A Meeting at Corvallis
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| A Meeting at Corvallis | |
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| Author | S. M. Stirling |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction novel |
| Publisher | Roc Books |
| Publication date | 2006 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Preceded by | The Protector's War |
| Followed by | The Sunrise Lands |
A Meeting at Corvallis is a 2006 science fiction novel by S. M. Stirling. It is third in a series that begins with Dies the Fire and is followed by The Protector's War. The story describes the events of roughly a year, some nine to ten years after the Change which altered the laws of physics. It describes the war between the Portland Protective Association and the other communities of the Willamette Valley.
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[edit] Plot summary
Corvallis has become a major city, and a diplomatic courthouse in the Willamette area. The fighting between the Portland Protective Association (PPA) and the allied forces of the Bearkillers, Mackenzies, Mount Angel, and Dunedain Rangers has been raging for a long time. However, the Dunedain Rangers have taken captive a major knight of the PPA and are traveling with the major leaders of their allied nations to Corvallis for trial and to convince Corvallis to fight the PPA. In the meantime, Sandra Arminger and her private servant/assassin Tiphaine travel to Corvallis to speak against their enemies. Tiphaine is then dispatched to kill the knight so he can no longer be used as evidence against the PPA. However, after successfully killing the knight, Tiphaine is ambushed by the Rangers, but escapes.
At the Corvallis Faculty Senate, the allied forces against the PPA are unable to convince Corvallis to mobilize for war; but they are successful in getting Corvallis to recognize the Dunedain Rangers. Norman Arminger orders a preemptive strike, and attempts to wipe out the Bearkillers, Mount Angel, and Mackenzies. Three armies are sent to destroy each faction but fails and are forced to retreat back to PPA territory. While Corvallis never entered the war officially, several thousand Corvallis "volunteers" arrive to help the Bearkillers win their victory. The Central Oregon Ranchers Association also sent a few hundred soldiers to help the MacKenzies.
However, the son of Juniper Mackenzie and Mike Havel (Lord Bear), Rudi Mackenzie, is captured and entrusted, along with the freed Princess Mathilda Arminger, to Tiphaine. Tiphaine takes them to her castle, where she holds them against the rival PPA Lords. Norman Arminger, however, decides to have Rudi killed and sends one of his knights to kill him. The Rangers arrive during the skirmish, led by Astrid Larsson, but Tiphaine is already victorious. Tiphaine hated Astrid for killing Tiphaine's lover, Katrina. Tiphaine, however, reconciles with Astrid, and allows Astrid to leave with Rudi.
The war then breaks out again and this time the PPA has amassed its entire army for one final battle. Ten thousand PPA lancers and crossbowman against the combined allied army of the other factions of the Willamette valley. Lord Bear, sensing that the allies are going to lose the battle, challenges Arminger to a duel. Arminger, with rebellions back home and knowing that looking weak in front of his nobles would destroy his nation, accepts the challenge. Lord Bear and Lord Arminger meet each other in single combat with lances, swords, and daggers, and after a long fight, Lord Bear slays Arminger with a dagger thrust. However, Lord Bear was fatally wounded during the battle with a sword and dagger wound to the left side of his chest. After giving his final orders to his closest family and friends, Lord Bear dies.
With both leaders' deaths, the PPA begins to leave, and Sandra Arminger rides forward to negotiate with Juniper MacKenzie. They negotiate an annual Meeting at Corvallis (similar to the UN), a peace treaty, and finally, the establishing that Princess Mathilda and Rudi Mackenzie would spend certain amount of time each year in PPA and MacKenzie territory. Soon after, Mike Havel's funeral is held in Bearkiller territory; his death fulfilled all the legends of old, the Lord who died for his people.
At the end of the book, Juniper has a vision of an adult Rudi leading a massive army that is shouting his craft name "Artos".
[edit] Major characters
[edit] Bearkiller Outfit
- Mike Havel (Lord Bear)
- Signe Havel
- Will Hutton
- Aaron Rothman (Doctor)
- Eric Larsson
- Ken Larsson
[edit] Clan Mackenzie
- Lady Juniper Mackenzie
- Rudi Mackenzie
- Sam Aylward (the Archer)
- Sir Nigel Loring
[edit] Dunedain Rangers
- Astrid Larsson
- Eilir Mackenzie
- Alleyne Loring
[edit] Portland Protective Association
- Lord Norman Arminger
- Lady Sandra Arminger
- Lady Tiphaine
- Princess Mathilda Arminger
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