Imager

The First Book of the Imager Portfolio

By: L. E. Modesitt Jr.

Narrated by: William Dufris

Length: 17 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Although Rhennthyl is the son of a leading wool merchant in L'Excelsis, the capital of Solidar, the most powerful nation on Terahnar, he has spent years becoming a journeyman artist and is skilled and diligent enough to be considered for the status of master artisan - in another two years.

Then, in a single moment, his entire life is transformed when his master patron is killed in a flash fire and Rhenn discovers he is an imager - one of the few in the entire world of Terahnar who can visualize things and make them real.

Rhenn is forced to leave his family and join the Collegium of Imagisle. Because of their abilities (they can do accidental magic even while asleep), and because they are both feared and vulnerable, imagers must live separately from the rest of society.

In this new life, Rhenn discovers that all too many of the "truths" he knew were nothing of the sort. Every day brings a new threat to his life. He makes a powerful enemy while righting a wrong, and he begins to learn to do magic in secret.

Imager is the innovative and enchanting opening of an involving new fantasy story.

©2009 L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (P)2009 Tantor

Slow Start, Narrator requires getting used to.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it is a good storyline even for all the wasted time on what the main character is eating or how many times he describes the door knocker at his betrothed home.

What did you like best about this story?

The idea behind imaging and how it is tolerated and yet not seemingly exploited.

Did William Dufris do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Dufris is passable. He does a terrible job at women, tries to make them all sultry sounding and really cannot do young people very well. His main character comes across more arrogant than I believe the author intended and had I not actually read this book first I would not have known that.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No.

Any additional comments?

Great series but Modesitt should spend less time on what is on the table at dinner time or what type of wine Rhen is ordering and more time in developing the endings which in my opinion have been rushed considering the build up.

Get past the first two chapters - it's worth it

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

At first, I hated his book. I am not a stupid person, but the terminology used left me feeling confused and idiotic. I tried to return the book, but the site had an error. I decided to continue and I am glad that I did. Once I began ignoring his odd use of calendar and time terms it got a lot easier to follow. (Ex: half glass = half an hour) As the book continued, I got very involved in the plot and began to attach to the characters. If you have the will and determination to overlook the first two chapters and allow your mind to "skim" as it is read - the rest of the story is brilliant. If you love magic, science fiction, and the like - you will love this story. I look forward to hunting for more from this author.

Review on Imager Portfolio book 1.

I did love it even more sense I currently have all of the Imager portfolio book set from "Imager" to "Assassins Price". All 11 books. So now I can follow along with the audio book and find all the differences between the two; to-wich i have found in the first book already hence the reason the story has only 4 stars and not 5. Although the books both audio and non-audio are both very good.

loved it

I can not wait for the next book. You also need to read Modesitt's recluse books. I wish they where on Audible to down load.

A great beginning, steeped in math!

Math makes the world go around in Imager. Oligarchs, High holders(extremely wealthy people), factors (merchants), craftsmen, artists, and so much more. The world’s mathematics make the setting far richer than I would’ve ever imagined it could be.

I’m a huge fan of the supporting cast of characters, especially Seliora, who is my kind of lady. Some people will get lost in the names, and I can understand that. Yet, I have rarely tried to keep track of every single name said in a book. Keep to the important people to the perspective character and keep it going.

As for the use of economics in the story, it pulls the world together in a new way for me. The value of coins matters, and the world makes money matter. Unlike some other worlds I’ve read stories about. In most cases, the characters either have money or don’t. You never know how they get it or why they seem to not worry about it. Yet, Rhennthyl explains in small passages throughout the first and second thirds of the story how his life changes financially. It’s a great touch that I intend to swipe unapologetically!

I can appreciate the world building that is on display in this book as well. Steam power exists, and thus everything else can be arranged. Sniper rifles and guns exist. No explanation of design types, but why would you need that? Steam can make guns exist, chemistry isn’t in the forefront, so gunpowder must exist. Any firearm from any world you can imagine can exist here, so in this case he doesn’t need to expose more than their existence. On the flip side is food and wine descriptions, which adds a richness to the world on a more personal level that gives his characters more of a concrete feel. This is a masterclass in first person world building.

I’m in for the first three books for certain. On to book 2.

Oh, and by the by, the performance by Mr. Dufris was well done, and I enjoyed it.

Great world-building and magic system!

A talented journeyman portrait artist and son of a successful merchant, his life upended is forced to choose between certain failure in his current profession, or to take a gamble and train as an Imager (sorcerer) on Imagisle. A highly dangerous, unpopular and unknown profession.

This is a great place to start for readers new to Modesitt. It's a relatively smaller series, one of his better books, and a good example of his style of writing.

Modesitt creates an interesting world and goes into depth on the politics, economy, culture and religion of the world. The magic system is top notch, incredibly detailed and believable. He walks the perfect line between magic powerful enough to be interesting, but limited enough that he doesn't write himself into a corner where his foes have to be gods to challenge him and any problem can be solved as easily as snapping fingers.

If you want to immerse yourself a great new world, if you are looking for an interesting and great magic system, then this book is for you.

Great book.

William Dufris is a great narrator. Each character is differentiated very well.

ill definitely try the 2nd one.

The story was good. a little slow but worth the wait. It is definitely a set up story for the rest of the series. ill continue in the folio. The narrator was good. The voices weren't as varried as some other narrators and the voice he uses for the main character seems a little more pompous than the character should be in my opinion. All in all he was good though. Very consistent.

a great first book in a series

the book is well written and moves along at a great pace. the reader does a great job. I usually don't reread books but this is one that I do

I kept thinking - Get To The Story

I'm going to be short and not so sweet - I love good sci-fi and I'm not averse to YA tales. Some are really great. However I wanted to tell the author to Just Tell The Story. The premise looked interesting but I couldn't wade through the endless introductions of characters, locations and situations. My impatience, I guess, but there are too many enjoyable books in the world to take my time with one that hasn't gotten to the "good stuff" within the first 2 hours.

Great story!

As big name of the wind fans this was a bit slower but we felt happily connected to the characters by the end. Not as gripping, but a great story and we've already downloaded the next one.