Scholar

The Fourth Book of the Imager Portfolio

By: L. E. Modesitt Jr.

Narrated by: William Dufris

Length: 19 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Hundreds of years before the time of Imager, the continent of Lydar is fragmented. Years of war have consolidated five nations into three-Bovaria, Telaryn, and Antiago. Quaeryt is a scholar and friend of Bhayar, the young ruler of Telaryn. Worried about his future and the escalating intrigues in Solis, the capital city, Quaeryt persuades Bhayar to send him to Tilbor, conquered ten years earlier by Bhayar's father, in order to see if the number and extent of occupying troops can be reduced so that they can be re-deployed to the border with warlike Bovaria.

Quaeryt has managed to conceal the fact that he is an imager, since the life expectancies of imagers in Lydar is short. Just before Quaeryt departs, Bhayar's youngest sister passes a letter to the scholar-imager, a letter that could well embroil Quaeryt in the welter of court politics he had hoped to leave behind. On top of that, on his voyage and journey to Tilbor he must face pirates, storms, poisonings, attempted murder, as well as discovering the fact that he is not quite who he thought he was. To make it all worse, the order of scholars to which he belongs is jeopardized in more ways than one.

©2011 L. E. Modesitt, Jr. (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Perhaps the best so far in this consistently fascinating series." ( Kirkus)

Good Book

What made the experience of listening to Scholar the most enjoyable?

This was a good book. A deviation from the main story line, but very enjoyable.

THIS is where the imager series takes off

i have listened to this series soooo many times, not so much the first two, but everything after this yes.

Started slow but ended strong.

Like the first book in the series, it starts out slow and it's a chore to get through. But it dose pick up and we get a great amount of ... I don't want to ruin it, so I'll just say that like chores done as a child, the payment you receive, if not in golds but in enjoyment, is well worth the work you put in. I can't wait to start the next book. In terms of performance, it's the same as in the other three books. The voices are outstanding and you get the emotions that belong with the dialog. I felt like I was watching a play in my head, no doubt that's what it is meant to feel like. I recommend this book to anyone that got this far in the series, and remember, it dose pick up.

A Great start to a continuing series

Where does Scholar rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I really like modesitt's books.

Any additional comments?

This is a continuation of the Imager's story, but continues after many years

Good Series

While it is a great book and a fresh take on the created world as the author is known to do, I do not find it as good as the first three books. that said it is still enjoyable and seeing the ties to the first three books only enhances the story.

A good chance

I was a bit hasetent about the time and character chance but so far it has Ben a good one.

The Best "worst" book I've ever read

What made the experience of listening to Scholar the most enjoyable?

I have read his other imager books and it was nice to get back to that world.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Besides the main character, which is a given, I have to say may favorite character was Lord Byran(excuse me if I spelled his name wrong, I've only listened to the book). Lord Byran is set up as this tyrannical personality, but most of that seems to stem from the main characters fear of him.

Have you listened to any of William Dufris’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not that I noticed.

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

The very end of the book.

Any additional comments?

I have read all of Modesitt's 100 kindom books, the first 4 of his corean chronicles, the first 2 of his spellsong, and am currently listening to his magic of recluse series. I must say that so far I have loved everything he has written. That is why I am disappointed to say that while this book is as well written as his others, there was very little substance. two-thirds of the book is background. It finally gets exciting near the end. That said I did finish listening to it and intend to listen to its sequel. I just recommend multitasking with this one.

Another exeptional read

Quaeryt, secretly an imager of questionable skill and a professed scholar persuades Bhayar, a school friend, and ruler to send him to Tilbor. Quaeryt has never received formal imager training as there is just trial an error if you want to keep it secret. This is in itself is a challenge, throw in the challenges of the journey a number of competing and powerful land owners with different perspectives on the future of Tilbor and a Governor of questionable character we have the makings for a great story. I absolutely enjoyed this book. The flow of the book is very much as a dialogue that makes one feel like we are there and listening first hand. The narration is excellent and bring out the characters personalities.

Typical Modesitt

You either like him or you don't. Yes Modesitt always describes what the main character was eating in great detail, but that's just typical Modesitt. Every time I read a Modesitt I want to go grab some bread and cheese and lamb stew and mutton steak and more bread and cheese and wash it all down with cold lager......

As to Dufris....well I didn't have any complaints in the previous Imager series. This one is not as good. Maybe he had a cold.

New story arc and new MC

This story, and up until book 9 are a completely new series within the world of the first 3 books. The time is several centuries before the first books and of course the MC and all the supporting characters are new as well, except that we get a reference to the most famous ones in the first books.

Books 9-12 again change story arcs and happen some 4 centuries after books 4-8.

As I was expecting a continuation of Rhenns story, I found it a little jarring in the beginning and wasn’t sure I’d like this one as much as the previous ones, but midway in I’ve become completely engrossed.

LEMJr is a fantastic storyteller and invites us into the world in such an immersive way that one might as well be watching a movie. His detailed and effortless descriptions and the walk-through of the MC’s life makes for a very comprehensive story and image in ones mind as one listens.

I’ll be following this series until the end and then looking for the next series from him to devour.

For all who like a well thought out and well written story with lot of twists and turns, LEMJr’s books are a solid bet.