Imager (Imager Portfolio) [Hardcover]

I have to say that I really enjoyed this book - the writing style, without being too simple, is easy to read and as a result, the book (plot and characters) are easy to get into, remember and have thoughts/feelings about.
There are some times when I wonder if the Author really wanted to write food reviews as, if one thing has been done to death here, it's the over the top descriptions of meals (over the top both descriptively and numerically).

That aside, I think plot wise, the book is paced pretty well and, whilst it's not a heart-pounding thriller style, there is enough intrigue and enough sub-plots to maintain interest.
Perhaps the main character is a little bit too infallible at times, his girlfriend (i won't name for sake of spoilage) a little too perfect and the politicking is a little too simple, but I really don't think these things have detracted from the book at all.

There is enough detail in lives of different characters without being overly detailed, a well imagined [sorry] world and a slightly different take on the wizards/wands style of fantasy writing.

I have ordered the second book which is usually a recommendation in itself - i'm sure you won't be disappointed!

A new fantasy series by an author as established and prolific as Modesitt is always worth checking out - and this one is certainly worth the effort.

This is an intriguing, layered world that closely resembles the Renaissance period in its technology and cut-throat attitude to other states and religions. Politically, Solidar is powerful but isolated by its religious belief that Naming a deity is well on the way to blasphemy - but the dealbreaker is Solidar's tolerance of imagers. As Rhenn learns more during his highly specialised training, he discovers that Solidar's supremacy comes at a very high price...

Modesitt's strength is establishing textured, believable worlds where his characters can discuss and critique their experiences of different forms of governance. This is grown up fantasy - where notions of tolerance versus enlightened dictatorship, colliding religious views, and the consequences of power and its abuse can all be examined.

However this book isn't a philosophical musing on politics and religion - it's a fantasy adventure about a powerful magic-user who is coming to terms with what he is capable of doing. And once more, Modesitt gives us a demonstration of how to construct a magical system. Imagers don't live in the city of L'Excelsis - it's too dangerous. They cannot even have a normal married life, because when they fall asleep, they cannot control their dreams... I love the world. I love the way that Modesitt builds the layers and complexity throughout the book without compromising the pace and narrative tension.

Any niggles? Well, we access the whole book in Rhenn's first person viewpoint, and while he is a well defined character, I would have preferred to have seen a bit more angst when he finally walks away from the ashes of his career as an artist. His initial time at the Collegium seemed a bit too smooth. I also feel that he deals with some of the events with great coolness and resourcefulness - and I'd like to see him flounder, showing more vulnerability and horror at the situations with which he is having to cope. Having said that, set against the overall quality of this first book in the series, it isn't a major flaw - and I'm sure Modesitt has plenty of nasty experiences in store for Rhenn in future. One thing I do know - I'll be hunting down the next book in the series to find out exactly what happened, next. If you enjoy intelligent, well written high fantasy with interesting things to say about the human condition in amongst all the mayhem and magic, then I'd advise you to look out a copy of Imager - you're in for a treat.
9/10

The first 50 pages/10 chapters left me thinking that I was reading something cobbled together from chapter outlines. It was bad. There was no flow. I am happy to say though that by the end of the book I bought the next two. That was a surprise to me.

I still think the author is short-changing the reader at the beginning though - that bit was dire.