There are many great stand-alones in fantasy, but, arguably, the genre is built on series. I guess, when you create an entire new world, just to place your story there, you’re tempted to re-use it 😉 And it pays better, and readers expect it. So, while Tolkien started with trilogy (that he is quoted to think about LotR as one book), his successors published longer and longer series or various length, renown and quality. For me, Belgariad and Dragonlance were gateways into post-tolkienian fantasy, and, after ca. 25 years of reading fantasy, there are still more huge – and reportedly great – series on my TBR.
Recently, I found myself on an extended business trip abroad, with only one book in my luggage (a 900-page one, but still 😉 ) and I visited an excellent second-hand bookshop that offered a pretty complete collection of one of the longest-going fantasy sagas, L.E. Modesitt’s Saga of Recluce. While not featured in most of the top tens, it’s often mentioned as an interesting series of novels, with carefully thought-through magic system and an innovative approach to the issue of chaos/order balance. I’ve always been interested by this last issue, as a huge fan of Zelazny‘s Amber. I bought the first four volumes, and now, after reading the first two, I reached a preliminary verdict.
And Tolkien it ain’t 😉
I mean… in a small dose, it’s entertaining enough, but the greater ambitions of the author are, I believe, unfounded. I’m not terminally bored, as I was after Shannara, or bloodthirsty, as I was after wasting quite a lot of time with The Wheel of Time, but it will be some time before I go for the third and fourth book, already bought, I doubt I’ll ever go beyond that.
Young protagonists of Modesitt have adventures, and they find their place in the great Chaos/Order struggle taking place in this stereotypical fantasy world. A few islands, a few not too diverse cultures, a workable world that would work better with more sophisticated stories and more complex characters.
After two novels I already feel it’s rather formulaic, and I hate redberry juice – for some reason both main protagonists refused alcohol, and the author likes to remind us of that fact way too often.
What do I like? The fact that we get to witness two thousand years of history, see how adventures become legends and myths. Many concepts are intriguing and some of the heroes are even likeable.
But it also feels so simplistic, with wooden, uninspiring dialogues and characters that are driven not internally, but by the demands of the plot. The great philosophical/magical conflict is told, not shown, and I felt I actually got too many details, too soon. Sanderson is much more subtle with his systems of magic – and that’s telling something! And, despite the promise of something that would go beyond simple good vs. evil, it’s been just that so far, with evil Chaos wizards fighting the good ones that serve the Order. With some neutral Grey wizards in the mix, that ultimately support the good guys.
A quote that just made me laugh out loud, and I assume for different reasons than author wanted me to:
Klerris snorts. ‘He doesn’t even know he’s a Black, and he’s tied to a Grey who thinks she’s a White’
Towers if Sunset p. 199
In one of the books, our hero is given a special book by his father. We know it’s crucial that he reads it, multiple people tell him to read it, but somehow he never has time nor will to do it. Until plot demands he knows more about its topic. He gets smart – in this and other areas – not when his experience warrants it, but when Modesitt needs him to. It seemed so artificial to me.
Another complaint… I know people have to eat, and also clothe themselves, at least in the civilized society, but the endless enumerations of food and garments I find boring. Haggling with innkeepers quickly gets repetitive, and usually serves no purpose. It’s a bit like a record of a RPG session, not a dynamic novel where each scene should serve some bigger purpose.
This was not an ordeal, but when I need a bit of traditional, uncomplicated fantasy, I’ll choose Feist or Williams before Modesitt.
Score, after two books: 6/10
Re-enchantment Of The World 
Oh well, one more series I won’t be reading then! I am very grateful to you, Piotrek, for from your review I already gather this series would have me gnashing my teeth 😉
I’m really interested in your review of Wolfe though – hope to read it soon! 😜
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, my…pleasure ;-)?
Wolfe is a much more sophisticated reading, and more difficult to review. But I will get to it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Everything you enumerated in this review is definitely spot on. If you want Chaos as good, then skip to the Cyador duology. But be warned, Modesitt doesn’t change one whit.
The only books of his that I really like and recommend is the first Corean Chronicles trilogy which consists of Scepters, Darknessess and Legacies. And even that has enough of the same problems that you might not like it. But if you’re going to like ANY Modesitt, those might be it.
Or his standalone SF, which is bloviated preaching under the guise of a story. I can’t stand his standalone SF books 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks 🙂 I think I’ll just read the 3rd and 4th book, as they’re already on my shelf…
I’m a bit intrigued by the standalone sfs… do you think it’s my kind of bloviated preaching ;-)?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not super sure, but I “think” you’d like them more than me. I think I read Haze, and also the Octagonal Raven. It was like reading a different author.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tolkien is indeed the modicum for all fantasy writers who came after him, although most even don’t dream of ever equaling his penmanship. Just think of it; inventing several different languages AND their grammar for the sole purpose of some fantasy world building. And at the same time to work this novel into some allegory about the then upcoming fascism? Telling an entertaining story without pushing his erudition through the reader’s throat?
The biggest problem I have with most fantasy series is that they read as serialized novels; each part stops somewhere in the middle of some action scene. Also the predictability of the plots nerve me, especially like you pointed out in this case; the reader knows he just has to read this damned book to solve or avoid problem.It takes away a lot of the reading pleasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Modesitt at least gives us complete stories in each novel, at least so far. But boy, does it get predictable…
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of the reasons why I decided to write my own historical fantasy is that I wanted to write something I would have liked to read by myself. It’s only halfway predictable for those who know something about the Mahabharata.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“I’m not terminally bored, ” : I can easily understand your feeling, I don’t know why ? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I often see his name around but could never determine if his books are worth my time or not. I guess I’ll keep it low on my TBR for now. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s certain charm in this, but not enough to counterbalance the weak points, not for me anyway…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been curious about this series for a long time, having enjoyed one of Modesitt’s SF novels several years ago, but the sheer number of books always proved daunting. Now your comparison with Shannara and the Wheel of Time has vanquished whatever shred of interest I had in the series. The final “stone” on the saga’s “tomb” was your mention of repeated information about clothes and food and so on, which to me often sounds like unnecessary filler, and reminds me of those too-often chewed braids of a certain Jordan character… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you find this useful 🙂 Yes, there are some mistakes, I wonder if his writing got better, but I’m reluctant to check…
LikeLiked by 1 person
An interesting review. I’ve been thinking about series, after taking part in your Heavenly Virtues tag, and realised I’ve never managed to get past book 3, so the thought of so many volumes would have made me think twice. Your assessments only confirms that. I do like traditional fantasy though, so I’ll have to check out your alternative recommendations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 🙂 I’m prone to nostalgia, but with such a wealth of fantasy, we can be picky, and there are better series out there…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hurrah! I can strike Modesitt from the list (honestly if I haven’t read him by now I guess it was doubtful I ever would, but still, now I know I don’t have to bother) – thank you!! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
At least sth good came out of me reading that 😉 honestly, though, I don’t regret it, there were nice moments, just not great many of them…
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve taken one for the team. I salute you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm, I think I’ll pass on it. I love fantasy and still consider myself new to the epic ones, but I don’t think I can do the formulaic thing too much. The problems you pointed out would frustrate me too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are better ones out thete, no doubt about it 🙂
LikeLike