Last of the First (Saga of Recluce Book 26)

L. E. Modesitt, Jr., New York Times bestselling fantasy author, continues his sweeping Saga of Recluce series and concludes his four book story arc (From the Forest, Overcaptain, and Sub-Majer's Challenge).

The Mirror Lancer Alyiakal has been ordered to Mirror Lancer Headquarters and promoted to Subcommander, ostensibly to advise the high command on tactics—except t Alyiakal’s successful military campaigns have removed most external threats to the Empire of Light.

The external threats to Cyador are nothing next to the internal threats of a weak emperor controlled by his manipulative empress, a ruthless Merchanter clan embezzling the Empire's finances, an indecisive high commander of the Mirror Lancers, and a power struggle among the Magi’i.

Alyiakal will navigate the dangerous streets and politics of Cyador and meet his destiny.

Saga of Recluce

#1 The Magic of Recluce / #2 The Towers of the Sunset / #3 The Order War / #4 The Magic Engineer / #5 The Death of Chaos / #6 Fall of Angels / #7 The Chaos Balance / #8 The White Order / #9 Colors of Chaos / #10 Magi’i of Cyador / #11 Scion of Cyador / #12 Wellspring of Chaos / #13 Ordermaster / #14 Natural Order Mage / #15 Mage-Guard of Hamor / #16 Arms-Commander / #17 Cyador’s Heirs / #18 Heritage of Cyador / #19 The Mongrel Mage / #20 Outcasts of Order / #21 The Mage-Fire War / #22 Fairhaven Rising/#23 From the Forest/ #24 Overcaptain/ #25 Sub-Majer's Challenge/ #26 Last of the First

Story Collection: Recluce Tales

Other Series by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
The Grand Illusion
The Imager Portfolio
The Corean Chronicles
The Spellsong Cycle
The Ghost Books
The Ecolitan Matter

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

No matter what anyone claims, writers are made, not born, and what and how they write is the result of just how they were made… or how they made themselves. I began by writing poetry, which was published only in small magazines, and then went on to write administrative reports while I was a U.S. Naval aviator, followed by research papers, speeches, economic and technical studies, and policy and briefing papers. Along the way, I’ve been a delivery boy; a lifeguard; an unpaid radio disc jockey; a U.S. Navy pilot; a market research analyst; a real estate agent; director of research for a political campaign; legislative assistant and staff director for U.S. Congressmen; Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues; a college lecturer and writer in residence; and unpaid treasurer of a civic music arts association.

As a result, my writing tends to incorporate all of the above, in addition to the science fiction I read from a very early age. After more than eighty published novels, and fifty short stories, it’s fairly clear to me that “what kind of writer” I am for readers tends to depend on which of my books each reader has read.

Along the way, I’ve weathered eight children, a fondness for three-piece suits [which has deteriorated into a love of vests], a brown Labrador, a white cockapoo, an energetic Shih-tzu, a plethora of scheming dachshunds, a capricious spaniel, a crazy Saluki-Aussie, and three very individualist cats. In 1989, to escape nearly twenty years of occupational captivity in Washington, D.C., I escaped to New Hampshire. There I was fortunate enough to find and marry a lovely lyric soprano, and we moved to Cedar City, Utah, in 1993, where she directs the voice and opera program at Southern Utah University and where I attempt to create and manage chaos in the process of writing.

Praise for From the Forest

“In the tradition of Pern, Darkover, and the Vorkosigan saga, the Saga of Recluce series is sf with fantasy woven throughout that illuminates a vast, imaginary world.”—Booklist

“It’s a good time and pure comfort food. Bring on the next.”—Nerds of a Feather

“Modesitt takes his Saga of Recluse series in a new direction in its 23rd volume (after Fairhaven Rising), an atmospheric adventure tale that stands surprisingly well on its own.”—Publishers Weekly
Praise for Fairhaven Rising

“Extraordinary.” —Publishers Weekly

Praise for The Mongrel Mage

USA Today Bestseller

“No writer does it better.”—Kirkus

“Smart, thoughtful, and entertaining.”—Pat's Fantasy Hotlist

Praise for Outcasts of Order

USA Today Bestseller

“Always a pleasure to abide in Modesitt's universe, if only for a few hours or days.”—Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Mage-Fire War

USA Today Bestseller

“Readers with a fondness for family sagas will appreciate the focus on day-to-day life”—Publishers Weekly

“I don’t think I’ve disliked a single one of Modesitt’s Recluce books but I was still a bit surprised . . . how quickly [The Mage-Fire War] has become one of my favorite books in the series.”—The Arched Doorway