Rating: Summary: Very good history for the Recluse Saga Review: If you're reading this 6th book of the Recluse Saga, you probably know what to expect from this series by now. For many, however, this is the first book read of the series because, chronologically, it is the first. (By the way, I have read that the author would prefer us to read them in the order they were published). Regardless, I found it to be quite a good story, quite capable of standing on its own. Modesitt has flirted with blending science and fantasy elements together with his magic engineers, but now he brings that tactic to the forefront with his marooned spacecraft and crew becoming the leaders of a low-tech culture. The entire Recluse series has epic qualities and this novel is essential for the full effect. I only gave it four stars for the same reason as other novels in this series. There are too many times when the plot drags. Details are very good to have in a novel, but how many times is it necessary to tell us they are having dry, crusty bread for dinner? I like these sorts of mundane details because it really makes the characters real, but I would prefer there to be some variety. Anyway, that is my only real beef and overall, I think you will enjoy The Fall of Angels.
Rating: Summary: Ancient history brought to life! Review: In earlier books of the Recluce series we hear bits and pieces of Nylan. Fall of Angels though, really brings the time to life. Over and over in the earlier books we hear of the angels and the Legend. It's never really explained however. This book brings it all into focus.Learning how the Angels got there, why they created Westwind and actually experiencing its beginning was really fun. Obscure facts are brought into focus and the reason for certain things becomes apparent. If you've ever wondered, why did the Angels build in such a cold and distant place, how did they get by without men, what's the legend really about, what was Ryba's curse like, read this book now. It will answer all those questions, and more, it will tell the story the way it really happened, from the point of view of someone who was there.
Rating: Summary: Good, not great.. Review: Is it just me, or do all these books get repetitive? All the white wizards are nothing but cardboard cutouts; they're exactly the same in every Recluce book. I enjoyed the 'present day story' (books 1 and 5 and to some extent 4) because the story and characters were fairly real. But all the books that take place in the past are just sketched-in stories with one-dimensional characters. Nylan is the only one here that really seems human, and all the other characters seem like props. There are a couple good points made about war and fighting etc., but once they're repeated 12 times every other chapter it just sounds like a whole lotta preaching. The series is fairly good overall, but I won't call it great.
Rating: Summary: Even further back in time. Good, but predictable. Review: The Fall of Angels chronicles the arrival of the Angels on the world of Recluce, the founding of Westwind, and the birth of the Legend. The book follows the same general theme as most of the previous books, with an Order-mage/engineer forging weapons with which to defend against the forces of Chaos. I really liked the characters in the book, and Modesitt brings out his best a far as dialogue and character interaction. While the book was really fun to read and and the story line progressed smoothly and quickly, I thought that it was very predictable (thus the sub 5-star rating). I mean, considering the fact that the reader knows that Westwind survives and that the Legend lives on, there weren't really too many possible outcomes for this one. Also, with Ryba's foresight, she kept predicting occurances that would come later in the book. I'd really be interested in reading more about Heaven itself.
Rating: Summary: Even further back in time. Good, but predictable. Review: The Fall of Angels chronicles the arrival of the Angels on the world of Recluce, the founding of Westwind, and the birth of the Legend. The book follows the same general theme as most of the previous books, with an Order-mage/engineer forging weapons with which to defend against the forces of Chaos. I really liked the characters in the book, and Modesitt brings out his best a far as dialogue and character interaction. While the book was really fun to read and and the story line progressed smoothly and quickly, I thought that it was very predictable (thus the sub 5-star rating). I mean, considering the fact that the reader knows that Westwind survives and that the Legend lives on, there weren't really too many possible outcomes for this one. Also, with Ryba's foresight, she kept predicting occurances that would come later in the book. I'd really be interested in reading more about Heaven itself.
Rating: Summary: A slow starter that progresses into a work of art! Review: The only complaint I have with "Fall of Angels" is its first four chapters. To be honest, I found myself a bit disappointed with Modesitt. The previous books of this series were easy going, straight forward, and a pleasure to read. "Fall of Angels," however, immediately immerses you up to your ears in fabricated technilogical terms and ideas. I, personally, found it so boring, and difficult to follow, two or three times I thought I'd just throw the book away. Fortunately, I gave Mr. Modesitt the benefit of the doubt, and was richly rewarded. Anyway, rather than giving a vivid account of the pages within, I leave it to the readers to judge for themselves. Let me just say, in my humble opinion, if you can hold out till chapter five, it truly is a work of art.
Rating: Summary: Series Getting Better and Better! Review: The Recluce series just keeps getting better and better, as L.E. Modesitt continues to expand on the history of this fascinating realm. The sixth book in this series, Fall of Angels, would chronologically be the first book. An advanced race of beings from another planet is forced to take refuge in the mountains of Candor in the world we have come to know and love. They are also the ancestors of the people who would come to inhabit and rule Recluce. The story focuses on what these beings have to do to survive on a technologically primitive world. There are all kinds of questions raised about gender relations and the use of force as a controlling mechanism. There is a lot of good dialogue and a lot of good action. This is a fine book and the best of the Recluce series so far. Nice going, Mr. Modesitt!
Rating: Summary: Great but Frustrating Review: This book of the angels, who creat WestWind, the only place on candar that is called the roof of the world. On the roof of the world is the only place these angels can live. But, the local goverment will not give it up an thus a fight for survival starts. I personaly do not like the fact that in this book Modesitt, has portraed that in this culchure the only way to realy survive is to be female. If you are not you are a stud. (not the cool macho type but the type that there for breading pruposes only then discarded) I personaly do not like this aspect and I am happy to tell you to read The order war then read The Magic Engineer. Bolth tell of West Wind and tragities that end up happing to it.
Rating: Summary: Best of a so-so series Review: This book, along with "The Chaos Balance", are the only two books I would recommend to anyone who is interested in the Recluse Series. Although the same main character type is used once again in these two books (Fall of Angles and The Chaos Balance) as in the rest of the series, the background information and the supporting characters make these two books enjoyable. Especially when comparing the leader of the Angels (Ryba) against the leader of Lornth (Sillik). The only major fault I have with series, is the lack of maps. The same map is provided to the reader in all of the hard-cover books of this series. Unfortunately, all the different books deals with different historical times of this imaginary world. Thus it is frustrating for the reader to keep track of the main character as he sojurns across the continent of Candar (Candar is where the majority of the stories takes place). If the publisher had read any of the books, he/she would have realized that the names of the countries and towns do not always match the names shown on the map. This is especially egregious in a series where each book represents a different historical period of time. Hint - Names of cities and countries changes as they are either destroyed or absorbed by other civilizations.
Rating: Summary: Magnificent, a Masterpiece !!!!!! Review: This is the first book I have read in the Recluce series and it certainly will not be my last. Modesitt's Fall of Angels is a Science Fiction Fantasy that delivers a descriptive methodical account of a technologically advanced militaristic space force (Angels) that becomes marooned on a less advanced planet. The story is told from the perspective of Nylan; the engineer of the space ship Winterlance. His transition from using "the net" of the Winterlance to using "the local net" of the planet on which he and his comrades are marooned is a central theme within the story. Through his ability to harness this ability of "order", the Angels have a chance to survive a very hostile environment filled with local kingdoms ruled by lords and their white wizards of chaos. The story is filled with stories of heroism and survival and infused with statements of moral and social issues that can can certainly be applied to todays modern society. Though a bit slow in spots, Mr. Modesitt does not let the reader down when it counts. I walked away from Fall of Angels very satisified. Fall of Angels is a book that can stand on its own and I will always consider it a classic in my library.
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