The Protector's War

The Protector's War, a 2005 science fiction novel by American author S.M. Stirling, is the second book in the Emberverse series. Set roughly eight years after the Change—the event that rewrote the laws of physics in the first novel, *Dies the Fire*—the story covers about a year. It follows the Portland Protective Association as it prepares a war of conquest against neighboring communities in the Willamette Valley, the responses of those communities, and the arrival of three English refugees whose presence will influence events in Oregon.

Eight years after the Change, the Clan Mackenzie, led by Juniper Mackenzie, and the Bearkillers, under Mike Havel, have built stable societies in the Willamette Valley. They are bitter enemies of the much larger, expansionist Portland Protective Association, ruled by the Armingers. The Association’s barons repeatedly break a ceasefire with the other factions. During one raid, Baron Eddie Liu, the PPA’s Marchwarden, clashes with a small Mackenzie group led by Eilir Mackenzie and Astrid Larsson. After a brief fight, Liu retreats, vowing revenge.

Meanwhile, in Britain, Sir Nigel Loring is imprisoned by the unstable King Charles III but is rescued by his son Alleyne Loring and John Hordle, a former member of the Special Air Service. They escape on a Tasmanian sailing ship conducting a global survey. Upon arriving in Portland, the Protector, Norman Arminger, pressures Sir Nigel—the nearest expert on nerve gas—to help recover a cache of it for use against his enemies. The three Britons outwit Arminger and flee south.

Mike Havel and his wife Signe Larsson Havel attempt to trap the bandit Crusher Bailey, who has been raiding and enslaving people, by posing as travelers with a horse herd and a wagon of valuables. When Bailey takes the bait, reinforcements are delayed, forcing Mike and Signe to retreat to an abandoned pornographic video store. Just before they are overwhelmed, the Lorings and Hordle arrive and save them. Sir Nigel and his son meet the Mackenzies and their old friend Sam Aylward, a former sergeant under Sir Nigel. The Mackenzies reveal that during a recent raid on a horse-drawn train, they unexpectedly captured Norman Arminger’s only child and heir, Mathilda.

Soon after, Eddie Liu and his massive bodyguard Mack arrive on a diplomatic mission to negotiate Mathilda’s release.