Dies The Fire is a compelling science fiction novel by S.M. Stirling that will have you hooked right from the start. This novel portrays the dependence on technology and machines we have in this day and age and what happens when we are forced to do without them.
In this novel, two groups of people are stuck in different parts of the world when the power supplies fail worldwide. The rapid power shortages and fuses cause all the machines and technologies worldwide to stop, and thus the people using them are at a loss. Planes are forced to land; homes have no electricity, and people cannot communicate with each other as no cellular or digital networks are working.
This novel is a stark portrayal of how humankind will survive without any power and machines in their lives. People will have to band together to create new hope and a future and rescue each other from this disaster. The people in this novel genuinely face the “The Dark Ages” and have to find innovative new methods to stay calm and survive.
Stirling tries to paint a ray of optimism in this novel by showing how people can achieve significant changes and help each other by working together. He gives us a sign that our future society can survive even without technology if we stick together.
But Stirling also showcases the dark side of humanity where people also turn on each other to survive. This is also a possible reality where people might fight with each other for their selfish interests and to use the remaining resources for their survival. This dual depiction by Sterling reflects stark contrasts between people’s behaviour and how we can all react to situations differently in the face of a crisis.
It brilliantly describes themes of brotherhood, bonding, survival of the fittest, race against time and destruction. The central theme is basically how we have taken for granted that machines will always have our back, and we will be able to survive anything. But what will you do when those very same machines can’t operate due to power collapses. How will you readjust your life now when you have become so dependent on these machines in your daily life.
This novel is a beautiful way of telling us to slow down and look at the world around us and what we have become. It helps us take a moment to see what we need for survival and how we can face a disaster or crisis. It might be a terrifying concept to think about, but it also touches upon reality and makes us stop and take a moment to think about our survival and future.
If you like the concept of this novel, you will also like similar books written by Stirling, such as:
• The Protector’s War: 2 (A Novel of the Change)
• A Meeting at Corvallis: 3 (A Novel of the Change)
• The Sunrise Lands: 4 (A Novel of the Change)
• The Scourge of God: 5 (A Novel of the Change)
• The Sword of the Lady: 6 (A Novel of the Change)
• Island in the Sea of Time: 1
• The High King of Montival: 7 (A Novel of the Change)
