In Dies the Fire, S. M. Stirling chronicles two groups during "The Change", a mysterious worldwide event suddenly alters physical laws so electricity, gunpowder, and most other forms of high-energy-density technology no longer work.

After an unknown phenomenon disables most forms of modern technology such as electricity, high-pressure steam-power, combustion, computers, electronics, guns, cars, aircraft, and batteries.

The book follows the Bearkiller Outfit and the Clan Mackenzie as they struggle to survive, while attempting to understand the mystery of 'what made the lights go out?'

On March 17, 1998, at 6:15 pm PST, Havel is flying over the Bitterroot Mountain Range in Idaho during a mysterious event that become known as "The Change".

His passengers are business owners Kenneth and Mary Larsson and their three teenage children, Erik, Signe, and Astrid.

On the journey, the Bearkillers recruit other survivors based on their skills relevant to survival in the Changed world, and begin producing chainmail hauberks, swords, shields, and lances.

The Bearkillers are hired as mercenaries by a group near a Nez Perce Indian Reservation to deal with a cannibal band snatching people along the road to Lewiston.

Immediately after this, Mike is called to deal with Billy Waters, who has drunk a bottle of bourbon and began beating his wife, as well as his eldest son who tried to intervene.

Mike keeps his promise to beat Billy in front of the entire Bearkiller company, but refrains from expelling him, giving him one more chance.

In the fighting, Ken Larsson loses his left hand and eye, but Mike and his men return in time to rout the attackers and capture Iron Rod.

After reaching Larsdalen, the Bearkillers with the Clan Mackenzie and some ranchers raid a Protectorate castle Arminger constructed to control an important route (Highway 20) over the Cascades.

She, along with her deaf teenage daughter Eilir, and their friend Dennis Martin, assist survivors of an airliner crash in the city.

Juniper fears for her boyfriend Rudi, who was supposed to be flying out of Portland that evening, but holds out hope that his plane was delayed.

Nearby looters are interrupted in their robbing of a jewellery store by a police officer, whose attempts at warning shots reveal that guns no longer work.

While hunting, Juniper and Dennis rescue Sam Aylward, a former British SAS soldier, superb archer and bowyer, after he was entangled in an accidental fall.

Sam is unfamiliar with the extent of the Change, believing World War Three has occurred, and the effects on his electrical equipment are due to an EMP.

Filippo also complimented Stirling on his characterization, and ability to "make all his retro-tech plausible, easily visualizable, and interesting.

"[3] Mel Odom gave a positive review of the novel, and the fact Mike and Juniper were imperfect heroes made them likable.

Thomas M. Wagner of SF Reviews.Net said Dies the Fire is "intelligent, meticulously crafted, but overlong and sometimes pokey end-of-the-world epic."

He complimented Stirling on his research, and said he was the one "the government needed to send to New Orleans to singlehandedly feed and rescue hurricane survivors."

[8] The review on SF Crowsnest called the opening of the book exciting as the reader follows Clan Mackenzie and the Bearkillers after the Change, although the ending dragged.

Within two weeks of the last minutes of that film, Connelly and her little ragamuffin adoptive son would be dead of either starvation or murder at the hands of similarly starving gangs in Manhattan.