The Emberverse series
A series about survival after technology ceases to work.
The Emberverse series, also called the Change World, is a post-apocalyptic alternate history novel series by S. M. Stirling. It depicts the aftermath of a mysterious worldwide event called 'The Change' that occurs at 6:15 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, March 17, 1998, which permanently disables electricity, firearms, explosives, internal combustion engines, steam power, and most high-energy-density technology. The series primarily follows characters in the Willamette Valley of Oregon as they adapt to the loss of 600 years of technological progress.
Quick Facts
- Author
- S.M. Stirling
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Genre
- Alternate history, Science fiction, post-apocalyptic, Fantasy
- Publisher
- Roc Books
- Pub Date
- July 2004 – November 2018
- Media Type
- Print (hardback & paperback)
- Number Of Books
- 15 novels
- Preceded By
- Nantucket series
- Followed By
- Tales from the Black Chamber
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series begins with Dies the Fire, which focuses on conflicts between a Portland-based neo-feudalist dictatorship (the Portland Protective Association) and the free communities of the Willamette Valley, notably the Bearkillers and the Wiccan Clan Mackenzie. Later sub-series follow the adult children and then the grandchildren of the original survivors, concluding with The Sky-Blue Wolves in 2018. The Emberverse is closely related to Stirling's Nantucket series, both dealing with the aftermath of the Change but with radically different effects.
Reader's Guide
The Emberverse series is significant for its detailed exploration of societal collapse and reconstruction after a global technological shutdown. It examines how communities reorganize under neo-feudal, democratic, and religious systems, with the Willamette Valley serving as a microcosm of post-Change struggles. The series highlights the Portland Protective Association's attempts at conquest, the Bearkillers' military democracy, and Clan Mackenzie's Wiccan-based society. The creation of 'The Meeting' as a peacekeeping organization reflects themes of diplomacy and conflict resolution. The series also addresses the role of religion, as seen in the PPA's Inquisition and Mount Angel Abbey's fortified monastery. Its legacy includes a sustained narrative across multiple generations, showing long-term adaptation to a changed world.
Did You Know?
- Oregon lost over 95 percent of its population after the Change and became a death zone due to the collapse of society, starvation, disease, and violence.
- The Portland Protective Association's heraldic symbol is the Lidless Eye, an allusion to the Eye of Sauron from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
- The Bearkillers celebrate 'The Change' on March 17, where the Lord Bear attempts to light a bowl of gunpowder to confirm that the laws of physics have not been restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Emberverse series?
It is a post-apocalyptic alternate history novel series by S. M. Stirling that imagines life after a sudden, permanent loss of all modern technology. The books follow communities in the Pacific Northwest as they rebuild civilization from scratch using pre-industrial methods.
What exactly happens during 'The Change'?
On March 17, 1998, at 6:15 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, a worldwide event permanently renders electricity, firearms, explosives, internal combustion engines, and steam power inoperable. The effect is irreversible, stripping humanity of roughly six centuries of technological advancement overnight.
Where and when is the Emberverse series set?
The primary setting is the Willamette Valley in Oregon, with the story beginning in the immediate aftermath of The Change in 1998. Most of the action takes place in and around the Portland area as characters navigate the first months and years of the new world.
What is the first book in the Emberverse series?
The series opens with 'Dies the Fire,' which introduces the Portland Protective Association and follows several characters as they struggle to survive the first days after technology stops functioning. It establishes the core premise and the community dynamics that the later books expand upon.
What are the major factions in the Emberverse?
The Portland Protective Association is the dominant local power, while the Bearkillers represent a more militaristic, expansionist group. The Clan Mackenzie, a Scottish-heritage community, also plays a significant role in the political landscape of the valley.
More in Novels by S. M. Stirling 1-24
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