The Tears of the Sun: A Novel of the Change (Change Series) [Hardcover]

S. M. Stirling (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 6, 2011 | Series: Change Series (Book 5)

Rudi McKenzie-now Artos, the High King of Montival-must fulfill his destiny. He wields the sword crafted for him before he was born. He has made friends of his enemies. He has won the heart of the woman he loves.

And now he must defeat the forces of the Church Universal and Triumphant, knowing he may lose his life in the final battle...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Longtime series reader Todd McLaren is comfortable with the setting and characters. . . . He handles the many action scenes with gusto, shouting, and emphasis in all the right places." ---AudioFile

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author

S. M. Stirling is the author of numerous novels, both on his own and in collaboration. A former lawyer and an amateur historian, he lives in the Southwest with his wife, Jan.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Roc Hardcover; 1 edition (September 6, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 045146415X
• ISBN-13: 978-0451464156
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (137 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a writer by trade, born in France but Canadian by origin and American by naturalization, living in New Mexico at present. My hobbies are mostly related to the craft -- I love history, anthropology and archaeology, and am interested in the sciences. The martial arts are my main physical hobby.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#85 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction

#85 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

96 of 102 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The Series Needs Tighter Focus September 8, 2011

By Geoffrey A. Snyder

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Tears of the Sun feels like a series of short stories fit together to make a novel. Rudi and Matti play very small roles in this book. Instead it focuses on the stories of several secondary and tertiary characters. There are visits to the past explaining the treason by House Lui and its consequences. There is a visit to the Buddhist monastery in Wyoming. There are a couple great battles including a covert op into Boise. Individually they are each good but collectively they just don't have the feel of the rest of the series.

I've been waiting impatiently to see how this story ends since the first book came out 7 years ago. The first three books are a neat trilogy of the death of the old world and the rise of a new one. Books 4-6 fit as a second trilogy of the journey to Nantucket. Book 7 was the journey back to Oregon and this one, book 8 is a lot of back story explaining events that took place in Oregon during books 4-6. This one just doesn't feel as much of a tight fit into the story arc as the first 6 books.

Perhaps he would have been better served to structure the series as a trilogy of trilogies. This one just feels a little indulgent and is my least favorite of the bunch. I'll still buy books 9 and 10 because I'm sure the finale will be worth it - I just feel this one to be slower paced than the others and that it is more sub-plot than plot advancement ....

118 of 140 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars How to tell if you will like Tears of the Sun September 19, 2011

By bringusashrubbery

Format:Kindle Edition

You will probably not enjoy this book if:
- You were wondering what actually happens to Rudy and his companions after their return to Montival;
- You were hoping to read about any signifcant events relating to the conflict between Montival and CUT; or
- You enjoy books with a lot of action, plot, or character development

You probably will thoroughly enjoy this book if:

- You (a) even remember that it was Odard's mother that sold out to the CUT in the first place; and (b) could not sleep at night without knowing all the details of why and how that sell out occurred, what happened to Mary Liu (and every other member of the Liu clan) as a result, and how she passed the time in prison afterwards [SPOILER ALERT- she was knitting]
- You can't get enough of the charming accents and kooky religous practices that have somehow permeated the Pacific Northwest in the 20 odd years since the change; and
- The whole reason you read the first six books in the series was to learn the entire lexicon of medieval heraldry (Sable Hedgehog with a Battune Sinister on a field of Gules- what fun!!) and its application to literally every single person ever mentioned in this series; or
- You didn't get enough culinary details in Dances with Dragons.

56 of 67 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Slow, slow, slow September 10, 2011

By S. Hibbs

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have totally enjoyed this series for many years. I have been waiting all year for this entry to come out. Wow.....am I disappointed. Where did all the action go? If I have to read one more flashback chapter to fill in details when Rudy and Company were off to the East, I think I may puke. I guess it is necessary to get those details across.....but I could have lived without knowing everything that happened. I thought this book would be about the war with the CUT........nope.