Recluce Tales: Stories from the World of Recluce

The Saga of Recluce #0.5

by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

For over a thousand years, Order and Chaos have molded the island of Recluce. The Saga of Recluce chronicles the history of this world through eighteen books, L. E. Modesitt, Jr.'s most expansive and bestselling fantasy series.

"Essential reading for any fan of the increasingly impressive world that is Recluce." --Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author of The Stormlight Archive

Recluce Tales: Stories from the World of Recluce collects seventeen new short stories and four popular reprints spanning the thousand-year history of Recluce. First-time readers will gain a glimpse of the fascinating world and its complex magic system, while longtime readers of the series will be treated to glimpses into the history of the world.

Modesitt's essay "Behind the 'Magic' of Recluce" gives insight into his thoughts on developing the magical system that rules the Island of Recluce and its surrounding lands, while "The Vice Marshal's Trial" takes the reader back to the first colonists on Recluce. Old favorites "Black Ordermage" and "The Stranger" stand side-by-side with thrilling new stories.

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 (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

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Anthologies

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 2017

About the author

L. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years, then moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where he met his wife. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.

He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very happy to finally get this & read all the stories. They were all very good, but I think they meant more since I'm familiar with the series & got most, if not all, the references to previous stories & characters. Without that, I think it would still be an enjoyable read, though. If I ever get around to rereading the series, I plan to read the stories in chronological order, too. I meant to mark them as I went through, but never got around to it. Hopefully someone will do so.

Update 29Sep2017: I listened to the series in chronological order & then asked the author to place these short stories in the chronology with the novels. He did so & even checked my review with notes on the books & stories. You can find it here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


From Oct2016:
Here's a sneak preview from Tor. I'm excited to see a new book in this series & have pre-ordered it.

This is a great series that Modesitt has slowly writing over more than 2 decades. The books aren't published in chronological order, but hop about in time as he explores order, chaos, & human nature. He recommends reading them in published order & so do I - the first time. They're so good that I've read most several times & enjoy rereads in chronological order. That can be found here, although it was last updated in 2014 so lacks the last couple of books. I think the preview I linked above will fit in third. The published order can be found here.

[William Bentrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recluce Tales by L.E. Modesitt, jr

My only complaint about Modesitt is that he only seems to put out one book a year. I have reviews roughly 30 of his books and have yet to find one that I didn't enjoy. I have frequently noted that I am not a fan of short stories. (Which is ironic as I am working on a collection of short stories of my own.) I made an exception and as always with Modesitt, I am glad I did. The stories were like dropping in for a visit with an old friend.

Reviewing a book of short stories is always cumbersome. You can't review each story or you will bore your own readers to death. Modesitt had a paragraph prior to each story that gave an idea of why he wrote that particular story. It added a nice touch to good stories.

I highly recommend.

Site: http://www.lemodesittjr.com/

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything Modesitt writes. I am completely bowled over by his art. The fantastic worlds he conjures are thought provoking, evocative and totally engrossing. The way he crafts his works always leaves me completely exhausted by the ideas he presents and giddy with amazement and delight.
The introduction, Behind the 'Magic' of Recluce is a must read for all devotees. It is the most important chapter in the book. The clarity and orderedness of Modesitt's thoughts and in turn their application to his writings is a thing of beauty.
The rest of the stories fill out to a nicety to world of Recluce. I was enthralled enough to be considering a re-read of the series which I own in hard copy. And seeing as I love reading by e-reader as that's lighter to carry and easier to fit into my purse, this would be some commitment--but Hey, the world of Recluse is that captivating!

[Randy Pursley · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some good short stories in this book. Unfortunately, it's been so long since I read many of these books from this series, I do not remember much of the surrounding events and characters.

[Patrick St-Denis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading L. E. Modesitt, jr.'s Recluce Tales, a new collection of short stories set in the Recluce universe, was a veritable trip back down memory lane for me. Looking back, I realized that other than Katherine Kurtz's Deryni sequence, the Recluce saga is the fantasy series I've been reading for the longest time. Indeed, I originally bought paperbacks of both The Magic of Recluce and The Towers of the Sunset circa 1992 or 1993. It doesn't make me any younger, that goes without saying. But it's also a testament to just how distinctive and remarkable this series remained for more than two decades.

Once The Death of Chaos was published, Modesitt maintained that no subsequent Recluce book would ever focus on future events. Hence, every new title took place at various periods in the past of the Recluce timeline, each one further fleshing out the already rich historical tapestry which forms the backdrop of this bestselling saga. In and of itself, Recluce Tales offers fans something quite special. Within the pages of a single book, readers are brought back in time and revisit various important eras that have shaped the universe over the course of about two millennia. Even better, two short stories even take us beyond the series' ending.

Here's the blurb:

For over a thousand years, Order and Chaos have molded the island of Recluce. The Saga of Recluce chronicles the history of this world through eighteen books, L. E. Modesitt, Jr.'s most expansive and bestselling fantasy series.

Recluce Tales: Stories from the World of Recluce collects seventeen new short stories and four popular reprints spanning the thousand-year history of Recluce. First-time readers will gain a glimpse of the fascinating world and its complex magic system, while longtime readers of the series will be treated to glimpses into the history of the world.

Modesitt's essay “Behind the ‘Magic’ of Recluce” gives insight into his thoughts on developing the magical system that rules the Island of Recluce and its surrounding lands, while “The Vice Marshal's Trial” takes the reader back to the first colonists on Recluce. Old favorites “Black Ordermage” and “The Stranger” stand side-by-side with thrilling new stories.

Recluce Tales is comprised of seventeen new short fiction pieces, three reprinted short stories (One of them first published in Speculative Horizons, a short anthology I edited for Subterranean Press a few years back), plus one essay elaborating on how the magical system and the series were born. The tales are presented in chronological order, which works perfectly. I must point out that this collection is not a good jumping point for new readers. For them, each story would be little more than vignettes and wouldn't make a whole lot of sense without context. This book is meant to be cherished by long-time fans who have always wanted more. Modesitt delivers on basically all fronts, filling in the blanks in the Recluce chronology with several pieces that will resonate with readers and add new layers to what has always been a complex saga.

Personally, I've always had a preference for the distant past of the Recluce universe. It's no surprise then that the short stories I enjoyed the most were those occurring many years prior to the events of The Magic of Recluce and The Death of Chaos. Modesitt immediately had me, hook, bait, and sinker, with the very first piece, "The Vice Marshal's Trials." It takes place prior to the founding of Cyador. "Madness?" occurs during the early history of Lydiar and "The Forest Girl" features Alyiakal before he became a legendary historical figure. "The Choice" elaborates on the history of the Emperor and his consort from Magi'i of Cyador and Scion of Cyador. "The Most Successful Merchant" is an unlikely love story that was unexpectedly interesting.

"Heritage" is one of the best pieces in this collection and recounts the destruction of Cyador through the eyes of the clairvoyant Empress Mairena. This one works as a prequel for Cyador's Heir and Heritage of Cyador. It was fun to reread "The Stanger" because I'm the one who edited it and first put it in print in 2010. It features a protagonist that disappeared before the end of Fall of Angels and explains how the expensive black wool came to be. "Songs past, Songs for those to come" features a well-known druid and how his machinations will have great repercussions in the years to come. "Sisters of Sarronnyn; Sisters of Westwind" is the very first Recluce short story Modesitt ever wrote and takes us back to the events chronicled in The Towers of the Sunset. Not only is it one of the best short fiction pieces in Recluce Tales, but it was an amazing treat to revisit Creslin and Megaera around the time of the birth of Recluce. These four stories are the most powerful found in this book and are worth the cover price on their own.

What comes next takes place closer and closer to the "present" of the Recluce timeline and doesn't pack the same kind of punch. "Artisan--Four Portraits and a Miniature" follows the life of an artist named Jyll, but it also features a younger Dorrin when he was known as the toymaker. This began as an odd one, but it ends on a strong note years after the founding of Nylan. In "Armsman's Odds," Asoryk and Daasn save a black mage from a trap set by a white mage. "Brass and Lacquer" also occurs in Nylan and is a tale of deception and its consequences. In "Ice and Fire," a young man uses order to help heal his aunt. "A Game of Capture" demonstrates how black engineers and order mages protect the secrets of the black ships. "The Assistant Envoy's Problem" felt kind of weird at the beginning, but it was nice to discover how Erdyl, Envoy of Austra in Brysta, managed to obtain trained guards to guard his residence without breaking the law.

"The Price of Perfect Order" is another quality tale in which black mages go to great lengths in order to protect their secerets and the price one must pay if they are caught stealing forbidden knowledge. It was great to find out more about Cassius' backstory and how he came to arrive in Recluce in "Black Ordermage." Not sure exactly how "Burning Duty" ended up in this collection. Stefanyk, one of the Prefect's guards, puts his career on the line by trying to salvage a magical chair meant to be burned. "Worth" provides answers to anyone who ever wondered what happened to Wrynn after The Magic of Recluce. And "Fame" closes the show and is a decidedly anticlimactic piece that takes place years following the events of The Death of Chaos. Yet it does show that fame is usually ephemeral.

As is habitually his wont, Modesitt came up with another intelligent, thoughtful, and entertaining read without unnecessary bells and whistles. Once again, Recluce Tales is adult fantasy by an author in perfect control of his craft and his universe. Like fine wine, L. E. Modesitt, jr. only gets better with time.

For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some really interesting short stories in here for Recluce fans. Be sure to have read ALL of the previous novels or you are going to be completely lost.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this collection of short stories set in the world of Recluce, only four have been previously published. These stories aid in answering some questions about the Recluce series and aid in filling in the timeline. It was an enjoyable read for me.

[Carol Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEGINNINGS AND BACK STORIES

I am a long time fan of Recluse that means I wonder about side characters, how things began, what happened after. This book answers some of those questions in classic Modesitt style.

[Emelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF

I just could not finish this book.
My apologizes....I tried, I really tried.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The short stories had a very good variety. There is a 50+ page novella in the middle of the book that was excellent, my favorite part of the collection. I like how Modesitt Jr. tied some of the stories together, related some of the stories back to other novels, and left some of them to stand on their own merit.

I would recommend this to any Recluce fan. However, it does contain spoilers if you have not read all of the other Saga of Recluce novels.

[Owlsinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. I don't usually read collections of short stories, since they end before you can get fully involved with the characters. Some of the settings were from books I'd read several years ago and, although they were revealing background info, or "whatever happened to...", I had trouble remembering where they fit in. Except for the chair; once he mentioned the fountain and strange goings-on, I got it, and could appreciate the story. Otherwise, meh.

[Eamonn Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Recluce Tales’ is a book of twenty short stories and one essay set in the world of Modesitt’s best-selling ‘Recluce Saga. The essay and three of the stories, ‘Sisters Of Sarronyn, Sisters Of Westwind’, ‘The Stranger’ and ‘Black Ordermage’ have appeared before. There are seventeen new ones here. Some of the stories seem to have been prompted by readers’ queries about particular characters, some by Modesitt’s own whims.

The book opens with the essay ‘Behind The Magic Of Recluce’ which explains the principles of the enchantment used. The order and chaos of Recluce are essentially a fantastical twist on atomic theory with chaos being the energy and order the solid force that binds it together. Both need to be in balance. When they get out of kilter the world experiences a large and uncomfortable ‘correction’, rather like the free market after the bankers have had their jollies for a decade or so. Modesitt started the saga because he thought that the secondary worlds in fantasy lacked a sense of political and economic realism. To be fair, most Hobbit lovers probably weren’t terribly worried about that but, by injecting it, he’s given the genre another level of interest.

The stories are presented in chronological order, which the saga in novels isn’t as it skips about all over the place. The first story, ‘The Vice Marshal’s Trial’, was interesting as it establishes that some of the humans on the world of Recluce came from a universe with Science Fiction technology, as we understand it, of starships and so forth. Their drives have been fused to slag in the freak ‘translation’ that bought them to this world. Vice Marshal Kiedral Daloren sets off to find an exploration party which vanished in the Great Forest while trying to build a road. The forest has trees that can grow ten years’ worth in three months. Kiedral makes a start at understanding the strange laws of physics that apply in this new world.

Both Kiedral and the forest reappear in ‘The Forest Girl’, one Alyiakal is being trained in arms by his father, a major in the Mirror Lancers. The forest is held at bay by salted earth but he meets a dark-haired girl named Adayal, who shows him it isn’t so terrible.

In ‘The Choice’, we meet Toziel, son of the Dowager Empress of Cyador, who tells him he has no power in chaos or order and so must choose his consort carefully. ‘Trust the book’, she says. The book is ‘Meditations Upon The Land Of Light’ by Kiedral Daloren, Vice-Marshal, Anglorian Unity. The Saga of Recluce covers 1800 years of history and characters have often achieved legendary status a few centuries after their death.

Toziel chooses well but Cyador falls eventually. Fortunately, the Empress, Lady Mairena of Light and Healing, sees it coming. She can’t tell her stubborn husband and can’t plan too much for a vision that might not come true but she does manage to get a few ships prepared so that when disaster strikes, she can escape with her son the heir, his sister, some loot and a force of soldiers. A nice bit of background to the novels ‘Cyador‘s Heirs’ and ‘Heritage Of Cyador’.

It has often struck me that old western plots can be adapted to fantasy worlds as both genres incline to clear cut good and bad guys in lawless lands. ‘The Stranger’ is a western. Frankyr and his Ma are sheepherders, far from town, and when a black-garbed man rides up offering coppers for room and board they take him in. Then four bad guys show up to kill him. Apparently, a supplement to the novel ‘Fall Of Angels’, this is pretty darn good.

So is ’Worth’, later in the book, when lean, sword-wielding Wrynn shows up in Llyssen, Southwind. She’s a blade for hire but there ain’t much call for that around these here parts so she ends up doing carpentry for the hostelry. The local sheriff, sorry Patroller, is wary of her but won’t worry as long as she breaks no laws. She’s a woman, too. There’s a strong feminist streak in Modesitt’s writing with the men not infrequently behaving like fools until corrected by the saner sex. I enjoyed both these yarns but, hell, I like westerns.

John Wayne did pretty darn good at school and was lined up for a scholarship. Big men are often taken for fools. I cite Cassius Barca Samuels for this, a six-foot-four black man who was fighting a fire on the flight deck of a navy ship in the Viet Nam War when the smoke cleared and he was on a completely different ship. Instinctively, he picks up a staff and fights off the attacking force. He ends up imprisoned with a lady called Kytrona, who has to teach him both the local lingo and order skills if they are to have any hope of escape. His ‘translation‘ to the world of Recluce was a bit odd but fantasy writers have used wardrobes, mirrors, caves and railway stations to get there so we won‘t quibble. ‘Black Ordermage’ was one of the best in the book.

‘Order! Order!’ Like a stern judge, that’s the battle cry on the Isle of Recluce, sanctuary of the men in black and women, too. Modesitt frequently states that readers who mistake order for good are making an error and the balance is what counts. Even so, in every tale, he gives away his preference for keeping things tidy. Craftsmen are greatly respected. Creslin is esteemed for his stonework in ‘Sisters Of Sarronyn, Sisters Of Westwind’ in which early days on the black isle are seen through the eyes of a minor character. ‘Artisan – Four Portraits And A Miniature’ displays similar sympathies, as does ‘Brass And Lacquer’, the story of a shop girl who learns the price of deceit. Modesitt’s heroes are invariably efficient, hard-working, frugal, prudent and neat. Moreover, they are part of an organised society and have superiors. They fit into a social order. Nowhere do you get the impression that barbarism is the natural state of mankind, as Robert E. Howard once opined.

As a fan of both short stories and of L.E. Modesitt, Jr., I was curious to know how he would perform at lesser length. He usually writes stonking great novels of five hundred pages. It was also a matter of interest whether or not ‘Recluce Tales’ would make sense to someone not so familiar with ‘The Saga Of Recluce’. I’ve read only a few of the seventeen or so books in that epic. I am happy to report that Modesitt does good shorts but must say I think some familiarity with Recluce is essential. Don’t treat this as an introduction to the series. Graham Greene called short stories ‘chips from the novelist’s block’ or something like it (I can‘t find the exact quote anywhere). These tales are chips from particular blocks and, if you know the main story, the chips make more sense. Fans of Recluce will love it, I think. Others might have a read of the novels and the author recommends starting with ‘The Magic Of Recluce’.

Eamonn Murphy
This review first appeared at https://www.sfcrowsnest.info/

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a collection of out of context snippets from the Recluce series. I slogged through the first few, then started skimming faster and faster until I gave up. Some that I read were charming, but it has been too long since I was last in this world to remember names, places, or events.

[S.B. (Beauty in Ruins) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Saga of Recluce has to be one of the more interesting, and more intriguing, fantasy sagas currently going. We're talking 18 full-length novels, all set in the same world, but only loosely connected. The series doesn't follow any single storyline or cast of characters, and is entirely non-linear, jumping instead through history and across the world with each book.

With Recluce Tales, L.E. Modesitt Jr. provides a series of short-stories that further flesh out the history of the world, filling gaps between stories, expanding on the backstory of characters, and telling entirely new stories. Given the nature of the saga, this is a book that's perfect for new readers and fans alike, introducing the former to Modesitt's world, and entertaining the latter with an expanded understanding. Of the 21 stories contained herein, only 4 are reprints, with the other 17 being brand new stories to delight and amaze.

Behind the ‘Magic’ of Recluce, the introductory essay by Modesitt, is absolutely essential reading. It explains how he came up with the concept, what he wanted to do with the world, and how it differs from most epic fantasy. As he explains, it's a series that spends a lot of time exploring things like the nature of magic, the idea of Order versus Chaos, and the economic system of a fantasy realm. It sounds dry and boring, but it's actually a fascinating approach that brings a sci-fi sense of worldbuilding to an epic fantasy saga. The Vice Marshal's Trial, the first story in the collection, deliberately extends that concept, turning the clock back to expose the very sci-fi origins of the world.

I won't go into detail on each story, but I will say the variety here is just as wide and varied as you would expect. There were a few stories that I skipped over because of potential spoilers, but for the most part I didn't feel like I was missing anything for being halfway through the series. While I expected to enjoy the most traditional fantasy stories the most, and they were all consistently strong, I found myself most curious about the stories that reached far back into history. The Forest Girl and The Most Successful Merchant were early favorites, alongside Songs past, Songs for those to come and Sisters of Sarronnyn; Sisters of Westwind, while Armsman's Odds and The Price of Perfect Order were my favorite explorations of the Black Mages.

Recluce Tales are not your traditional sword-and-sorcery or high-fantasy tales, and they're all the more entertaining for being so unique. The Saga of Recluce is almost a genre on its own, and this collection beautifully captures what makes it so compelling. Definitely recommended.


Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for review consideration. This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my review.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recluce Tales: Stories from the World of Recluce is a selection of short fiction from L.E. Modesitt Jr, set in his long running Recluce universe. The stories fill in gaps in the chronology between the published novels, and focus either on side-characters from those stories, or entirely new perspectives. The short version is that these tales add context and texture to the larger tapestry; though they do stand on their own, they also benefit from a knowledge of the existing series.
So, why would you read this? Well, I’ll start with this. There’s a tale here from the very start of the world of Recluce. A world settled by people from outside, from other dimensions, other quantum strands, whose ships have been shifted into this space, whose technology is slowly failing, who have no choice but to set themselves at the task of building a new society. But detail on that first group of settlers, those who founded an Empire, whose antecedents ruled, large sections of the world as Cyador...detail on those people has been extremely sparse. A historical artifact here. An ancient “chaos tower” there, still creakingly humming with old science, no longer replicable, in deep decay. But nothing tangible. The first story in this collection, The Vice Marshal’s Trial, changes that for us. From internal monologue, from snatches of half heard discussion and asides, we draw ourselves a portrait of a people in crisis, a divided leadership, and a sense of poignant loss. And at the same time, there’s a story here. Not a gentle one, perhaps, but inexorable, the story of a person stepping onto an unfamiliar path, trying to be as much themselves as they can and survive. Modesitt has always excelled at giving Recluce a human face, and in showing that what may seem like good and evil, or diametrically opposed sides, are, well, people. Flawed and struggling in the structures of their time.


So it is with the first story in this collection, and so it is with the rest. They show off hidden corners. They tell us what happened to the forgotten characters, or the trailing ends of different stories. Even while the mainline books were giving us a larger story, these vignettes are more intimate in their brevity, and show that other stories are, perhaps, just as important. At least ot the people living them. Slices of life from every era of Recluce are here - from the Rational Stars, to the end of Cyador, to the rise of Recluce, and the end of the balance. Perhaps a handful of pages, perhaps a little more, flashes of life and love and tragedy intertwined, giving us stories that show us what happens outside the spotlight, and that there’s still truth to be found there.


I think you could read these without knowing the world of Recluce. They have Modesitt’s perfectly honed prose, which builds the prosaic into the numinous. They have the characters who feel whole, even in these flashes of their lives. And it has enough of Recluce, of the world of Candar, to feel real, feel whole. And from this you’ll find stories which can bring out tears and laughter, right enough. Though they may feel a little lacking. But if you come to it with that longer history in mind, you’ll know their contents and shapes - what has or will happen. And that can make both these new stories and those already told take different shapes - a joy indeed.


This is an interesting collection, and one that I think a first time reader could dip into in order to get a feel for the Recluce series, and Modesitt’s style of writing. But it’s also something for those who want to delve into these offcut gems, which will make the mainline tales shine all the brighter.

[Mark Muckerman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Profoundly disappointing. . .

What could have been a great anthology of short stories and one-offs to both fill in gaps and further expand the Recluse universe, instead comes off as a throw-away effort of thin, undeveloped thoughts that range from a few well-developed gems to a majority of muddled, incomplete threads of idea that read like a mess of post-it notes jammed together.

Even the shortest of short stories has a plot or a point, and too many of these miss that mark, or are so rooted in obscure references as to fall short of enjoyability.

Finally, and disappointingly. . . Modesitt wraps up this collection with two throwaway works that are both vapid and pandering.

A wholly disappointing addition to a collection I have LOVED for decades. I hope this is not a bellwether of a decline in original quality of content, or a 'collaboration' evolution that has ruined so many other authors' great canons (Clive Cussler, anyone???)

The optimist in my will call this one a well-intentioned effort that missed the mark, and I'd like to see another run at an anthology of short stories. . . just a better quality of output.

[Raven Tyjha · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was very.... interesting. The writing was neat and the author showed a skillful knack for description that caught my interest quickly. This was an impressive feat since the book itself just wasn't working for me.

My problem was Mr. Modesitt writes like he's writing sci-fi. Which is totally cool, but I don't read sci-fi because the writing style is very different then fantasy. Sci-fi is written with a particular attention to detail and a grasp of realistic logistics that just frankly, doesn't matter in fantasy. In my opinion at least.

So as to not spoil anything, I'll be vague, but the very first story is dealing with an officer of some type dealing with clearing a unnatural forest and trying to catalog the dangers of a new environment and figure out why some of the tech they'd brought wouldn't work. Instead of 'Magic' just substitute a science element like 'electromagnetic field' and it's a sci-fi.

Sorry just not my cup of tea.

The authors note explains this quirk rather well actually and I'll leave it up to you if you wanna read it or not.

[Josiah DeGraaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who hasn't read any of Modesitt's other works (I realllllly want to read Magic of Recluce but my library system doesn't have it and my budget hasn't made space for it yet, grr), this book was a bit of a mixed bag. A third of the stories had great themes & interesting characters and I really enjoyed them. A third of the stories I was indifferent on, and a third of the stories I was just confused by given my relative unfamiliarity with the rest of the world. I suspect an avid reader of Modesitt's body of work would get a lot more out of this. As-is, for a reader brand-new to Modesitt, this short story collection had some good parts, but was also a bit confusing.

Rating: 3 Stars (Fairly Good).

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised to find that I enjoyed these short stories more than the full Recluse novels I've read so many of. What they helped me to identify is that one of the things I appreciate most about Modesitt are his ethics. He can't seem to help himself from sharing stories that teach his ethics, but in the novels it can take longer to get the entire message. In short story form, he gets to the lessons almost immediately. He's a great teacher, and I found myself loving him and his craftsmanship all over again through this collection.

This collection is especially rewarding for those who can remember what they have read in previous Recluse novels. It helps that the short stories (and some novellas) appear in chronological order.

[J.C. Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I loved the book. However, the reason I rated it so low is when compared with the rest of the series it flounders around and falls relatively flat. It is my opinion that many of the short stories in this book would have made excellent novels in the Recluce Series. The introduction to some of the stories made me sad as a reader and author. Especially where he talks about his editor asking him not to write about one of the major events in the Recluce Universe.

In conclusion, if you have read most/all of the Recluce Novels I'd say read it. If on the other hand, you are new to the series I would recommend Fall of Angels or Magic of Recluce as a starting point.

[Clay Kallam · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general, short story collections are bound to be a mixed bag. Some you wish would go on longer, and some you can't wait until they end -- and that's true of this collection of tales that span much of the history of the long saga by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

That said, there's lots of background detail in these stories that will interest devoted readers (of which I am obviously one) but nothing is revealed that's really critical to understanding the overall arc of Modesitt's series.

So if you're a fanatic, "Recluce Tales" are worth the read; if not, just skip this and move on to the next full-length book.

[Mary Soon Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Recluce Tales" contains twenty stories set in the world of Modesitt's fantasy series, "The Saga of Recluce."I enjoyed several of the stories very much, especially "The Most Successful Merchant," "The Stranger," "Ice and Fire," and "Worth." And I appreciated the extra perspective on several of the characters and events of the series. Overall, however, I liked this less than Modesitt's novels. What I've enjoyed most in his fiction is becoming immersed in the life of a likable main character, and short stories don't allow for a lengthy immersion.

[Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Modesitt, you may enjoy this book. Some of the stories were entertaining and answered reader questions from the overall Recluce series. However, some of the stories were probably part of a larger work (like a novel) and had been edited out of the final work. Now, these pieces were molded to stand alone in the form of a short story. Some of the stories you felt like they were over before you found yourself properly grounded and invested in the eventual tale. I read it because I am a Recluce fan, but I doubt I will ever pick it up again.

[Steve Pillinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a volume of short stories. I didn't read every one of them; I dipped into it from time to time. Eventually I stopped because basically I don't much enjoy reading short stories. The ones I read were well up to Modesitt's usual standard—so there was nothing wrong with the writing, just that I got tired of the short story format. Also, I seldom remembered the details from the full-length novels that these were fleshing out. I've read all of them, but many of them a long time ago; the only reason I got this book was because of my high regard for the Recluce saga.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read most of the Recluce books, so getting hold of this collection of short stories set in that universe was a treat. The opening essay on the creation of Recluce was interesting for the background it provided. The stories varied in interest to this reader, but the overall effect was quite readable. Having Modesitt provide a brief scene setting for each story was a very nice touch as was having the stories in chronological order. If you read the Recluce books, you will want to read Recluce Tales.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

The great thing of this series is that there are so many characters and so much history that all interweaves together into a really large universe. This is a book about odds and ends and it's fine. It held my attention the entire time and mostly intrigued but never dazzled. The foreword from the author about his thoughts on the book is essential to anyone who has spent this much time in the universe as I have.

I like this universe, I want to spend time in it. It's not whether this was an amazing book it's just comfortable spending time here at this point.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of short stories set in the world of Recluse. How lovely! Revisiting characters with some back story, filling in some history, and meeting some new residents of the world. I can't think of a better way to spend my reading time. Some day I hope he solves and shares the riddle of the Rational Stars and where the Angels come from, but in the mean time getting lost in LE Modesitt's writing is a treat worth savoring. Nice way to pass the time waiting for the next Imager book.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these more than his previous book of short stories, which were mostly not set in Recluce. It probably helps that I've read ~16 novels set in Recluce, so the short stories didn't have to do too much heaving lifting in the worldbuilding department. I don't know what it would be like to read if you hadn't read the novels, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. Fun glimpses of people and places that have mostly only been hinted at before, as well as following up with a few old friends.

[Stuart Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of these stories were terrific and I wanted more. They were not all brilliant in that some of them were too short and should have contained more storyline rather than leaving you hanging. I did read this book at the correct time though, after I had read every other Recluce novel out there, otherwise there are obvious spoilers in these. Nonetheless well written once again.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to agree with one of the previous reviewers. Short story collections have good and not so good stories. Many of the ones in here were quite good and helped fill in the back story that had never been written. I have to say the final story was quite poignant - no one remembered the hero’s name or seemed to care. A welcome addition to the Recluce saga. They are always a favorite.