Synopses & Reviews
L. E. Modesitt, Jr. returns to Corus, setting of his recent trilogy (
Legacies,
Darknesses,
Scepters), to begin the epic story of the fall of a great civilization.
Corus has been designed to become the new home of a superior race from a distant world whose very life depends on drawing sustenance from the biological life force of a planet. After changing the climate, they have grown ordinary people to tend the plants and animals, in preparation for their eventual arrival in force. Meanwhile, their plans are supervised by a staff of Alectors, who in effect rule the world. Alectors are bigger, tougher, and have both psychic talents and technology unavailable to the natives.
The time is now fast approaching for the transfer from the old world, nearly bled dry of life force. But neither the Alectors (who will be reduced in status when the real powers arrive) nor the local humans (who seem destined to become no more than cattle, though they know nothing of this) are ready. The tension builds throughout the book, as deeper and deeper levels of complications are revealed.
Review
"A powerful, enthralling and exciting fantasy epic. All the questions of the previous two books (LEGACIES and DARKNESS) are finally answered and all the loose ends are tied up. The protagonist is a hero for going into battle against an enemy that is more powerful than he is. His love for his wife adds a romantic dimension that humanizes the larger than life champion. Scepters is an outstanding fantasy."
--Midwest Book Review on Scepters
"Faster paced than Legacies, Darknesses is, since it concerns multiple states and their political ambitions, much more intricately plotted. Reading Legacies before tackling it is advisable, but because Alucius is like many other Modesitt protagonists, turning the pages to see what the author's current quiet, competent hero will do next is always a pleasure."
--Booklist on Darknesses
"Legacies is for people who enjoy a leisurely reading experience, want to see their characters grow and like to fill in the blanks themselves rather than have the author do it for them. . . . With a likable character in an intriguing land, Legacies is off to a promising start."
--Starlog on Legacies
Review
"Modesitt's fourth entry in his Corean series (after 2004's
Scepters) contain plenty of fine world building and intelligently developed magic. . . .Modesitt fans, knowing what they're in for, will find reaching the end of the challenging fantasy well worth the effort."
--Publishers Weekly on Alector's Choice
"Corus is a fascinating land, full of both new and ancient magic, and the inhabitants are possibly the most fascinating of all, with complex motivations underpinning their every action."
--Romantic Times Bookclub on Alector's Choice
"Readers of its predecessors may most relish this book, which does, however, stand on its own."
--Booklist on Alector's Choice
Review
"Modesitt's fourth entry in his Corean series (after 2004's Scepters) contain plenty of fine world building and intelligently developed magic."
Publishers Weekly
Review
"Corus is a fascinating land, full of both new and ancient magic."
Romantic Times Bookclub
Synopsis
The author returns to Corus, setting of his recent trilogy "Legacies, Darknesses, and Scepters," to begin the epic story of the fall of a great civilization.
Synopsis
Alector's Choice takes place several thousand years before the events chronicled in the
Legacies Trilogy, at the time when Corus is ruled by the Talent-magic of the Duarchy. The Myrmidons of Justice command the skies riding their fearsome pteridons.
As the Alector Colonel of Myrmidons, Dainyl is the fourth highest ranking military officer of the Duarchy. Alectors are a race apart from the normal inhabitants of Corus, from another world. But there is a rebellion brewing against them.
Captain Mykel is a young officer potentially Talented and unaware that, should he ever discover that Talent, his life is forfeit. For Mykel is not an Alector, and only Alectors are allowed to use Talent.
The rebellion spirals out of control, spurred by treachery, corruption, and greed -- and aided by the re-appearance of the ancient soarers, a fragile humanoid race of flying beings thought to have become extinct. A terrible war is brewing, and one, or both of these men are the only ones who might stand against it.
About the Author
L. E. Modesitt, Jr. was born in Denver, CO in 1943. In the years since, he has 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 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; a college lecturer and writer in residence; and unpaid treasurer of a civic music arts association. In addition to his novels -- most notably the Recluce saga, Spellsong series and Corean Chronicles -- Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles (generally with boring titles), columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. He and his wife, a lyric soprano, make their home in Cedar City, UT.