Same Great Story, One too Many Books...

The Book

I actually loved the story, but the '4 out of 5' rating and the title of this review stem from the fact that I feel, like others who have written reviews here, that this book and the last should have been a single work - the majority of "Lord of Mountains" was simply a continuation of "Tears of the Sun." It is clearly necessary for there to be continuity between books in a series, but this one felt more like a "Part II" of "Tears" rather than a sequel that could stand alone. Each of Stirling's other novels in the series constantly built on each other, but could easily have been grabbed at random and, while the reader might scratch his/her head for a moment pondering details, would still have been able to convey the essentials of the story - not true here.

However, even if "Lord of Mountains" should have been packed into the last book,it was another fantastic installment in a unique and fulfilling series. I have been with the story since "Dies the Fire," and I read the Nantucket series, from which the Emberverse series sprang, before that. Never before has a series captivated me as much. I "plug in" on my commute to and from work, at my lunch break, and any time I have a spare moment or two - it is definitely worth the read (or listen)!

Still, as much as I love the series, I hope "The Given Sacrifice" draws the story to a close before there are "diminishing returns;" i.e., before the story stagnates. I have heard rumors that another series will follow this one, beginning yet another Changeling generation's tale, but - and it pains me to say it with as much as I have loved all of these - I sincerely hope not. I'm sure, as with other writers, that S.M. Stirling still has volumes of story and wonderful things to add to the world of The Change locked in his creative mind, but, as the saying goes: sometimes more isn't better, it's just more...all good things not only do, but should, come to an end, or they don't stay good things.


The Performance

One thing that impresses me about all the audiobooks in the series (Nantucket and Emberverse) is that Todd McLaren has a) been used for every book and, b) he, as a narrator, is so consistent in his tones, his portrayal of each character, and his ability to draw emotion from the "reader" based on his performance. There are a good many audiobook series wherein a different narrator steps in each time, or there is a disconnect when a specific narrator goes on "hiatus" for a book or two, then returns (often only to forget their characters and the overall feel they themselves set up). McLaren is a master!


In short, thumbs, way, way up for the entire 12-book (so far) story and for Todd McLaren's performance of it, but Mr. Stirling: as awesome as it is, please wrap it up before the wonder and magic start to fade!

7 people found this helpful

Lazy, repetitive, and preachy

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

If you enjoyed the previous books with no complaint, then this is for you.

Would you ever listen to anything by S. M. Stirling again?

The books that followed 'The Protector's War' turned me off from S. M. Sterling books. I only finished the series out of my foolish need to finish what I start. His descriptive writing style gripped me in the first three books of this series because it was used to describe the world as it changed. Once that change was complete I got tired of hearing the same descriptions. By the fifth book it was clear that Matilda wasn't attractive, that Rudy was, that 'changlings' got tired of hearing about the pre-change world, what each and every battle cry is durring a fight, what the smell of battle was like, what the callouses are like on the hands of a fighter, and how deft everyone who was raised by a ruler is at making strategic decisions.

I was also frustrated by how much time Sterling used to set up the next few books in the series. I didn't care about the children that would be the adventurers in the next series. It felt like he was just writing to sell more books.

What does Todd McLaren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Todd McLaren was an effective narrator for the series. I don't want to detract from his reading at all. I put all of the blame on this series to S. M. Sterling

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Other books in the series perhaps, but this book was a frustrating read with little closure.

Any additional comments?

If you have gotten to this book then you've dedicated some serious time to these characters. Like me, you'll probably read it anyway. Just don't be disappointed if it doesn't provide any of the closure you were hoping for. I really enjoyed the first three books in this series, but the magic of the founding leaders was lost by this time. Even the final battle was disappointing. I'd say more, but details would be too filled with spoilers.

6 people found this helpful

How could anyone not like this book or this series

Any additional comments?

Just a wonderful story, and best of all its almost time for the next one !

1 person found this helpful

Good ending, but last 3 books could have been one

Would you listen to Lord of Mountains again? Why?

I'm sure I will since I listen to the whole series in order every six months or so.

What other book might you compare Lord of Mountains to and why?

The rest of the series, or any of the better S.M. Stirling works.

Which scene was your favorite?

The last few chapters were my favorite and they summed up the whole series in a way.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reactions, but most of it was good and kept my attention.

Any additional comments?

The last three books really should have been condensed down into one or two at most, but other than that it was good.

1 person found this helpful

What a disappointment

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. I would recommend the entire series up to this book. I would recommend the companion series. I would recommend the vampire series the author wrote.

This was little more than an hour or so introducing the characters and reminding us who they were and what their background was. That was followed by a battle whose outcome was never in doubt. Then a little Star Wars-esque scene where the ghosts of characters past approve of Rudy. It ends with everyone sitting around the home fires eating and drinking. Yawn.

What could S. M. Stirling have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

He could have not written it. A listener who has gone through the entire series and the companion books has nearly 200 hours invested in these worlds and the characters. We want to hear how their lives are going and the challenges they overcome.

This book was about 13 hours whereas the others were 20 or so. This book needed a good 7 hours of crisis.

Let's have Rudy go head to head against the CUT. Sail the Pacific. Explore south. Overcome dissension within the kingdom. Do something.

If nothing else, we have a good foundation for the next book that I am looking forward to.

What about Todd McLaren’s performance did you like?

I will download books just because Todd McLaren is the reader. He could make a recitation of a phone book fascinating.

Could you see Lord of Mountains being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No.

1 person found this helpful

One Big battle and a lot of talk

What would have made Lord of Mountains better?

1 Get rid of the annoying irish accents, in 20 years we all sound like an Irish spring commercial. PALEASE! a little goes a long way.
2. Have a story.. all this book is, is a single big battle and characters getting ready for the next book.
3. The evolution of magic in this world adds nothing

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Todd McLaren?

Todd is good, Someone finally told him about the way to pronounce the most of the local names in Oregon.

What character would you cut from Lord of Mountains?

Anyone who talks about the past books. These is so much looking back in this book at previous books that not a single story gets moving.

Any additional comments?

The first three books of this series are awesome. The next whatever books all blow ass

3 people found this helpful

One book too many.

What disappointed you about Lord of Mountains?

Most of this book could have been in the last book.

What was most disappointing about S. M. Stirling’s story?

I have followed this series for years. It needed to be wrapped up in the last book. The story is over.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Lord of Mountains?

All of it.

3 people found this helpful

A NEVER ENDING SERIES, SO IT SEEMS!!!!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I'VE LISTENED TO ALL OF THE "DIES THE FIRE SERIES" ALL WERE WORTH THE TIME, BUT THE STORY "MUST" END SOMETIMES, BUT AS OF YET JUST KEEPS GOING ON.

Would you recommend Lord of Mountains to your friends? Why or why not?

YES, IF THEY HAD LISTENED TO THE OTHER BOOKS FIRST

Which scene was your favorite?

THE BATTLE

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

YES, BUT ONLY IF THE REST OF THE BOOKS WERE FILMED FIRST

Any additional comments?

WHEN WILL THE SERIES END??? I'M NOW LISTENING TO THE "ISLANDS IN SEA AND TIME", S. M. STIRLINGS FIRST BOOKS BEFORE DIES THE FIRE SERIES

5 people found this helpful

Change series

This book is very slow compared to some of his others. I agree with another reviewer that said it could have been part of the last book. It seems like the author is dragging his feet' because he doesn't know where to go. He keeps reaquainting us with characters we already know and love. These books don't compared to the 1st few of the series. And I can only assume they're not gonna get better

Too much technical military detail

I stopped reading because I got so tired of detailed descriptions of armor, weapons and battle strategy. Also, too much philosophy. I enjoyed the first four books of the series, but this is lagging more and more. I'll not continue.