Rating: Summary: Decent, but lacking Review: I liked his books at first, but then i noticed a dull pattern developing. He introduces new characters about every book so by the time you start liking one he moves on to a new one. He seems to introduce a character, have him be a regular guy for a time, then there is a mounting tension to a climax, then the character does something amazing that recieves reproach from his colleagues and he becomes a legend.... on with the next book... In all i say the novels are lacking information on the world and secondary characters. I have given up on his books for now, which is too bad since i see a new one every time i go to the store. But, give em a try to see for yourself
Rating: Summary: Nice change from the traditional fantasy style Review: I must admit, when i picked up this book, I thought it was going to be another Tolkien rip-off like so many books are now, but i was pleasantly surprised. I've not read the first book in this series, but i don't think the book lost anything with this. At a glance, it is a strange style that the author has used, deciding to write in the present tense, but is effective when you get the hang of it. The lack of deep themes and morals is made up for by some fantastic scenes and original ideas. The start does drag on, however, and the annoyingly-happy ending is a bit predictable. The poetry and songs in the book are quite good though, if you read them.
Rating: Summary: The Towers of the Sunset by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. Review: I must say that I agree with Timothy Orr of Orlando Florida. While I don't feign to compare with his critic, I must say that this book was a waste of my time and money. However, I already bought the third book, "The Magic Engineer" so I will probably try it out. The book never states or even infers that it is a prequel. I found this very confusing. Especially when the character really does, as Mr. Orr puts it, represent Creslin as a "carbon copy" of Lerris in "The Magic of Recluce." I also hated this book in that Megaera was a horrible woman, but (just like some of Modesitt's other male characters) was loved by the male protagonist simply because she was bluntly "honest." I wish that was the only characteristic I was looking for in a relationship... Gravity Dreams was an interesting book, but if you've read "Recluce" or "Towers of the Sunset" you may be a little disappointed, because the protagonist "Tyndel" could be a Lerris/Creslin clone, too. I haven't read any ohter books in Modesitt's Recluce series besides the first two, but I can definitely recommend that you skip "Towers of the Sunset." "Gravity Dreams" is a much more original work, if you decide you would like to read another Modesitt book.
Rating: Summary: Easily the best in the series thus far.... Review: I read this book after the Magic of Recluce, and thoroughly enjoyed...more than Magic of recluce! The characters are interesting and the dialogue and description of the setup of recluce is fun to read. A must read for readers looking for GOOD fantasy fiction.
Rating: Summary: it keeps getting better Review: I really enjoyed this second installment in the Recluce saga. Creslin is an intricate character and his "consort" is really fiesty! I missed Lerris at the beginning, but it'll all come back together as you keep going through the series
Rating: Summary: Better than Magic of Recluce Review: I think this book was better than Magic of Recluce. I can relate to Creslin more than I can relate to Lerris. Lerris was to ordinary while on the other hand, Creslin has silver hair. He reminds me of Chrono from Chrono Trigger or some other anime guy. Read this if you read Magic of Recluce.
Rating: Summary: Present Tense Use Very Unique and Daring Review: In The Towers of the Sunset by L.E. Modesitt, Jr., there was one thing that really leapt out at me from the absolute beginning: the book was written in the present tense. Obviously, my first reaction was one of confusion. It was strange seeing a book written so after I had been so long reading traditional novels in the past tense. It kept throwing me off to be reading it like that for the first twenty-five pages or so. But soon I developed a keen liking for it. I thought that using the present tense made the book much more exciting, putting you in the action instead of making the reader a bored spectator to the book. I truly admire Modesitt for going out on a limb like this. I think that it takes a lot of guts for an author to do something like this, especially in today's overly confined and narrow-minded society. Also, it did a great job of making this book stand out above all others. I read this book a while ago, but it's still vivid in my memory due to its radical and noteworthy style of writing. Chances are that I will remember this book for years to come, both as the absolutely excellent narrative that it was and the exquisite and daring foray into the present tense. Overall, this was a truly excellent book that I would recommend without any hesitation.
Rating: Summary: Understanding & Enjoying the World of Recluse Review: L.E. Modesitt jr's Recluse series is a world of magic and balance. a world that will grab you and make you loss track of time as you are unable to put his Recluse books down. The author, recommends that you read his book in the order of they were published. If you are the person who likes to read the last 50 pages of a book first, and then skip around to different areas of the book as you read it through, then by all means, read the Recluse series in the order of publish. WAIT!..... If you are a reader who truly enjoys finding yourself part of the on going story, as read a series from the start of he story to its end. Then the Recluse series will grab you and not let you go until the conclusion of the series. L.E. Modesitt, jr. has written an 11 books series of the Recluse world so far. This author wrote the Magic of Recluse first. As be has published books, he has jumped around throughout the story time line of the world of Recluse, and put together books of set, and other single books, which he may add another book to that part of the story in a future published book. This author has written the story in books of set, that is the first three book of story: 1st book) "Fall of Angels", 2rd) "The Chaos Balance" & 3rd) "The Tower of the Sunset". Tells the birth and the destruction of kingdom of highly skilled warriors, with the third book leading into the creation of a new kingdom, (Recluse). Then the next book is, 4th book of the World of Recluse) "The Magic Engineer". Then Modesitt, jr. switches to the side of Chaos, and tells a story where the character's of Chaos will became heroes in your eyes too. So with time, you will gain a better understanding of the World of Recluse through the following books: 5th book) "The White Order", & 6th book) "the Color of Chaos". The next set of books tat go together in the World of Recluse, are: 7th book) "The Order War", 8th book) "The Magic of Recluse", & the 9th book) "The Death of Chaos". As for the last two book that the author has written, he has drifted into the life of some of the troops found in the World of Recluse. My $0.02 worth.
Rating: Summary: Keeps one glued! Review: L.E.Modesitts "Recluse" books always fascinate me, but this one was riveting. I could not put this book down and I am a very busy person! He really knows how to write stories about good strong characters and the people that surround the main character. If you want a good read, buy this!
Rating: Summary: Quite good Review: Modesitt had a purpose for this book -- he wanted to explain how and why Recluce was settled, and why the black magicians keep the politics they do. This gives the book more substance than the average fantasy book, and I liked it a lot.The author takes things way too fast in the first 50 pages, though, where he'll spend 3/4-page on a fragment of a conversation between characters that haven't been introduced yet, in order to fill in some piece of history. He continues this until his hero gets old enough to control events. My advice: read the first 50 pages fast, pick up the flavor of events, and savor the rest of the book.
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