Has anyone read any of this author? I am reading The Soprano Sorceress, and NOT loving it.
A student gave me book 2, and so I went out and bought book one.
Will it get better?
Because, if it does not, I just happened to buy the whole "Dark is Rising" series tonight. You know, just in case someone here says I should go ahead and jump right into that, what with the movie coming out and all.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
I read it some time ago...
I remember it as being an alright read, though nothing spectacular. I don't remember too many details, though.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
I read The Octagonal Raven. That's by him, right? It was not bad. Not great, but not bad. It had a surprisingly deep study of privilege in society for an action novel.
I specifically picked it up because he is not one of my usual authors. Every once in a while, I just like to grab something random off of the sci-fi shelf, to see what I discover and to keep my horizons (somewhat )broad.
I wouldn't go out of my way to seek him out, I don't think, but I didn't hate the book I read either. (Actually, while I had completely forgotten about it, thinking about it now is bringing a lot back to me that I appreciated.)
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I always preferred the Recluce novels to any of his others, although there's few that I actually went back to: The Magic of Recluce and The Magic Engineer.
I never got into the Spellsong Cycle or any of his others.
EDIT: But I would recommend The Dark Is Rising over all of them.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Hsi Recluse stuff is better.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Teshi, that was really what I needed and wanted to hear.
Modesitt is officially on the back burner.
Still, how cool is it that a fifth grader gave me a fantasy novel for my birthday?
And I got one from another student for Christmas.(It was the latest of the "Edge" Chronicles.)
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I will finish these books after I read Susan Cooper, though.
Posted by Astaril (Member # 7440) on :
I have never heard of L.E. Modesitt, Jr., so I can't help you there, but I will second Teshi's vouch for Susan Cooper. If you're not thrilled with the first one though, don't give up until you've read #2 as well. I found they got a lot better after the first one, though others I know disagree and love them all equally.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Well, I read number 2 many years ago, thinking it was number 1. I never got back to the series, but always wanted to.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I read several of those books. They were enjoyable light reading, although a little hit-or-miss.
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
I enjoyed the Recluse books, I thought the Spellsong cycle was decent...but I got tired of it after a few books.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I will go back and finish it after Susan Cooper. It just wasn;t pulling me in at all. The main character was pretty uninteresting to me.
Also, every other chapter he uses the pov I cannot stand. Not sure what it is called. I think of it like the scene description of a play: "There is a hush over the crowd. The man looks to his right. He drops his stick. Ew. I really hate that.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
If people find Robert Jordan's over-descriptions annoying, they may not appreciate Modesitt's overuse of ellipsis and the many descriptions of what Leris's mountain pony is doing "whuff" to be a bit much.
I do read Modesitt, but sometimes find it hard to get through.
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
One of the things I liked about Modesitt's recluse books annoyed people. Many times his main characters are craftsmen. Either, wood workers, blacksmiths, or some such thing along those lines. He goes into a lot of detail about the mechanics of their job. I personally find it interesting, but I know many people thought it was to much detail.
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
The Recluse series was so hot and cold, the only one I con whole heartedly reccommend is The Towers of Sunset. But mostly, I consider it kids fantasy.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Lupus, I liked that aspect too.
quote:But mostly, I consider it kids fantasy.
It's not written for children though, not by a long shot. I mean, they are largely suitable, but they're not targetted at children!
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I like him, but I don't have great literary taste either. Modesitt has a nasty habit of drawing out the setup throughout the book. Don't give up on the book until you've read the last 5 chapters, cause that's where it suddenly all makes sense. But he doesn't leave you dangling like Robert Jordan, he does get stuff tied up, and making sense in the end.
AJ
Posted by Avatar300 (Member # 5108) on :
The Towers of Sunset was the worst of the recluce books. The best were the either the pairings of Magi'i of Cyador/Scion or The White Order/Colors of Chaos.
By the way, it's the Recluce series, not Recluse.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
When I read Modessit, he seemed to be trying to be the "Anti-Jordan", making sure that each story was *completely* contained within one book. I thought he went a litte too far. There were things that would have been great to expand on with an additional book with the same character.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
It seems like everyone has their own preferences in the Recluce series. Interesting.
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)broad.