"Why I like Dies the Fire and sequels" Topic

I found that these books really struck a cord with me. It has taken me a while to figure out why. I don't generally go for "post Apocalypse" stories, and the selective failure of technology is a rather high post on which to suspend one's disbelief.

I realized last night that it is because it is one of the few fantasy books I have read in which the characters worry about the same things I do. They have kids to keep alive, spouses to worry about, they work to raise food and quarrel with their neighbors. It is one of the few books with an adventure and military component that middle aged me can really identify with.

It also looks like a good place for a campaign game. Historical figures would do for most, although cowboys with horse bows would take some conversion work. 20mm plastic perhaps?

Great series, I'm quite fond of the books myself.

-Alex

Didn't the latest book come out Tuesday? I haven't had a chance to go to the book store.

Waiting for paper – I don't like it *that* much. I am hoping it means the previous one will be in paper before too long.

Meh – There are some good points in the books, and the overall concept is very attractive. Th eonly major problem with the concept is the inconsistency of the new laws of physics – high-energy chemical reactions and electrical activity are suppressed, except for when its not convenient to the plot. Fortunately the inconsistencies only crop up very occasionally.

However, the author has some themes that he pounds REPEATEDLY and LOUDLY, in increasing tempo as the series continues, that I am frankly sick of:

Theme 1 – The Old Religion is cool. Even if they are making it up as they go along.

Theme 2 – Government that is not based on clans is evil and/or bound to fail. Especially any government in any way linked to the pre-event governments.

"when its not convenient to the plot"

Once I realized that it is a fantasy series, I stopped worrying.

Theme 1: Actually I think it is more "anything that involves chanting and vaguely arcane language is cool." His Catholics ditched the English mass pretty darn quick, too.

Theme 2: I think the early books are all about the destination; having a cool environment for epic heroic fantasy that is tied to our world instead of being made of whole cloth and recycled Tolkien (except for the parts clear labeled Recycled Tolkien Used Here). Good fun, but if you are going to have an Arthurian legend then everything does have to go hell in a handcart.