Cadmian's Choice: The Fifth Book of the Corean Chronicles 
asked by papi on November 22, 2006 6:39 PM
Acclaimed author L. E. Modesitt, Jr. returns to the world of Corus to continue the epic trilogy begun in Alectors Choice. It is the story of the fall of a great civilization and the tale of the Alector, Colonel Dainyl, and of Captain Mykel, the Corean human with special abilities. Corus has been redesigned to become the new home of a superior race from a distant world whose very life depends on drawing sustenance from the biological life force of a planet. These plans are supervised by a staff of Alectors, who in effect rule the world. The Alectors alone have access to the huge flying Pteridons and to the superior weapons that underpin their psychic talents.The time is now fast approaching for the transfer of the whole population from the old world, nearly bled dry of life force, to Corus. But neither the Alectors (who will be reduced in status when the real powers arrive) nor the local humans (who seem destined to become no more than cattle, though they know nothing of this) are ready. And the mysterious Ancient Ones, the true natives of Corus who are assumed to have died out in eons past, survive. They have powers of their own. The situation builds toward an explosive climax.
Reviews
0%
0%
I really like this series, as well as the Ordermaster and Spellsong Cycle, from Modesitt. It is a little confusing to someone who hasn't read the others in the series, so I advise anyone who hasn't read them to start at the beginning--Legacies.
This one is a sequel to Alector' Choice, and I loved that one too.
This one is a sequel to Alector' Choice, and I loved that one too.
reviewed by ronmiller on November 25, 2006 5:13 AM
0%
0%
I will not rehash the plot (a la Harriet Klausner) given you can read the editorial reviews for that.
This book has some of the strengths and most of the flaws of Modesitt's other books. As always, the heroes are identical in all important respects to every other Modesitt hero, though this time there are two of them.
I have found Modesitt best when he is writing coming-of-age stories (eg. the Cyador duology, White Order, Colors of Chaos) and this is not one of them.
If you have not read its prequel Alector's Choice,I would definitely not recommend starting with this book, as I did. There are a number of invented unexplained terms which made it more difficult initially for me to follow the plot. The first 3 books in the series are set in the distant future, and are not required reading.
This book has some of the strengths and most of the flaws of Modesitt's other books. As always, the heroes are identical in all important respects to every other Modesitt hero, though this time there are two of them.
I have found Modesitt best when he is writing coming-of-age stories (eg. the Cyador duology, White Order, Colors of Chaos) and this is not one of them.
If you have not read its prequel Alector's Choice,I would definitely not recommend starting with this book, as I did. There are a number of invented unexplained terms which made it more difficult initially for me to follow the plot. The first 3 books in the series are set in the distant future, and are not required reading.
reviewed by macfan on November 28, 2006 11:25 AM
0%
0%
I'm not sure what to make of Modesitt. On the one hand, he invents brilliantly imagined worlds. Corus, the setting for this tale, is his best yet. His battle scenes are very well written. But in his trilogies, the second volume has consistently been the weakest. He really only has one plot, although his variations on that basic plot can be interesting. And he remains purely incapable of writing a love scene.
"Cadmian's Choice" is the second novel in this extended prequel to the previously written Corean Trilogy ("Legacies," "Darknesses" and "Scepters"). It's mostly a political story. Modesitt is great at inventing complex political situations, and concealing the true motives of the characters, but he's not so hot at keeping it all interesting. The story drags until the final third, when Dainyl - the alien Alector - and Mykel - the human but Talented Cadmian soldier - finally get into battle. Fantasy writers need to understand that any time they devote more than a sentence to characters' clothing the inevitable comparisons to Robert Jordan will start. We already know Alectors wear shimmersilk. And I don't think the first thing Mykel noticed on regaining consciousness was the color of his girl's outfit.
The second volume of a trilogy is always hard to make compelling. It's a transition between the introduction in the first volume and the conclusion in the third. In a prequel, where you know how it is eventually going to turn out, it's even harder. There's a certain amount of interest in watching characters develop, but that can be thin across 768 pages.
A Cadmian's Choice, if I understand the story, is getting an apparent enemy to voluntarily accept a curse. Mykel, who may or may not be a Dagger of the Ancients, confronts such a choice. You, as the reader, face a Hobson's Choice. Modesitt's third volumes in his trilogies are usually his best. If you want to understand the events in that future third book, you'll have to make your way through this one. This middle volume isn't bad; it's just not very good. It's not up to Modesitt's usual standards and it is considerably below his best work.
"Cadmian's Choice" is the second novel in this extended prequel to the previously written Corean Trilogy ("Legacies," "Darknesses" and "Scepters"). It's mostly a political story. Modesitt is great at inventing complex political situations, and concealing the true motives of the characters, but he's not so hot at keeping it all interesting. The story drags until the final third, when Dainyl - the alien Alector - and Mykel - the human but Talented Cadmian soldier - finally get into battle. Fantasy writers need to understand that any time they devote more than a sentence to characters' clothing the inevitable comparisons to Robert Jordan will start. We already know Alectors wear shimmersilk. And I don't think the first thing Mykel noticed on regaining consciousness was the color of his girl's outfit.
The second volume of a trilogy is always hard to make compelling. It's a transition between the introduction in the first volume and the conclusion in the third. In a prequel, where you know how it is eventually going to turn out, it's even harder. There's a certain amount of interest in watching characters develop, but that can be thin across 768 pages.
A Cadmian's Choice, if I understand the story, is getting an apparent enemy to voluntarily accept a curse. Mykel, who may or may not be a Dagger of the Ancients, confronts such a choice. You, as the reader, face a Hobson's Choice. Modesitt's third volumes in his trilogies are usually his best. If you want to understand the events in that future third book, you'll have to make your way through this one. This middle volume isn't bad; it's just not very good. It's not up to Modesitt's usual standards and it is considerably below his best work.
reviewed by perfectjen on November 29, 2006 8:38 AM
0%
0%
On Corus, Majer Mykel, commander of the Third Battalion, a rifle unit, hides his psychic "Talent" similar to that of the ruling Alectors because he fears the reaction of the Alectors hierarchy learning a human shares their abilities. However, he may have to expose himself for the good of his people. He has learned that renegade Alectors plan to use forbidden weapons to prevent the transfer of people especially those in power from the Alector dying home world to Corus.
He turns to Myrmidons-West Submarshal Dainyl an Alector though he has misgivings about this or any official; Dainyl reciprocates his deep distrust of the major. However, Dainyl knows he must act now to prevent the rebels from using these weapons, but to do so he needs Mykel's help. While both the Alector and the human ponder the risk of trusting one another, the mysterious Ancients, assumed extinct, contact both of them with a message saying each group must cooperate to survive.
The key to the delightful fifth Corean Chronicles is the powerful cast who make Corus seem genuine and more important the relationship between the ruling Alectors and the human natives real. Interestingly, it is the appearance of the Ancient Ones, the original natives of the planet who everyone assumed died out ages ago that adds a fantastic twist to this exciting tale. The distrustful uneasy peace between Dainyl and Mykel add to a fabulous science fiction fantasy saga.
Harriet Klausner
He turns to Myrmidons-West Submarshal Dainyl an Alector though he has misgivings about this or any official; Dainyl reciprocates his deep distrust of the major. However, Dainyl knows he must act now to prevent the rebels from using these weapons, but to do so he needs Mykel's help. While both the Alector and the human ponder the risk of trusting one another, the mysterious Ancients, assumed extinct, contact both of them with a message saying each group must cooperate to survive.
The key to the delightful fifth Corean Chronicles is the powerful cast who make Corus seem genuine and more important the relationship between the ruling Alectors and the human natives real. Interestingly, it is the appearance of the Ancient Ones, the original natives of the planet who everyone assumed died out ages ago that adds a fantastic twist to this exciting tale. The distrustful uneasy peace between Dainyl and Mykel add to a fabulous science fiction fantasy saga.
Harriet Klausner
reviewed by shagdag on November 29, 2006 10:08 AM