*-which is about as close as you'll get to an analogue of the Bearkillers, given how little we've seen of them. With the exception of Iowa and the central nations.and the Portland 'template' seems to be taking hold there.Īpparently no group managed to come up with anything original, culturally. There also is a complete lack of any culture that is not a blatant historical kitbash (idealized pseudoHighland/Irish, Spartan/Polish*, High Mediaeval Normans, Roman Legions, etc). Just another example of Rudi's Epic-Level Mind-Control. Especially in the Fresh-From-The-Council-of-Trent version of Catholicism that exists in post-Change Oregon. But.the town was too close to Dun Juniper, and thus had to become Wiccan to clear the decks for the Pagan Kingdom.Ĭatholic Princess (and Heir to the Throne) marrying a devout Pagan? Not going to happen. I'm Catholic, and not the biggest fan of our Fundamentalist brethren.but I don't see them jumping into apostasy that easy. There's an entire plot point involving a town full of semi-Fundamentalist (some form of evangelical Baptists) folks that turn Wiccan overnight, because Juniper does something Spooky (and this is before the Magic starts to be overt). Their children (the first generation of Changelings) are even worse, and the whole 'they grew up with it and don't know any better' is vastly overstated.ĭon't get me started on the Religion angle.

IOW, they shed their 'modern' culture and psychology a little too fast and easy. The protagonists are smart, industrious and good.

Id like to live there, all the dangers notwithstanding. It does not have the weight of Cormac McCarthys The Road, or the deep clarity of Marlen Haushofers The Wall. Yeah, the point of the series is exploration of the Founder Effect.but really!Įven the Pre-Changelings (the folks who were at least young adults when the Change hit) go 'well, of course we should have a King and bow and bury rapists alive under crossroads and have hereditary rulers' a little too fast. Dies the Fire Of apocalyptic and post apocalyptic books this is, in some ways, an optimistic book. I just don't get Stirling's breakneck acceleration of the population's psychology into Mediaeval (if not Hyborean) worldviews.never mind the cultural trappings.

Dies the fire book