I was introduced to LE Modesitt by simply pulling a random book off the shelf of our local library. Why randomly pull a book and commit to read it? (My brother and I challenged each other to do this)
The book was “The Magic of Recluce” and after reading it I felt I had run across a wonderful author. I’m currently half way through the second book of 14 in The Saga of Recluce series and I'm enjoying more then the first book!
Has anyone else read any books by Modesitt? Has anyone read all 14 from the Recluce series? (By the way, he is working on the 15th book).
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I haven't read all 14. But, overall I like him. I like his Shadowsinger series and some of his more hardcore sci-fi like the Parafaith war better.
With the Recluce series he has the bad habbit of having everything meaningful happen in the last three chapters, and it gets a little tiring waiting for it, when you don't see where the plot is going the rest of the time.
AJ
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I've read some of Modesitt's short stories, but I don't think I've read any of his novels. I will check them out.
Nice challenge. Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I've read quite a few of them. They are enjoyable books...but for the most part they repeat the same plot over and over again using different characters.
One thing I liked was the books spanned many generations of people. It was interesting seeing the main characters in one book become the legends and historical figures of the next book.
Posted by prolixshore (Member # 4496) on :
I enjoyed these books, and my girlfriend is reading them right now. She is also on book 2.
I didn't mind the repetitive plots or the slow pace. All the chapters about creating metalworks, cabinetry, or societies had their points to make. And even the repetition had a meaning.
Has anyone else noticed how many times a character eats something spicy and is told to eat some bread to take the spice out of their mouth? In most cases I would find that an annoying scene to repeat, but for some reason, with this author, I find it endearing.
--ApostleRadio
Posted by scholar (Member # 9232) on :
I read several of them and enjoyed them, but I don't like the ones in first person at all. I found the repetetive plot annoying when the character didn't grab me. If I liked the main character, I was good with it.
Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :
I've read them all, and most of Modesitt's other work as well. So I suppose I enjoy them. I think the best in the recluse series are the two books about Lorn and Cyador.
Posted by Magson (Member # 2300) on :
Ive rather enjoyed his "Corean Chronicles" too. The Parafaith War was actually pretty funny. Definitely a lot of stuff in there from his idea of how a militaristic branch of Mormonism might develop and be in the future. Interesting ideas, anyway.
Posted by Eduardo St. Elmo (Member # 9566) on :
I read the first nine installments in the Recluce Saga and most likely will read the rest in the years to come. I recently re-read the 1st, 5th and 6th novel, and even though I cannot deny that at times the stories might come across as repetitive, I don't have an issue with that. I like the whole idea of Chaos vs. Order, since it's basically applicable to our reality.And even though the first person viewpoint is something you may have to get used to, it doesn't detract from the book as a whole.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I've read many of the books in the Recluce Saga but I'm only really a fan (the only ones I've read again, that is) of The Magic of Recluce and The Magic Engineer- or whatever it's called.
I read the others quite a long time ago, though, as a much younger person. The other books might mean more now.
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
quote:One thing I liked was the books spanned many generations of people. It was interesting seeing the main characters in one book become the legends and historical figures of the next book.
That was my favorite aspect as well. I remember The Towers of Sunset being especially good, but I read them years ago. Didn't they all follow the formula of a hero defeating a succession of bad guys who weren't quite as strong as the hero? By the way, I've always thought Modesitt was a her and was surprised to find out she was a he.
[ August 22, 2007, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: Irami Osei-Frimpong ]
Posted by Presences (Member # 8492) on :
That's good to know about different characters. I've been reading the second book waiting for the characters from the first book to appear. Thanks for the input.
May ORDER prevail and CHAOS obliterate itself!
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I liked the Recluse stories, but they began to repeat themselves, and I got a little tired of being hit with a plot hammer.
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