Princes and Heathens: conversations with author S.M. Stirling

“That’s why fiction is so important. It strongly affects people in ways they may not be consciously aware of at the time.” S.M. Stirling

ATLANTA, Ga. – Navigating controversies in established religions is challenging enough, hashing them out while the religious communities are still forming and creating their own identities can be downright brutal. Presently, Heathen communities have been discussing the ethics behind the barring of entry based on race, ethnicity, nationality and other similar criteria. The majority reportedly feel this is unacceptable, while a minority still posits that ties to genetic ancestors are important. Could narrative stories help our communities examine these types of questions?

A look at S.M. Stirling’s new book “The Desert and the Blade”

“There’s something to be said for a localized religion with deep and specific roots and its own stories about every rock and tree; it sacralizes ordinary things, and makes the numinous part of each particular part of the world.”  – SM Stirling

The entire Emberverse series is addictive to Pagans because it spells out one of our fantasies – what would it be like to live in a community where our religion was the dominant religion? If our rituals, our ethics, our Gods were unabashedly the norm and seen as positive, vibrant, and diverse. The Wild Hunt looks at the latest book in the Emberverse series, The Desert and the Blade, and interviews New York Times Best Selling author SM Stirling. Book:  The Desert and the Blade
Author:  SM Stirling
Publish Date:  September 1, 2015

Sample Chapters
Buy the book:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Author’s Yahoo Group
Previous coverage of SM Stirling: Author’s Books Change Opinions About Paganism; Review of The Golden Princess

Series Background:

A mysterious event happens across the globe that causes electricity, gunpowder, cars,and all the things that make modern life possible stop working.