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L. E. Modesitt Jr.
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The Magic of Recluce (Recluce series, Book 1) Paperback – May 15, 1992

by L. E. Modesitt Jr. (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,709 ratings
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L.E. Modesitt, Jr.'s The Magic of Recluce begins his bestselling fantasy series the Saga of Recluce, which is one of the most popular in contemporary epic fantasy.

Young Lerris yearns to find a place in the world better suited to his skills and temperament. In Recluce this means taking one of two options: permanent exile from Recluce or the dangergeld, a complex, rule-laden wanderjahr in the lands beyond. Many do not survive.

Lerris chooses dangergeld.

Lerris will need magic in the lands beyond, where the power of the Chaos Wizards reigns unchecked, and he must learn to use his powers in an orderly way before his wanderjahr, or fall prey to Chaos.

Saga of Recluce

#1 The Magic of Recluce / #2 The Towers of Sunset / #3 The Magic Engineer / #4 The Order War / #5 The Death of Chaos / #6 Fall of Angels / #7 The Chaos Balance / #8 The White Order / #9 Colors of Chaos / #10 Magi’i of Cyador / #11 Scion of Cyador / #12 Wellspring of Chaos / #13 Ordermaster / #14 Natural Order Mage / #15 Mage-Guard of Hamor / #16 Arms-Commander / #17 Cyador’s Heirs / #18 Heritage of Cyador /#19 The Mongrel Mage / #20 Outcasts of Order / #21 The Mage-Fire War (forthcoming)

Story Collection: Recluce Tales

Other Series by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
The Imager Portfolio
The Corean Chronicles
The Spellsong Cycle
The Ghost Books
The Ecolitan Matter

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Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 24
    Saga of Recluce
  2. Print length
    512 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Tor Fantasy
  5. Publication date
    May 15, 1992
  6. Dimensions
    4 x 1.25 x 6.5 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0812505182
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0812505184
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Extremely interesting…unique…a refreshing use of the traditional fantasy elements.” ―Andre Norton

“An intriguing fantasy in a fascinating world, with characters that catch you up. Modesitt presents an interesting study of Chaos versus Order, Good versus Evil…and the attractions each of them has for all of us.” ―Robert Jordan

About the Author

L. E. Modesitt, Jr., is the bestselling author of the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce, Corean Chronicles, and the Imager Portfolio. His science fiction includes Adiamante, the Ecolitan novels, the Forever Hero Trilogy, and Archform: Beauty. Besides a writer, Modesitt has been a U.S. Navy pilot, a director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant and staff director for a U.S. Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer. He lives in Cedar City, Utah.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tor Fantasy (May 15, 1992)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 512 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0812505182
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0812505184
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4 x 1.25 x 6.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,709 ratings

About the author

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L. E. Modesitt Jr.

L. E. Modesitt Jr.

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No matter what anyone claims, writers are made, not born, and what and how they write is the result of just how they were made… or how they made themselves. I began by writing poetry, which was published only in small magazines, and then went on to write administrative reports while I was a U.S. Naval aviator, followed by research papers, speeches, economic and technical studies, and policy and briefing papers. Along the way, I’ve been a delivery boy; a lifeguard; an unpaid radio disc jockey; a U.S. Navy pilot; a market research analyst; a real estate agent; director of research for a political campaign; legislative assistant and staff director for U.S. Congressmen; Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues; a college lecturer and writer in residence; and unpaid treasurer of a civic music arts association.

As a result, my writing tends to incorporate all of the above, in addition to the science fiction I read from a very early age. After more than seventy-five published novels, and nearly fifty short stories, it’s fairly clear to me that “what kind of writer” I am for readers tends to depend on which of my books each reader has read.

Along the way, I’ve weathered eight children, a fondness for three-piece suits [which has deteriorated into a love of vests], a brown Labrador, a white cockapoo, an energetic Shih-tzu, two scheming dachshunds, a capricious spaniel, a crazy Saluki-Aussie, and three very individualist cats. In 1989, to escape nearly twenty years of occupational captivity in Washington, D.C., I escaped to New Hampshire. There I was fortunate enough to find and marry a lovely lyric soprano, and we moved to Cedar City, Utah, in 1993, where she directs the voice and opera program at Southern Utah University and where I attempt to create and manage chaos in the process of writing.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
1,709 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

army wife
5.0 out of 5 stars Great update
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2024
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I love the large paperback version of this. It's not to heavy, the font is also a great size, easy on my eyes. Also this is some of the best fantasy out there.
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Cmart
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun read to begin a big fantasy world.
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2019
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This has been one of my favorite series when I was in college and I had the opportunity to reread this again and it did not disappoint. I love the fantasy system of order and chaos and how they play off one another. Modesitt does a very nice job of created a character in Lerris that we can become involved with an appreciate. It is a fun read and quick with a story that moves well. It does come to an end a little quickly for me but for a first book in a series it does not seem to do more or less than what I would expect.
My one disappointment with the series is the lack of continuation with the characters as you move between the books but does not impact me too much to create a sour taste in my mouth.
A fun read for fantasy enthusiasts. It does not create any major impacts in the fantasy landscape but is a solid entrance into the genre.
5 people found this helpful
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christine lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars finally explanations
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2013
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This, the first one, must be the sixth or seventh Recluce book I've read, and it makes the others much clearer retrospectively. It has more energy than some of the later books, and less tiring repetition about meals. As other reviewers have noted, there are irritating mannerisms here, such as the ....middle of sentences.....,the weird onamatopeic noises, clunch, whee, thunk, and so on. Yet it is a very good read, good plot, and appealing hero. And the author's moral concern is always present, which is an appealing contrast to many other sci fi sagas. The world building is pretty good, too, and remains consistent throughout the series. The storyline seems at first similar to other magic powers oriented books, but it is always fascinating to read about someone coming to their full strength, learning by mistakes on the way. The Bildungsroman theme recurs again in the later books The White Order, and in Wellsprings of Chaos, but is always fresh and credible.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for Modesitt
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2022
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I've read this book five times. It establishes the world of Recluce in a way that is reminiscent of George R. R. Martin's epic novel series A Game of Thrones. Characters, politics, motivations, and morality come to life in this magical adventure. It's not your typical fantasy, as it's mostly human.... and lion and tigers and bears oh my. But the magic use is extremely developed and well thought. Totally worth a read.
One person found this helpful
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Mycroftxxx
4.0 out of 5 stars Publisher over values these stories
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2024
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Well written fun story. I gave it 4 * because it did not grip me and interfere with my sleep. The problem is, that the publisher WAAAY over values these stories. $7 for the first book is steep. $13 each for the sequels is ludicrous.
4 people found this helpful
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akp23
5.0 out of 5 stars I love L. E. Modesitt's books so much and this is the one that started it all!
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2012
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L. E. Modesitt is absolutely one of my favorite authors out there. Easily top 3. (He competes with Rothfuss and Sanderson.) What I love most about his writing is not his incredible world building skill, the way that you see his characters grow and develop, or the way in which he presents intricate political subterfuge so brilliantly. No, rather, it is that fact that, literally, over the course of each of his books, I find myself thinking.

Always, I am wondering, "Wow. Is that what I would do? How would I react? Would I make the decision the character just did?" Granted, I am usually too caught up in the story the first time through to really think about much else, but it is the second, third, fourth, fifth... re-reads that find me asking these questions.

As people defending the fantasy genre from the attack, "Well it's just not a story about 'real' things." like to say, "Fantasy is great because we can examine real-world problems within the framework of a fictional world. Modesitt is a master of this. Seriously. I have honest to goodness changed the way I think about the world and my place in it because of this man's writing. I was even in a situation at work one time where I realized that what was happening with my boss was a very close parallel to one of the situations in one of Modesitt's books. I remembered how the main character had handled himself and attempted to model my behavior on his. I was later complemented on how well I had handled myself.

I seriously am not eloquent enough to express how insanely amazing these books are. I think everyone would benefit from reading these. I know I certainly do.

I know that what I've written isn't so much a review of "The Magic of Recluse" 20th anniversary edition, so much as it is a wholehearted endorsement of Modesitt's work, but please forgive me. I'll endeavor to keep this short and sweet.

I first read this book a few years ago and, honestly, identified very much with Lerris's attitude toward the beginning. It seemed idiotic the way people treated him. Granted, he seemed a little whiny, but I don't think he couldn't not be, based on his mindset. I think I used to be a little whiny, too. (Heh. I probably still am.) Anyway, having grown up a bit since the first time I read it, I have to say, it makes a little more sense now. I realize that, while his thought about how he was treated might be valid, his response to that treatment undersored any point he was trying to make. I know this because this book (and all his others) make me think about stuff like that. Seriously. Read his stuff.
10 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

lussrippinger
5.0 out of 5 stars good service
Reviewed in Germany on January 6, 2019
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great
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Vee
5.0 out of 5 stars Great starter
Reviewed in Canada on January 3, 2017
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After readying the second book first I looked high and low for a printed copy of this novel. So glad that Amazon had it. Great start to a long journey of reading ahead of me. Now for the third novel... Great journey so far and easy to read.
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DAMIEN
5.0 out of 5 stars This is the book that got me in to reading
Reviewed in Australia on May 5, 2021
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When I was in primary school I grabbed this book on a whim at a white elephant stall for a dollar. May not be the best book in the world but it was perfect to resonate with a teenager that was bored with everything. Bought this as a gift for my little sister who has started getting interested in reading.

If you love this book the other positive thing is the author wrote functionally the same book like... 20 other times with variations on the setting in a way that explores the great world he created.
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Chris Schilling
5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT READ
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 17, 2015
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I have read the recluse and corean books over many years usually when I could get them in the library so not necessarily in order. These days I am a kindle reader so can catch up on the ones missed... Such as this one. It did not disappoint. I am sure I will read it again and again. Great plot, engaging with a proper ending but now I need to get the second book about Lerris which I think I have read before .... Can't wait.
2 people found this helpful
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Heisenberg
4.0 out of 5 stars Great concept
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 28, 2023
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Well written gentle fantasy
One person found this helpful
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