Scion of Cyador: The New Novel in the Saga of Recluce (Hardcover)

by L. E. Modesitt Jr. (Author) "Lorn opens the door to the small upper-floor balcony, checking to see that the spring weather remains warm in the late afternoon..." (more)
Key Phrases: merchanter advisor, lorn smiles, senior enumerator, Mirror Lancers, First Magus, Ryalor House (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Set in the fantasy series the Saga of Recluse and following the characters featured in Magi'i of Cyador, this novel advances the story of Lorn. He is a brilliant man from a respected family who uses his combined prowess as a talented soldier and a magical adept to foresee problems slightly before they occur and then ruthlessly deal with them, so they don't cause worse catastrophes. He's aided in his quest to keep his beloved city of Cyador safe by his magical use of a looking glass in which he can see what his enemies and loved ones are doing. His helpmate and consort, Ryalth, is a singular and exceptionally talented woman, the head of her own merchant house, a rarity for a female in Cyador. Her advice is a constant source of aid and inspiration to Lorn. Making life more precarious is the failure of the magic in the towers that power the army's lances. Also, Cyador's emperor is dying, and he hasn't yet picked a successor. As the story progresses, Lorn becomes ever more able as a commander and magician, and the challenges he faces grow in scope as scores of political enemies, hordes of barbarians and various ever deadlier assassins threaten him and his family. Though the outcome of who will be the next emperor of Cyador is never in doubt, Modesitt meticulously catalogues the details that go into Lorn's rise to greatness. Military buffs should enjoy the stupidity of the army's decisions, while marveling at the fantastic swath one heroic man armed with a magic mirror can cut through politics. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Lacking the blind commitment necessary for the calling of a mage, Lorn'alt joins the Mirror Lancers of Cyador and quickly rises in the ranks through his tactical brilliance and willingness to break the rules. With success, however, comes rivalryDand as his land undergoes turmoil, Lorn and his family become targets for a host of enemies. Modesitt's latest novel in the "Recluce" series portrays the transformation of a talented young man into a determined and deadly warrior who struggles to maintain his compassion in the face of war's horrors. The author displays a rare talent for portraying the day-to-day affairs of a vividly detailed world in which chaos and order form a dynamic duality. A good choice for most fantasy collections.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 640 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (September 9, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312873794
• ISBN-13: 978-0312873790
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #983,473 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, April 14, 2001

By	K. N. Nelson (California, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This follow up to Magi'i of Cyador is simply outstanding. The poetry and logic which coexist harmoniously throughout this book are a constant source of inspiration that offers the reader a chance for thoughtful meditation on larger issues which this story addresses. For me, this speaks to the superb quality of the author's skill and his intelligence that simply pours off the pages and into one's consciousness.

The stilted style of speaking by the characters is so necessary to the overall meaning of the cold, logical thinking by these descendents of the "rational stars" and the omnipresence of the magi'i who colonized this fictional world. Part of the chilling power of this tale is that which is exercised by the magi'i who control everyone through their occult chaos power and the threat of chaos screeing glasses that offer little if any freedom or privacy throughout Cyad and Candar. It gives a real clear picture of what a "big brother" looking over one's shoulder might be and it is scary.

The softer side of the hero Lorn is almost too good to be true, and yet, he is a cold blooded killer and defender of the land and its people. His trials and tribulations are immense and he is able to survive through his intellect and tactical cleverness as an officer of the Mirror Lancers. His consort Ryalth has a much more active presence in this book which is a welcome shift from the blood and gore battles although there are plenty of those too. The addition of an infant son adds a very nice human dimension that one can relate to even during the heat of the power struggles between the merchant factions, the Lancers on the make for promotion and the magi'i who seek even greater control as the chaos towers begin to fail one after another. After all he has been through as a Mirror Lancer, Lorn receives a well deserved reward, and I hope that Modesitt continues this series wherein he tells about Lorn's reign and the machinations of those who would challenge his power and I for one would like to see how he develops as a mage, man, husband, father and emperor. All in all for this reviewer it was a terrifically rewarding read.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A strong Modesitt hit., August 24, 2000

By	William F. McKissack (Decatur, GA USA) - See all my reviews

The Scion of Cyador is another hit for Modesitt. I was unable to put it down. Modesitt continues the tale of Lorn in this sequel to Magi'i of Cyador. Modesitt fills in more of the history of Candor and deals again with the themes of power and action. I would strongly recommend this book to those following the Saga of Recluce or who have not. This pair of books even stands well by themselves for the 10th and 11th books in a series. All the elements of an excellent novel are present well rounded characters, solid descriptions, good dialog and a strong plot.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars another book, the same old story, August 27, 2003

By	Joe Sherry (Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Scion of Cyador: The New Novel in the Saga of Recluce (Mass Market Paperback)

Book 11 of the Saga of Recluse

This eleventh Recluse novel is a direct sequel to Magi'i of Cyador and is more a continuation of that story than a sequel. The book continues to follow Lorn, an officer in Cyador's Mirror Lancers. Chronologically, this is the second book in the Recluse series and is still a good 400 years before the events in Fall of Angels. Lorn begins the story as Over-Captain of a port city. As with all of his postings, Lorn is assigned it so that he may fail and be killed. Lorn has been given the most difficult assignments that exist in Cyador. He was a student Magus, but his aptitude led him to be assigned to the Lancers. Those in power in Cyador find Lorn to be a potential threat, but Lorn keeps surviving by being smarter, luckier, and more ruthless than those who oppose him, and so he works his way up the chain of command of the Mirror Lancers.

If Magi'i was more of an action/adventure book with some intrigue, Scion is the opposite. Sure, there is action, and battles, but this book deals more with political intrigue and moral decisions (and ambivalence) and political infighting. Lorn has to play the game in order to survive, all the while he only wants to stay alive and be with his merchanter consort, Ryalth. As Lorn's fortunes rise in the Mirror Lancers, so does Ryalth's success with the Ryalor trading house. Because she is a lady trader, she is also not completely accepted by the current powers in Cyador. Lorn would, and does do everything he can protect himself, his family and especially Ryalth. This does not exclude murder...he views it more as pre-emptive self defense rather than cold blooded murder, but Lorn does what he feels he has to do. He isn't quite as much of a sympathetic protagonist as is Lerris or Creslin, but he is still in their mold.

As the novel progresses, the stakes keep raising as Lorn gains military rank and as the current emperor is closer to dying. His battles get tougher, larger, and carry much greater risk to his life, his career, and to Cyador. The novel follows the logical progression of Lorn's career and everything that happens feels like that is the logical next step. Part of the reason for that is probably because of the nature of the Recluse series. Each protagonist is put in very similar circumstances to other protagonists in the series. They do exactly what needs to be done to survive, are called Cold-Blooded because the do so, and end up doing similar actions in their quest to survive and have a quiet life. Lerris, Creslin, Justin, and Nylan are all very similar to Lorn in this way. Modesitt's novels are very formulaic in that manner. If you try to read them all in a row, they become very tiresome because you are really reading the same exact story being told over and over again. However, if you read a book or two and take a break for several months before continuing with the series, you may find Recluse easier to digest. Recluse remains one of my favorite series (Though not the best), but I have come to understand that it is best to read the books in small chunks rather than in one big piece.