The saga of Recluce

VaporPunk · 06-12-2012, 05:51 AM

Just finished book 1, The Magic of Recluce.

First, thanks to Seaking and all the other MR people who recommended this. None of my friends had read this and only one had heard about it all. But trusting in the wisdom of you all, I took the plunge and bought the first book from Amazon. I'm glad I did.

I have to admit, I wasn't too thrilled with this in the beginning. It kinda starts off slow and the main character, who is also the narrator, didn't thrill me much either. He comes across as a typically whiny kid, bored, and well, kinda whiny. But stick with it...there's a reason for it all.

Once the plot develops and the "action" starts, it gets interesting. The narrator's character (Lerris) becomes more interesting and sympathetic and the world really comes to life. The magic system is original and makes sense in the context of the world. While there are the standard good (order) v evil (chaos) themes, there is enough grey to make it more complex, less neat. After just reading the first book, I have a feeling a lot of things are going on in the background that are yet to be explained and I'm looking forward to the next one.

One thing that annoyed me about an otherwise well written book, is the author's habit of using sound-effects, frequently. Every time Lerris's horse whinnies, the author writes "Wheeeee". It sounds like the horse is having fun, (I kept imagining it going down a water slide or somefing) when that is not the intention at all. Just a minor quibble but one that yanked me out of the story more than once.

Still, a very high recommendation for those who haven't read it.

HarryT · 06-12-2012, 06:29 AM

It is good, but unfortunately it's one of these series where only half the books are available as eBooks. Most of the series consists of 2-book pairs, and in several cases, one book in the pair is available as an eBook, but not the other.

VaporPunk · 06-12-2012, 06:53 AM

Hmm, I was not aware of this. Do you mean for the UK only? I think Amazon US has them all, but I haven't checked all 16 books, tbh.

HarryT · 06-12-2012, 06:54 AM

Same in both US and UK, last time I looked. The first 4 or 5 books in the series are available, as are the last 4 or 5, but it gets "patchy" in the middle.

Apache · 06-12-2012, 07:40 AM

Amazon and B&N both have all of the series in ebook form.
I have been reading this series from the start. I enjoy them although they can be slow as the story builds, but it is worth it to continue on. I have them in hard and paper back, but will have to consider getting them in ebook now that they are available.
Most of the books deal with Order. Some stories are about Chaos and one gray mage (able to use both). A couple tell the story of how the order mages arrived on the planet and survived and one is about the acceptance of technology by the order mages.
Overall a great series and well worth reading.
Apache

HarryT · 06-12-2012, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

Amazon and B&N both have all of the series in ebook form.

Thanks - looks as though the "missing" books are available in the US, but not the UK. I'll have to obtain them!

rhadin · 06-12-2012, 09:41 AM

I own the complete series in hardcover. The problem with the series is that the early books are excellent but about the 10th book, begin to decline with speed. The last book in the series, Arms Commander, is particularly poor, almost seems as if there was a clamor for another Recluce volume and Modesitt slopped something together.

I suspect that part of the problem is that Modesitt has started a new series (Imager) and has been devoting time to it. I like the Imager series (which I also own in hardcover) much more than the later volumes of Recluce.

DiapDealer · 06-12-2012, 09:59 AM

Double-digit book-counts in a series--never a good idea. Always leave 'em wanting more... not wishing you'd stopped sooner.

Dazrin · 06-12-2012, 12:32 PM

I really like the first one and enjoy several of the others. But the series is hit or miss for me. Fortunately most of the books can be read as stand-alone books and not lose too much, except for some of the "pairs" where you have to read the first in order to be able to enjoy the second. The first book is certainly able to stand on its own.

HarryT · 06-12-2012, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dazrin

I really like the first one and enjoy several of the others. But the series is hit or miss for me. Fortunately most of the books can be read as stand-alone books and not lose too much, except for some of the "pairs" where you have to read the first in order to be able to enjoy the second. The first book is certainly able to stand on its own.

"The White Order" and "Colors of Chaos" is an excellent pair of books in the series, I think, and tells the story from the other side of the coin to that portrayed in the books based in Recluse - ie, from the "chaos" rather than the "order" point of view.

Strether · 06-12-2012, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

I suspect that part of the problem is that Modesitt has started a new series (Imager) and has been devoting time to it. I like the Imager series (which I also own in hardcover) much more than the later volumes of Recluce.

I thought the first three Imager books were the most interesting books Modesitt has written. I was really disappointed that he didn't continue the story line so we could see how Rhenn was going to deal with the problems facing the imagers as well as their society, and instead took the easy way out and just started a new story line, going back to explore the first imagers. That last Imager book was not nearly as compelling as the first three.

Jim

murraypaul · 06-12-2012, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

"The White Order" and "Colors of Chaos" is an excellent pair of books in the series, I think, and tells the story from the other side of the coin to that portrayed in the books based in Recluse - ie, from the "chaos" rather than the "order" point of view.

I agree, I liked those ones too, as well as Magii/Scion of Cyador, the other 'white' pairing.

murraypaul · 06-12-2012, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaporPunk

After just reading the first book, I have a feeling a lot of things are going on in the background that are yet to be explained and I'm looking forward to the next one.

The first book (as written) is actually the second-to-last in the internal chronology of the series, so most of the story lies behind you rather than before you

stonetools · 06-12-2012, 05:16 PM

Can anyone point to a chronoligical ordering of the series? Tia!

murraypaul · 06-12-2012, 05:25 PM

I believe it is:

Lorn:
Magii of Cyador
Scion of Cyador

Nylan:
Fall of Angels
Chaos Balance
(Saryn:
Arms-Commander)

Creslin:
Towers of Sunset

Ceryl/Dorrin:
White Order
Colours of Chaos
Magic Engineer (overlaps other two)

Rahl:
Natural Order-Master
Mage-Guard of Hamor

Justen:
Order War

Kharl:
Wellspring of Chaos
Ordermaster

Lerris:
Magic of Recluse
Death of Chaos

06-12-2012, 05:51 AM	#1
VaporPunk Evangelist Posts: 409 Karma: 49204386 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Device: Kindle 4 + Asus Transformer	The saga of Recluce Just finished book 1, The Magic of Recluce. First, thanks to Seaking and all the other MR people who recommended this. None of my friends had read this and only one had heard about it all. But trusting in the wisdom of you all, I took the plunge and bought the first book from Amazon. I'm glad I did. I have to admit, I wasn't too thrilled with this in the beginning. It kinda starts off slow and the main character, who is also the narrator, didn't thrill me much either. He comes across as a typically whiny kid, bored, and well, kinda whiny. But stick with it...there's a reason for it all. Once the plot develops and the "action" starts, it gets interesting. The narrator's character (Lerris) becomes more interesting and sympathetic and the world really comes to life. The magic system is original and makes sense in the context of the world. While there are the standard good (order) v evil (chaos) themes, there is enough grey to make it more complex, less neat. After just reading the first book, I have a feeling a lot of things are going on in the background that are yet to be explained and I'm looking forward to the next one. One thing that annoyed me about an otherwise well written book, is the author's habit of using sound-effects, frequently. Every time Lerris's horse whinnies, the author writes "Wheeeee". It sounds like the horse is having fun, (I kept imagining it going down a water slide or somefing) when that is not the intention at all. Just a minor quibble but one that yanked me out of the story more than once. Still, a very high recommendation for those who haven't read it.

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06-12-2012, 06:29 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It is good, but unfortunately it's one of these series where only half the books are available as eBooks. Most of the series consists of 2-book pairs, and in several cases, one book in the pair is available as an eBook, but not the other.

06-12-2012, 06:53 AM	#3
VaporPunk Evangelist Posts: 409 Karma: 49204386 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Device: Kindle 4 + Asus Transformer	Hmm, I was not aware of this. Do you mean for the UK only? I think Amazon US has them all, but I haven't checked all 16 books, tbh.

06-12-2012, 06:54 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Same in both US and UK, last time I looked. The first 4 or 5 books in the series are available, as are the last 4 or 5, but it gets "patchy" in the middle.

06-12-2012, 07:40 AM	#5
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	Amazon and B&N both have all of the series in ebook form. I have been reading this series from the start. I enjoy them although they can be slow as the story builds, but it is worth it to continue on. I have them in hard and paper back, but will have to consider getting them in ebook now that they are available. Most of the books deal with Order. Some stories are about Chaos and one gray mage (able to use both). A couple tell the story of how the order mages arrived on the planet and survived and one is about the acceptance of technology by the order mages. Overall a great series and well worth reading. Apache

06-12-2012, 09:41 AM	#7
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	I own the complete series in hardcover. The problem with the series is that the early books are excellent but about the 10th book, begin to decline with speed. The last book in the series, Arms Commander, is particularly poor, almost seems as if there was a clamor for another Recluce volume and Modesitt slopped something together. I suspect that part of the problem is that Modesitt has started a new series (Imager) and has been devoting time to it. I like the Imager series (which I also own in hardcover) much more than the later volumes of Recluce.

06-12-2012, 09:59 AM	#8
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,891 Karma: 207182180 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Double-digit book-counts in a series--never a good idea. Always leave 'em wanting more... not wishing you'd stopped sooner.

06-12-2012, 12:32 PM	#9
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,735 Karma: 75825105 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	I really like the first one and enjoy several of the others. But the series is hit or miss for me. Fortunately most of the books can be read as stand-alone books and not lose too much, except for some of the "pairs" where you have to read the first in order to be able to enjoy the second. The first book is certainly able to stand on its own.

06-12-2012, 05:16 PM	#14
stonetools Wizard Posts: 2,016 Karma: 2838487 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Ipad, IPhone	Can anyone point to a chronoligical ordering of the series? Tia!

06-12-2012, 05:25 PM	#15
murraypaul Interested Bystander Posts: 3,726 Karma: 19728152 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Note 4, Kobo One	I believe it is: Lorn: Magii of Cyador Scion of Cyador Nylan: Fall of Angels Chaos Balance (Saryn: Arms-Commander) Creslin: Towers of Sunset Ceryl/Dorrin: White Order Colours of Chaos Magic Engineer (overlaps other two) Rahl: Natural Order-Master Mage-Guard of Hamor Justen: Order War Kharl: Wellspring of Chaos Ordermaster Lerris: Magic of Recluse Death of Chaos