The Magic of Recluce

Saga of Recluce, Book 1

By: L. E. Modesitt Jr.

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne

Length: 19 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Young Lerris is dissatisfied with his life and trade, and yearns to find a place in the world better suited to his skills and temperament. But in Recluce a change in circumstances means taking one of two options: permanent exile from Recluce or braving the dangergeld, a complex, rule-laden wanderjahr in the lands beyond Recluce, with the aim of learning how the world works and what his place in it might be. Many do not survive. Lerris chooses the dangergeld.

When Lerris is sent into intensive training for his quest, it soon becomes clear that he has a natural talent for magic. And he will need magic in the lands beyond, where the power of the Chaos Wizards reigns unchecked. Though it goes against all of his instincts, Lerris must learn to use his powers in an orderly way before his wanderjahr, or fall prey to Chaos.

©1992 L. E. Modesitt (P)2013 Tantor

Crack! Whoosh! Clang!

Great book, great narration. The reader gave the characters distinct voices very well, and with very few exceptions, they fit my ideas of the characters. The sound effects were weird at first, extremely weird, but it's unabridged, so it's not like he could skip them. You get used to it eventually, even the pony sounds.

Interesting story, bad writting

I won't go into much detail, but I would say that the writing of the book lacked refinement. The author liked to portray sounds throughout the book the same way you would see them in a comic book. This felt like a shortcut for when the author was too lazy to describe what had happened. An entire critical battle scene would be written like this"Clunk, thunk".. that's it. Sounds like lazy writing by an author who just couldn't be bothered. The author also constantly repeated the same words throughout the book. I can't count how many times I heard the word boring used while listening to the book. Not only is the repetition of words excessively considered bad writing, specifically the repetition of the word boring makes me feel like I am listening to a teenage story teller. There were also glaring gaps in the story telling. Kind of like watching a movie that was edited to make it short enough to fit on the allotted time on TV.

The author has potential, but needs to work on polishing and refining their writing skills. While I am not a professional critic, I knew enough to see this as weak effort.

Good story poor naration

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

no

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

describe the sounds instead of writing them seriously describing how a horse sounds and acts is more effective then writing the sound.itself

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He is just boring

Any additional comments?

If you have patient with bad reading the story is pretty good but I think the book would be better. Also the series is complete in print but only first to in audio

wonderful first book

the first book in one of the best worlds I know. a great introduction to a unique magical system. leaving us all hungry for more.

Narration was weak

What did you love best about The Magic of Recluce?

A great series although this is one of the few that describes the main character in one book and leaves you wanting a little more.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Magic of Recluce?

I'm not sure there is any great moment here the book builds on itself

What three words best describe Kirby Heyborne’s voice?

painful plodding shrill

Enter a world you won't want to leave

In this first book of what has become a very long series we get a really good introduction to the world of Recluce. While there are times when you want to strangle the main character and others where you just want to strangle everyone around him, I find that it makes them seem just that much more real to me.

About the series:
I read this book long, long ago and got hooked into the series, but gave it up about halfway through, the audio versions brought me back and I can appreciate the multi level story that is in the series. What I like best about it is that as you go through the series - which is not chronological but takes you back and forth to tell the larger story, you get a bigger and bigger picture of this world. While there are probably are some, I have yet to find any obvious inconsistencies from book to book and those drive me nuts when I am reading (listening to) a series.

The narrator is superb and for those of you who care about these things, he is the narrator (so far) for the entire series.

Great story, but the narration!

If only the narrator didn't neigh every time a horse was mentioned... (or "click" at the mention of footsteps, boot heels, etc. Don't even get me started on the vocal effects when a character has trouble keeping his lunch down!)

I loved the story for the most part - only minor quibbles with that, and I won't include spoilers by listing them. I enjoyed it enough that I'm even going to download the next book, despite it having the same narrator. If it wasn't for the unnecessary clicks, grunts, thunder-rumbles, and neighs - to name a few - he was actually pretty good with his characterizations. I just wish the horse would bite him.

A story teller for the ears

was not too impressed by the story until the end but loved the story teller. cant wait to hear him in other stories.

Detail, and tactics!

What made the experience of listening to The Magic of Recluce the most enjoyable?

Kirby Heyborne is a delightful reader... He surprised me with the range of voices- his lovely tenor speaking voice drops into accent, alters pitch and resonance.
And- if you're a Modesitt fan, this is a blast. Deeper and deeper, Modesitt draws us into culture, politics, and scheming.

Is he answering questions about our own culture? Sure. Not blatantly, though. The characters are complex, the situations are complex, and the solutions are deep.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Magic of Recluce?

Modessit attacks our cultural norms and expectations. Every book of his I've read has covered 'coming of age,' the difference between love and infatuation, and making tough choices. He doesn't give you a 'single' moment. There are dozen's of 'em. In 19 hours, there had better be.
Breathtaking action, high tension, sweet, poignant moments... take your pick.

Which scene was your favorite?

For me? The last scene that made me want to read the next in the series. Can you imagine a tale that doesn't just hold you for 20 hours, but leaves you aching for more? I've got his Imager series in hard copy... and some of his Chorean series... I adore them all.
In audio, they are company and fun that make dead days at work pass much more quickly, make housework livable... and every drive a pleasure.

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

I'm on book 11. They are remarkable. I adore the cultural development- the struggle between men and women, wealthy and poor, ruling class and citizen. Modessit draws them all.
Cultural conflict? Oh- this guy writes BOTH sides of the conflict, and makes both of them equally lovable and despicable. Seriously. He writes magnificent women, daring men, brutal schemers, and the pragmatic. It is as if he HAS one of the 'viewing glasses' that show up in the tale.

Any additional comments?

Modesett is 'new' to audio. I'm delighted to find his library available. His work is compelling.
It truly is as if I cannot GET enough of his work.
I've shared some of his work with my junior high students... the language is not beyond a beginning reader, yet the material is deeply complex. I re-read my collection at least once a year. There is more there, every reading.

reading Onomatopoeia.... what a rough job

If you could sum up The Magic of Recluce in three words, what would they be?

While this book has many good ideas and cleaver beginnings there is some lack of good follow through. And a lot of talking about what the Hero eats. Like the Hobbit has a ton of walking this book has a lot of eating.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would prefer to hear "the thunder rumbled and cracked in the distance" instead of the poor narrator saying "Crack" in an Onomatopoeia for all the sounds. Reminiscent Monty Python and the holy grail coconut horses. Taking a good story and turning int to lat 60's Batman shows with "bangs" for sword swings "clangs" for items dropping "CREEEKS" for every door that is opened.I had a hard time not laughing at important parts due to the silliness of the use of onomatopoeia.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Kirby Heyborne?

I would not change him, he did the best he could but he is not a sound effect crew just a narrator

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

... It is a long book

Any additional comments?

If you are over the age of 12 you may wish for less onomatopoeia (it ruins the narration) in my opinion.