The Siege of New Hampshire

Martin and Charles drive down to the border, noticing how life near the border is less tranquil. They meet up with the cranky Mr. Varney. Eartly the next morning, they meet a man named Harold out in the no-mans-land at the border but the trade does not go as planned. Fed drones interrupt. Some of them are equipped to shoot! If you're enjoying this new stage in the Siege story, consider becoming a...

Mic, Jeff and Brian discuss books and movies about nuclear doom. There are two broad subgroups: Gloomy Doom -- in which no one survives, and Hopeful Doom -- in which people DO survive. Actual research suggests that a nuclear exchange could, indeed, be survivable if you aren't in or near a target zone. Mic, Jeff and Brian discuss preps to improve one's surviveability. Nuke Doom Movies and Books ref...

Martin arrives at the Hendricks' farm to do the welding he promised. He finds out that the brothers' plans depend on overhauling an old tractor engine. While Walter was able to use his ham radio connections to find the necessary parts, it turns out that they are in Massachusetts -- Fed territory. They can still make the trade, provided Martin can persuade a thorny nemesis. While you're enjoying th...

For over 200 years, people have been fearful that a comet would strike the earth and end civilization as we know it. For an event with so little probability of occurring, Comet Doom has produced many books and movies. This week, Mic looks into some of the amusing history of Comet Doom. He is joined by Brian and Jeff to discuss two more-recent Comet Doom movies -- Deep Impact and Greenland -- from...

With this sixth book in the series, the story continues as Cheshire moves into summer. Martin laments about projects and work not getting done. Everyone is too busy. Margaret makes cheese. Andy digs out the septic tank, etc. Despite have more to do than he has hours in a day, Martin agrees to help the Hendrick brothers with yet another entrepreneurial scheme. Show Mic that you are enjoying the ong...

Mic, Jeff and Brian discuss the Get Home story -- a subgenera within prepper fiction -- of which Book 1 in the Siege of New Hampshire series is one of them. They discuss the novels: Going Home, by A. American. The Borrowed World, by Franklin Horton, 77 Days in September, by Ray Gorham, and others. And, since we're discussing Get Home Bags, here is a link to a video Brian made about HIS Get Home Ba...

This was Mic's "week off" to drive out to the Midwest to see his newest grandson. Along the way, he listened to an EMP novel and mused about being stranded on the highways, farms and the cost of food, the future of farming, etc.   Link Mic mentioned: Food Prices in 1919 and 2019 Link to Mic's Week-of-Groceries list To buy Mic a cup of virtual coffee, go to Buy Me A Coffee. To become a monthly supp...

Mic shares some author's notes and some of the backstory on the development of Book 5. He also shares some ideas on what might be coming up next for the Siege Podcast Mic appreciates all of you who supported this podcast by buying him a coffee at Buy Me A Coffee . Or becoming monthly supporters on both Buy Me A Coffee and on Patreon. Have a Happy New Year and stay tuned to find out what's next!

Martin is back home and breaking sod in his back acre field with Robert and Jasmine. Andy emerges from the woods with a swollen eye, the result of a 'spear-handling accident' when he tried to invite Mara to the Spring Planting Festival. Margaret is recovering from her MRSA and brings Martin a couple bits of good news, and to remind him that he still has time to ask her to the festival dance. This...

The exchange of silver for medicine is complete on the river island. Susan realizes that she cannot return to New Hampshire with Martin, for his sake. After the patrol drone passes, Shively takes Erin hostage, intending to strand her and Susan on the island while he escapes. While Erin is disarming Susan (under duress) they are both reminded of how Susan stopped Baron Kirk. Buy Mic a cup of coffee...

Susan meets Shively at the river's edge, awaiting the drone to pass so they can venture across the river to island. Susan discovers that Shivley has a double-cross planned with four henchmen prepared to cross the river after them. She sabotages that plan before she, Erin and Shivley cross. When the people from New Hampshire appear, Susan is dumbstruck to find out that one of them is Martin. Instea...

Three local men came to investigate the shot Robert fired. One of the men took his revenge on the dead bodies. Martin excused himself, briefly, to quietly tell the fallen raider in the woods that he was giving the man his best second chance by not telling the crazed man with the machete that he was there. Martin delivered the stark gospel that the raider was likely to die that night of hypothermia...

Martin, Trevor and Robert escape from captivity in Jaffrey. They can only collect a few of their possessions and flee at a full gallop. They have their guns, but no ammo. They resume their trek following the power line cuts west. When they figure they're far enough away, they stop for rest and water. Four raiders jump them. The man fighting Martin gains the upper hand, but abandons the fight to tr...

Martin, Trevor and Robert ride long power line cuts and trails until they get close to the town of Jaffrey. When they try to cross a short bridge, a dozen men jump out and capture the three. They are held in an abandoned school. When the leader of one of the two factions controlling Jaffrey finds out the three are from Cheshire, she flies into a rage -- accusing them of causing the suffering and d...

Martin, Robert, and Trevor set out on horseback to make the rendezvous at Connecticut River. Saddle-riding is harder on the new riders than expected. While following trails in the power line cuts, they encounter a booby trap -- likely an outer defense for a settlement nearby. The three decide to go around. While pushing through the woods, they overhear a group of raiders attempting to break into a...

Martin is thrilled at the news that someone out there has the medicine his wife needs. He is also exasperated that the cost exorbitant -- 500 ounces of silver. In an outpouring of support for Margaret, many townsfolk gather to contribute silver to the cause. They come up far short. Clyde Graedig enters to provide the remainder -- in exchange for Martin building him a gasifier. With the 500 in hand...

Susan and Erin walk up Doug's mountain to deliver the news that Shivley does have the medicine. This, so Doug can transmit the news to Cheshire. The problem is that the man Doug needs to set up a repeater for the call to Cheshire is being uncooperative. Doug needs Susan to convince the man that the cause is worth his effort. To do so, Susan must go up to Doug's radio attic. She wrestles with her d...

Erin visits Susan at Three Oaks, bringing gifts from the others at Five Corners. Erin seeing Susan's bloody knife prompts a confession about what happened. Erin tags along while Susan meets Shivley to find out if he found that medicine. Shivley suggests that he might trade the medicine for some certain "favors" from Susan. She barely contains her rage. She threatens to expose Shivley's black-marke...

Douglas visits Susan at Three Oaks, telling her how he heard that Mrs. Simmons was sick with MRSA. She needed a very particular type of antibiotic. Susan wants to help but her only idea is to ask Shivley if he can procure the medicine. Shivley reluctantly agrees to see if he can. Susan follows him, curious to see where he would get such a thing. She follows him into town and sees him hide a note b...

Meanwhile, back in Vermont, Susan is helping her hosts with chores -- making soap and beef jerky. While helping, a pan falls to the floor beside her. The loud bang triggers overpowering feelings of doom and danger. Nearly blind from the anxiety attack, Susan shoots at her demons -- the eyes that haunt her. Her shot narrowly misses Paul. Shocked and terrified at her uncontrolled behavior, Susan run...

Martin wakes up on the riverbank and learns that his companions had saved him from the river, though he suffers from hypothermia. Since he had no extra (dry) pants and shirts, they dressed him in Chandra's extra dry clothes. They meet up with Davy Walsh and Robert who had been searching for them. Once home in Cheshire, Martin can't go back in the house. His hypothermia makes him vulnerable to infe...

Martin and Dr. Rowlett head across the river in a small boat by night to land on the west side -- the Kings gang's territory. Martin is hopeful that a doctor on the west side will have some of the antibiotics needed to cure Margaret's MRSA. Dr. Rowlett wants to smuggled back something larger. That mystery cargo proves to be highly problematic.   There's one week left (until Sept. 29, 2023) to tell...

In the search for the special antibiotics to treat Margaret's MRSA, Martin has to travel to Manchester on short notice. Connie told him to talk with a Dr. Rowlett at the Elliot hospital. Dr. Rowlett is kurt and dismissive. The only place with those antibiotics is the Catholic Medical Center on the west side -- which is tightly controlled by the Kings gang. When Martin snarks about taking a boat ac...

After the capture of Quinn's men, a military truck is found, its back full of corn. While everyone sees it as a windfall, Martin insists that it be returned to Clyde, the rightful owner. Clyde is cantankerous toward Martin, but accepts the return nonetheless. Once home, Martin discovers that his wife Margaret has fallen ill. She has a severe infection from the cut she suffered during the dairy rai...

A bonus episode, tracing the origins of New Hampshire's stubborn, self-sufficient, independent attitude. It is this cultural mindset that underpins the onset of the "siege" in Book 2, and animates much of the remaining stories. This week, Mic looks at the historical roots of that NH mindset and shares some of his personal experience with it too.   Enjoying the podcast? Let Mic know by buying him a...