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    The Sword of the Lady: A Novel of the Change
    The Sword of the Lady: A Novel of the Change
    The Sword of the Lady: A Novel of the Change
    Audiobook21 hours

    The Sword of the Lady: A Novel of the Change

    Written by S. M. Stirling

    Narrated by Todd McLaren

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    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...
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateSep 15, 2009
    ISBN9781400176830
    The Sword of the Lady: A Novel of the Change
    Author

    S. M. Stirling

    A well-regarded author of alternate history science-fiction novels, S.M. Stirling has written more than twenty-five books, including acclaimed collaborations with Anne McCaffrey, Jerry Pournelle, and David Drake. His most recent novels are T2: Infiltrator, The Peshawar Lancers, and the Island in the Sea of Time trilogy.

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    Reviews for The Sword of the Lady

    4.5/5

    13 ratings8 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Rudi makes it across the Great Lakes, with much fighting, and reaches Maine, where he meets with kindred souls (more of the Nordic persuasion than Celtic) and finally gets to Nantucket. The big battle against the CUT is not yet. This book ends on a very spiritual tone as it tries to explain how/why there is evil. Meanwhile, Stirling touches up the idea that all true religions have the same goal and that, after all a) there is only one God; b) there are many ways to interpret God; c) there are many paths to find God. I would caution readers that the emotional impact of these stories stems from reading them all in sequence.
    • 5/5
      This book was worth the wait to get. Stirling picks up the pace, while slowing down, something which is hard to do without spoiling the pace. Everything after chapter 16 was a surprise. I expected Rudy and his company to have to battle overland to Nantucket. Instead, well, unexpected allies seems to be a staple in this series, but it still catches you off guard. While the reason for the Change is a cliche, it's still a very well played cliche. I wait the arrival of the next in paperback eagerly. I can figure out what will happen (Stirling gives plenty to work with), but the details are what I wait for.
    • 4/5
      The Sword of the Lady picks up immediately after The Scourge of God. It then proceeds to drag its feet while Rudy and his companions continue east towards Nantucket. As a big fan of the first trilogy, I have been hoping that this series would offer some sort of resolution or at least more insight into what caused the Change. In a way this series has not disappointed, but it has taken far too long to get to this point. My biggest complaint about The Sword of the Lady, and the Sunrise Lands series in general has been the shift towards mysticism and fantasy. Drawn out scenes of religious ceremonies tend to break the pace of the story and I often found myself growing tired and hoping for a chapter or section to end. Another complaint that I have are the heavy-handed references to The Lord of the Rings. Yes it was clever to have the Rangers base their culture on these books and refer to them as the histories, but to have the High Seeker's constantly repeating the phrase "I see you", or Ingolf repeatedly saying "You shall not pass", it seems Stirling is trying too hard to mimic these works. I will read The high King of Montival when it is released, but I can't say that I am waiting with baited breath.
    • 4/5
      Loved the pace, loved the story! Mr. Stirling has me hooked again on this series. I was a little hesitant with book 4 & 5. But, I really am digging this one.The questers are still working to untangle themselves from the Iowa Bossman and continue on their way to the East Coast. The continued character development is well done, with a few surprises to boot. I love Virginia Kane! I think that this is a definite must read if you are a fan of the series.
    • 4/5
      S.M. Stirling just keeps popping em out, once a year. This is the sixth volume in the Change series (nine if you count the island in the sea of time series). For me, the series is starting to drag, but not to the point where I will stop reading them. Over the last three books or so, the plot has gone from alternate history centered to a low magic and fantasy focus. Not that I can't appreciate that, but the strength of this series is in Stirling's ability to blend the "mad max" America elements with a military fantasy swords and bows. In this last book, Stirling seems to have slipped a little away from that mix and is now focusing more on a “fellowship of the sword” with a mystical divine battle between godly powers of good and evil. After the 6th book, a story formula has been clearly established: big battle, small battle, travel east, small battle, meet new people, travel east, small battle, moral dilemma, big climatic battle, crazy mystical occurrence. Or some combination of those elements. Stirling goes out of his way to have his characters comment on how pre change and post change people differ, how language has taken on new shapes based on demographics and religion, and how forged armor is uncomfortable during all seasons. This gets a little annoying after a while, I wonder if he has run out of things to comment on. The romance seems a little forced.On the plus side, the typical plot rehash at the beginning of the book isn't too bad, but I could see how it would be if you were reading the books back to back. Also, I have met a lot more people who have been reading the books, so I have been able to talk to more people about them. Unfortunately, they all seem to be involved in SCA or a coven somewhere. I might be one of two atheists who actually enjoy these books. In other words, I think I might be one of the few people who value these stories because they are so ridiculously far-fetched and outrageous. Lastly, I enjoyed this book, because it has had the most suspenseful cliffhanger so far in series. It will be good to read the next volume, but in a way I do hope that it is the last one.
    • 3/5
      I didn't enjoy this one as much as the previous novels of the Change. It didn't move as fast, but there were enough twists and turns to make it interesting. I'll still finish the series.
    • 4/5
      12/2011 I was able to read this the second time through with more leisure. The first time was a heedless rush to find out what happened next. This time was more fun, though I did notice Stirling's tendency to mistrust that his reader gets it more. Stop hitting us over the head already. But a lovely conclusion to the second trilogy, and a nice stepping-off point for the third. The which I hope will finish the series for good and for all.

      12/2010 Entirely satisfying conclusion to the second Emberverse trilogy. There's a bit more adventure, a bit less navel-gazing than the previous book. The not-quite zombie Cutter villains were a little over-the-top, but I'm so invested in the series by now I'm willing to let Stirling toss in some weirdness.

      The biggest problem for me with these books (and this one especially) is that Stirling doesn't trust his readers to ferret out the subtleties so he hits us over the heard with 'em again and again.

      Still and all, a rollicking good read.
    • 4/5
      I'm never sure why, but I always enjoy the books in both this series, and the companion series, the Island in the Sea of Time. This is a drastic post-apocalypse series, where the world has undergone a drastic Change in which technology no longer works - at least in this version of the timeline. The world has broken up into small kingdoms, fiefdoms and holdings, some good, some not so good. Old religions have come back too. A small group of heroes has to travel from the West Coast to the East Coast (USA) to get a sword that will enable them to hold off the dark. Along the way they meet allies and clash with evil forces repeatedly. Good action, good personalities, and if you aren't particular to any one religion, you'll find revived versions of many of them in this 'future'. Good stuff.