was to look around the net for when the next volume will be released (2010!). Not sure how well this would do as a read-alone and not sure why anyone would deny themselves the total reading pleasure of the previous books. It could be done, of course, but wouldn't be nearly as satisfying. Stirling has created an alternate universe that is totally believable and interesting. The various groups with their habits and religious observances and interactions challenge our assumptions of usual and unusual in so many ways. His books are long but so full of great writing that they can never, ever be too long.

I've read all of Stirling's volumes in this series, starting with the original Nantucket trilogy. I really love these books and can't wait for the next volume (or volumes) in this series. The one thing that bothers me is the cover art. It shows an average height guy with short dark hair and wearing pants. Where's Rudi? He's got long red hair and wears his clan's plaid as a kilt! Whose the dude on the cover, the publicist's nephew? The target audience for this type of fiction is far to detail oriented to not notice this cover art deception.

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

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

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