Customer Reviews

Imager's Challenge: Book Two of the Imager Portfolio

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First, I want to say that I enjoyed Imager's Challenge, wrapping it up in just two days and immediately putting the sequel on pre-order.

However finishing the book in that period of time was no great effort as I glossed over all the food, fashion and faith fillers. The author spent want felt like a godawful amount of pagecount discussing the clothing of the characters, what they ate for dinner, and lunch, and breakfast, and late breakfasts, and early dinners, and... well you get the point.

The didatic indoctrination of the protagonist in the Way-Things-Ought-To-Be by tediously delivered instruction by mentors or sermons by the clergy left me with glazed eyes before half of the book was finished. I hadn't encountered something this heavy handed since Gerrold's War Against the Chtorr series.

Those points aside it is an interesting, if roughly sketched in, setting. There is some interesting foreshadowing and possibly Chechov's guns laying around, and I look forward to seeing the main character in his new role in the next installment of the series.

But please. No more than one meal description per four chapters...

This book continues the story that began in IMAGER. Rhenn, formerly a journeyman portrait painter who, after a series of events in the first book, goes to the Collegium to learn to properly use his talent as an Imager. At the Collegium, Rhenn quickly learns to master his skills and had been made a Master Imager. At the start of this book, he has just started as a liason to the Civic Patrol. Rhenn discovers some nefarious activities on his rounds at the criminal courts and patrolling the Taudis, a district in the city where poverty and gangs are common. Rhenn is also formally notified of the deadly vendetta against him by one of the most wealthy and powerful High Holders in the land. He needs to find a way to deal with those problems without lending any attention at all to the Collegium, as the role of all Imagers and the Collegium is precarious in the land, since everyone is wary of the powers Imagers may use, and the balance of power is always a touchy issue, even among the High Holders and their relations with the Merchants and other groups.

This is primarily a political fantasy, as Rhenn needs to work within the system, or at least be aware of the system enough to be able to work around it without revealing himself. There is also suspense and action, as assassins are gunning for him, and also for those important to him. And there's also a bit more about the magic system of Imaging, although not as much as in the first book. Here, there is some further exploration of his abilities, but much of his magic is spent doing fairly basic things (shielding and telekinesis). Readers who enjoyed the first book should find this book equally enjoyable. As with the last book, there are parts that are slow-moving, but with lots of detail about the world and the society and politics. This book finishes a definite story arc. If there are no more books in the series, a reader could be satisfied. If there are more books, I would certainly be interested in reading them.

Modesitt has an outstanding talent to write a fantasy novel that is enjoyable in itself but also leaves you hoping for a sequel. Most of the better known, contemporary authors of fantasy novels, such as Jordan, Martin, and Goodkind, end their novels like daily segments of a TV soap opera. Apparently, that is the only way they can create reader interest in a sequel. I look forward to reading all of Modesitt's future fantasy novels.

Imager-Master Rhenn has survived assassination attempts, political intrigue, and abusive fellow-students in the Imager college. By handling those problems, however, he's created even larger difficulties for himself. First, the Imager community (imagers are magicians who can manifest things by mental force) survives by keeping a low profile. Imagers are powerful, but they're a small minority...a minority that's actively wiped out in most nations and only tolerated in Rhenn's country. Too much visibility, too much attention to how arbitrarily an imager could murder...by, for example, creating an undetectable heart attack, could bring back the wars that have nearly destroyed imagers in the past. Second, he's earned an enemy in the richest and most powerful lord, Ryel D'Alte. The High Holders (lords) have made an art form of their revenge and D'Alte is systematically going about ruining not just Rhenn, but most especially his defenseless family.

The Imager Collegium lets Rhenn to know, in no uncertain terms, that they will offer him no direct assistance unless he can bring them unassailable proof--something he cannot do. Fortunately, he isn't completely on his own. His girlfriend comes from a wealthy Pharsi family. The family has contacts in various underworlds and is willing to pitch in to help Rhenn. Of course, his imager powers are strong enough to defeat most direct attacks...but it's the indirect approach that has him worried.

Rhenn is assigned to serve as liason between the Imagers and the Civic Patrol, and soon finds that corruption and bribery are rampant in the local police force, and that local crime leaders control the streets while an increasing percentage of the population uses drugs while waiting for a chance to riot... something that's being encouraged by national enemies.

Author L. E. Modesitt, Jr. continues his Imager series with IMAGER'S CHALLENGE. I found this book easy enough to read (although it soon became clear that Rhenn would never miss a meal or a glass of wine), and holding enough of Modesitt's engaging writing to keep my interest through the story. Rhenn's situation, with powerful enemies who choose not to confront him directly (something that has led to short lifespans for anyone who's confronted him in the past) is sympathetic and it's interesting to speculate how Rhenn might resolve his problems while staying true to the Imager code. Ultimately, I found Rhenn's solution to be less clever and less interesting than I was hoping for. Despite the promising beginning and the buildup, the resolution of this book came off, to me, as either rushed or attempting to make a political statement I simply didn't understand.

Modesitt is an uneven writer. Some of his books have been brilliant. Others only so-so. His writing is always engaging, however, and I've never found one of his books I didn't want to finish. While IMAGER'S CHALLENGE has its high points, I'd have to put it in the lower bracket of Modesitt's works.

My husband loves L.E. Modesitt, which is why I bought this book for him as a gift. I enjoy reading Modesitt as well, but we have different opinions about the writing.

If you've never read anything by this author, you are in for something. This isn't light fantasy, if the page count didn't tip you off: Modesitt is a master craftsman, and his attention to detail is meticulous. His style uses an immersive sort of description that makes certain you understand what the characters are seeing, hearing, even smelling. My husband devours these books in marathon reading sessions - he can't put them down. Me? I pack a snack and take my time journeying through the tale, because every book is like a long road trip: enjoyable but long!

This being the second book in series, things develop a little further than from the first book. The main character - Rhenn for short - is still struggling with problems that started in the first book. The pace may seem slow, but it's not a plodding sort of slow. It's more like the kind of slow that hurricane-watching is like. You know something terrible is coming, you can even somewhat see the shape of how bad it might get...and it feels like there's not much you (or rather the characters) can do but batten down the hatches, and wait out the storm. Except that in ways that kept surprising me, Rhenn manages to find ways to battle that storm and bring the conflict to an end.

I would highly recommend this book to those who are fans of dense writing filled with meticulous detail and immersive description; anyone who's read Recluse will enjoy the Imager series as well and for many of the same reasons. If you are a fan of "fluff fantasy" or you want something light and quick to read, don't pick this one up. It will either bore you to tears or hook you in and swallow you up!

I have enjoyed all of Modesitt's different series he has written. The Recluce novels, Spellsinger novels, and the Corean Chronicles. The Imager series continues his writing about strong/honest characters who always try to improve in their skills and do the right thing. All have a unique ability to manipulate with various types of magic or mental powers. He does sometimes get too detailed on meals or the laws of the world he is writing about, but those are minor points to me. I've read all of the books in the series at least twice and he keeps adding to them. Highly recommended.

Rhenn is now an imager. An Imager who has many enemies. Enemies that will try to kill him many, many times. How will he survive? Who will he turn to for help? What consequences will his actions have on him and the Collegium? Find out all the answers in this enthralling second book of the Imager trilogy. This book has all you expect of a Modesitt book...and more. Highly recommended!

A solid yet uncreative addition to the imager series. Weighing in at over 500 pages in soft cover, my lasting impression after finishing the book is that Modesitt was very hungry when writing. He described about 100 different meals eaten by the protagonist over the course of his daily life. A little small talk of weather and restaurant decor and character clothing goes a long way. Characters speculating about foreign wars was laid on too thick. As a reader, I don't need the main character's impression and opinion of every irrelevant detail.

The plotting and climax were well-handled, minus about 200 pages of scenes that had little place in telling the complete story. Long sections of the middle book bored me.

Still, while the functional writing doesn't shine, I finished the book. The third book should resemble the style of the first book or I may lose interest, much like what happened with his "Alector's Choice" series.

What I'd change: Less minutiae. Less *internal monologue* of main character confused over the mechanisms of his own society compared against his own sense of justice. Less religious homilies (this book had at least three, and I think I skipped one or two as well). Keep the morality and society as shown scenes, not mental dialogue or long sermons or book excerpts or dream arguments. I prefer discussion of events after they happen, as debriefings, because it drives in the points about limited options.

You may recall that I really enjoyed L. E. Modesitt, jr.'s Imager a while back, going so far as to claim that the book could well be the best and most accessible series' opener the author ever came up with. The sequel remained on my "books to read" pile for months, and I knew it was high time to finally give it a shot. So I brought it with me when I left for South America.

Here's the blurb:

Imager's Challenge takes up immediately after the conclusion of Imager. Still recovering from injuries received in foiling the plots of the Ferran envoy, Rhenn is preparing to take up his new duties as imager liaison to the Civic Patrol of L'Excelsis. No sooner has he assumed his new position than he discovers two things. First, the Commander of the Civic Patrol doesn't want a liaison from the infamous Collegium, and soon has Rhenn patrolling the streets of the worst district in the city. Second, Rhenn receives formal notice that one of the High Holders, the father of a man Rhenn partly blinded in self-defense, has declared his intention to destroy Rhenn and his family.

Rhenn's only allies are the family of the girl he loves, successful merchants with underworld connections. In the end, Rhenn must literally stand off against gang lords, naval marines, Tiempran terrorist priests, the most powerful High Holder in all of Solidar, and his own Collegium--and find a way to prevail without making further enemies and endangering those he loves.

Modesitt wastes no time, and Imager's Challenge starts where Imager ended. As was the case with its predecessor, this second volume features features realistic worldbuilding, deft plotting, an interesting magical system, adroit characterization, and a subtle human touch. Hence, this novel is another intelligent and solid effort by the author.

Set into an industrialized environment akin to late 18th century Europe, the worldbuilding which is the backdrop of The Imager Portfolio is top notch. Once again, commerce, politics, and religion play key roles in Imager's Challenge. Especially the political aspect, which demonstrates that this series resounds with a lot more depth than meets the eye. It remains unclear just how many installments there will be in this series, but it's now obvious that there is a lot more to this tale than we first believed. Exactly how Rhennthyl will fit into this multilayered web of storylines should become clearer as the story progresses.

Imaging turned out to be a new and ingenious magical system in Imager and readers continue to learn more about how it all works as Rhenn practices and learns more about it himself. Once more, how the Collegium operates, both in small-scale and worldwide events, remains at the heart of the story.

Naturally, Imager's Challenge is told in the first person, the sole POV of the narrative being that of Rhennthyl. It works quite well, but as more and more layers are unveiled, I feel that having more POV characters could be beneficial. Yet given the structure of the series thus far, I doubt it will happen. Still, I'd be interested in a Seliora point of view. Though it will always be Rhenn's story, the supporting cast truly added another dimension to this one. These disparate characters, from all walks of life, definitely gave this book a different flavor. In addition to Seliora and her family, especially her grandmother, Master Dichartyn and other members of the Collegium, a number of interesting characters interact with Rhenn. Horazt and Shault came as an unexpected surprise, and so were a few patrollers.

Again, there is a social undertone hinting at the emancipation of a new generation of capable and efficient women attempting to establish themselves and take their rightful place in this male-dominated society. I'm curious to see how it will all fit in the greater scheme of things, but it is evident that Khethila and Iryela D'Alte's storylines will focus on that theme.

As is Modesitt's wont, the pace throughout Imager's Challenge is steady but not fast-moving. A slower rhythm is endemic to most of the author's works, yet Modesitt knows how to build momentum and keep you turning those pages. There is never a dull moment as we watch Rhenn deal with various dangers as he tries to do the right thing without incriminating himself and the Collegium while trying to protect his family and that of Seliora.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: If it lives up to its vast potential, The Imager Portfolio could become one of Modesitt's signature works. This is probably L. E. Modesitt, jr.'s most accessible series to date and I encourage you to give it a shot. Chances are you won't be disappointed!

Imager's Challenge is another very good read from one of the most underappreciated talents in fantasy today.

It took about 100 pages to really get into the book. Once I was in I really enjoyed it. Mr. Modesitt does have a tendancy to be wordy. I did feel like I was involved in the story. I have read all 3 and enljoyed them I will buy any more imager books he writes.