This is an epic adventure world that has so far spanned fifteen novels and has run for twenty years was launched in "The Magic of Recluce", a triumph of fantasy. Young Lerris is dissatisfied with his life and trade, and yearns to find a place in the world better suited to his skills and temperament. But in Recluce a change in circumstances means taking one of two options: permanent exile from Recluce or the dangergeld, a complex, rule-laden wanderjahr in the lands beyond Recluce, with the aim of learning how the world works and what his place in it might be. Many do not survive. Lerris chooses dangergeld. When Lerris is sent into intensive training for his quest, it soon becomes clear that he has a natural talent for magic. And he will need magic in the lands beyond, where the power of the Chaos Wizards reigns unchecked. Though it goes against all of his instincts, Lerris must learn to use his powers in an orderly way before his wanderjahr, or fall prey to Chaos. This twentieth anniversary edition will feature an all-new cover and include the Recluce map, plus a new foreword from the author.
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Praise for "The Magic of Recluce"
"Extremely interesting...unique...a refreshing use of the traditional fantasy elements."
" ""--"Andre Norton
"An intriguing fantasy in a fascinating world, with characters that catch you up. Modesitt presents an interesting study of Chaos versus Order, Good versus Evil...and the attractions each of them has for all of us."
"--"Robert Jordan""
About the Author
L. E. Modesitt, Jr., is the bestselling author of the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce, Corean Chronicles, and the Imager Portfolio. His science fiction includes "Adiamante," the Ecolitan novels, the Forever Hero Trilogy, and "Archform: Beauty." Besides a writer, Modesitt has been a U.S. Navy pilot, a director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant and staff director for a U.S. Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer. He lives in Cedar City, Utah.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Red
Format:Paperback
I stumbled on this book in a second hand book shop in my first year at uni. 8 years on, and I'm still ordering every book by this author the second it's announced, and will continue to do so for the forseeable future!
L E Modesitt has that rare knack of almost ignoring the magic involved in his books, so that it becomes absolutely natural. Set in an alternate, roughly steam aged society, the series deals with the island of Recluce, and its relationship with the other nations of its neighbouring continent. This book is the perfect starting point, introducing you to Lerris, an inhabitant of Recluce and a potential black (order) mage. Unable or unwilling to accept the discipline and rules of the island, he is sent into exile with a number of others in the same position, ordered to wander through the neighbouring lands until they find somewhere to settle, or accept the lifestyle in Recluce.
It sounds fairly dull, doesn't it? It's so far from that! The author deals beautifully with the difficult choices each individual has to make, and the impacts those choices have for themselves, their loved ones, and the cultures in which they live. It also shows just how blind people can be to the lives of their loved ones. This book works well on its own, but it also serves as a basis for the entire series, which jumps around through time, and writes from all different view points, until your views of "good" and "evil" within this world are totally confused and changed about. Which isn't a bad parallel for the one we're living in now, when you think about it.
Well written, with the perfect level of attention to detail, and enough character to really get you thinking, this is one of those books (and series) that you find yourself thinking about even when you're not reading them.
... Read more ›3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Quite hard to get into at first, and at times the story does tend to drag on, but in the end it is well worth it! Good characterization, with an in-depth ineraction of the world of recluce make this an overall enjoyable read! If you're a regualr reader of sci-fi, then this book will give you a refreshing perspective of the elements of magic and fantasy!
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The saga of recluce has to rate as one of the finest works of modern fantasy. Although The Towers of the Sunset is arguably one of the weaker books in the series, it is still an enthralling read, well paced and detailed. Some may find this book a little slow, but all I can say is stay with it and move onto the next book in the series, as Modesitt quickly finds his feet in the sequels. You will be rewarded by a world that rivals Tolkien for detail and passion, but fortunatly never gets excessively bogged down in history and back story just for the sake of it. Rather as each book concentrates on a key moment/person in that history the world grows and expands around you, constantly enriching itself and challenging the preconceptions the earlier books have laid down.
One of the things I find the most enjoyable is that each book is written with a bias, although its so subtle you may not notice it at first (I certainly didn't). This may seem an odd thing to be pleased about, but it allows the author to explore different takes on the same situation, and different systems of government. I can't say much more than that without giving too much away, so I'll end by just recommending as strongly as I can that you read this book.
And incase L. E. Modesitt ever reads this (you never know :)) I'd just like to say THANK YOU! for all your books.
One of the things I find the most enjoyable is that each book is written with a bias, although its so subtle you may not notice it at first (I certainly didn't). This may seem an odd thing to be pleased about, but it allows the author to explore different takes on the same situation, and different systems of government. I can't say much more than that without giving too much away, so I'll end by just recommending as strongly as I can that you read this book.
And incase L. E. Modesitt ever reads this (you never know :)) I'd just like to say THANK YOU! for all your books.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
the author has thought of a really different view/way of 'magic'. it is really interesting in how thought out the system is worked. take's a real geniues to come up with something this original. great read! greatly recommened. needs to be read to be believed :)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Sarah A. Brown
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
I don't read much fantasy but someone strongly recommended this series to me so I thought I'd give it a go. The novel's premise is a fairly familiar one, and it reminded me vaguely of Johnson's `Rasselas'. Young Lerris lives on Recluce, an island where order reigns, but where life is just a little bit dull. He is forced into temporary exile, as a `dangergelder', so that he can work out whether he belongs on Recluse or whether he would be better suited to a more chaotic environment.
My main reaction at the beginning of the novel was that `The Magic of Recluse' was a bit like a novelisation of a Dungeons and Dragons game. There were taverns, there were shops where you bought equipment (watch out for cursed weapons though!), there was a lot of fretting about exactly how many copper coins Lerris had and exactly how many of those coins could be swapped for a silver coin. Once he started getting into fights I almost expected him to get out his eight sided die rather than his trusty staff.
On the minus side I didn't find the novel totally compelling - I'm a fast reader but I kept on putting it down and picking it up again, rarely reading more than a couple of chapters at a time. Like other readers I found the sound effects annoying, particularly those associated with Lerris' grumpy but faithful pony.
On the plus side I found the character of Lerris engaging - and the world Modesitt conjures up is certainly intriguing. The moral questions raised by the novel - what actions are legitimate when trying to combat evil? Is it worse to interfere or refuse to get involved? - are relevant to many issues in our own world.
My main reaction at the beginning of the novel was that `The Magic of Recluse' was a bit like a novelisation of a Dungeons and Dragons game. There were taverns, there were shops where you bought equipment (watch out for cursed weapons though!), there was a lot of fretting about exactly how many copper coins Lerris had and exactly how many of those coins could be swapped for a silver coin. Once he started getting into fights I almost expected him to get out his eight sided die rather than his trusty staff.
On the minus side I didn't find the novel totally compelling - I'm a fast reader but I kept on putting it down and picking it up again, rarely reading more than a couple of chapters at a time. Like other readers I found the sound effects annoying, particularly those associated with Lerris' grumpy but faithful pony.
On the plus side I found the character of Lerris engaging - and the world Modesitt conjures up is certainly intriguing. The moral questions raised by the novel - what actions are legitimate when trying to combat evil? Is it worse to interfere or refuse to get involved? - are relevant to many issues in our own world.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
the magic of recluse
How can you improve on perfection, as always on time and accurate description, thanks again for your great service. Will definitley use you again.
Published 19 months ago by Angel
3.0 out of 5 stars
Wheeeeee... eeeee
If you were to write all the occasions where the writer writes the word BORED or some derivation thereof you would probably fill a page!!! Read more
Published on 19 July 2010 by T. Cowell
3.0 out of 5 stars
The good and the bad
L.E Modesitt Jr's `The Magic of Recluse' revolves around a society of magic users. In the world he creates order magic and chaos magic exists. Read more
Published on 6 May 2008 by Jessica
1.0 out of 5 stars
Didn't like it one bit
I found this book dull and repetitive. Some points I'd like to make:
-The story is about the classic/cliche order-chaos theme. Read more
-The story is about the classic/cliche order-chaos theme. Read more
Published on 18 May 2006 by mike
5.0 out of 5 stars
a book that has changed the way i live.
This is book that has changed the way i live my life. although this sounds magnificently depressing this book is so good i have attempted to put that little bit more effort and... Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2004 by J G Cole
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting some new ideas
Read this book and was very impressed by it. OK, it isn't all out action, and the ending isn't very good, but it didn't really need an ending. Read more
Published on 23 April 2001 by Neil
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is one for the purist heroic fantasy reader
Great work by someone going places. I was impressed throughout. Give it a go and find the difference between gratuitous "magic" and the more subtle aspects of right... Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2001 by iss
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good book on the whole
An interesting world, well written. Quite slow to start, you never get really excited about it but you need to read on anyway.
Published on 4 May 2000 by X. Caine
5.0 out of 5 stars
An enthralling read
This book, like it's prequel, takes a while to get into, but also like the previous book, once its grabs you there is no release. Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2000
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