Your Questions for the Author Answered

July 5th Question

Like many (judging from the recent questions), I too enjoyed Last of the First a great deal. There are a variety of reasons for that, but two of them are the delightful humour (I was snickering along with our new Empress at “positively ashen”) and what, to me, seemed a completely appropriate reaction from various people to Alyiakal’s revealed power. One thing that has on occasion confused or frustrated me in previous books of yours is when vastly powerful characters, capable of feats that put numerous gods in traditional pantheons of our world to shame, are treated as annoyances or frustrations rather than awe-inspiring semi-deities. My question, then, is why you felt that in this instance, the people in power (particularly the new First Magus) immediately recognized this, acclaimed the new Emperor, and aside from a (very) small number of the most blind fools, assented and were properly frightened and wary of his revealed power? His abilities do not seem, for instance, to be greater than Lerial’s demonstrated abilities to destroy vast numbers of troops, and I’m curious why you felt the reaction would be so different?

First, Lerial’s powers don’t show up for another roughly seven hundred years. Second, most of those who recognize Alyiakal’s powers are magi’i and have more understanding, and those who don’t tend to get destroyed. Those outside the magi’i really have never seen those powers. Most merchanters certainly haven’t,not until the very end of the book, and Alyiakal has been careful to cloak his capabilities from his Mirror Lancer peers and superiors. Verinaar is a stronger mage than almost anyone except Alyiakal, and wise enough to know that he can never hope to be Emperor and that he’s effectively the second-most powerful magus in Cyador.

—:  July 5th, 2026 04:55 pmFeed     2 Comments »
Second July 3rd Question

I’m in the middle of the Last of the First, and realized something. Why does nobody in Cyador eat lunch? Does anybody in Recluse at any time eat lunch (I was thinking back through the books and nothing jumped out, but obviously I haven’t looked into this in detail)? At first I thought maybe this was something particular to your writing, but them I remembered in the Grand Illusion series there was a lot of lunch (including the much maligned Burgher’s delight, if my memory serves).

Your memory is accurate. Lunch effectively doesn’t exist in most of the countries in the world of Recluce. The culture tends to be large breakfasts and dinners, with bread and lager/ale for pick-me-ups in between.

—:  July 3rd, 2026 10:07 amFeed     No Comments »
July 3rd Question

I too just finished Last of the First, and loved it as well. But I wanted to mention something I noticed here that I haven’t seen anyone else comment on, and that’s how, when Alyiakal sits down with his boss, the boss makes him wait, and afterwards, the boss doesn’t ask how he’s doing or feeling or anything. In other words, even though he’s the protagonist and viewpoint character, his superiors don’t make him the center of attention – even if we readers do! Thanks for that little touch of reality. Definitely adds something.

I was in Alyiakal’s situation many times when I was younger. It goes with the territory, and, for better or worse, I write from what I know. And I very much appreciate your noticing and commenting on it.

—:  July 3rd, 2026 07:02 amFeed     No Comments »
Third July 2nd Question

Mr. Modesitt, I very much enjoyed Last of the First. Seeing early Cyador is always interesting! It made me think of a few questions: what happened to the parks of the First by Lorn or Nylan’s eras? Do you think that there are any surviving descendants of Alyiakal or Lorn by the time of Lerris? On a different note, I was curious whether you plan on donating your writing works/drafts to a university when you decide you have finished writing, as some authors have done (hopefully not for a long while!) I’m very much looking forward to Premiere later this year, and hope you return to Recluse again soon, whether we visit Cyador, Hamor, Fairhaven or somewhere else! Best wishes!

As with all cities, especially capitol cities, over time monuments tend to get removed or simply buried by later emperors. Consider Nero’s “Domus Aurea,” which was buried. As for descendants of Alyiakal and Lorn, there are certainly some, most likely through the matrilineal line, though.

As for donation of my draft/notes/and associated writings, two universities have expressed interest, but that decision will be made by my heirs.

—:  July 2nd, 2026 02:26 pmFeed     3 Comments »
Second July 2nd Question

Sorry, I know this is a bit super trivial so it’s not an official question for the public, just curiousity. In Last of the First when Coeryn is giving an update about 171 pages in on the digital version he mentiones “… but an overcaptain of armsmen in the north holds Lornth and the lands halfway south to Clynya.” I had always thought Lornth was named after Lorn, who wasn’t born yet, but I’d be tickled pink if you purposely wrote it that it had been Lornth all the time, and after Lorn they just assumed it was named after him. Or was it just a tiny continuity typo? Either way I’m loving it, I’d be done but RL is kicking my butt his week, and I can’t WAIT to find out how much post-Al becoming emporer we get, since we know he changed so much of how the triad works. I hope it doesn’t just end at him being emporer (and in case it does, I’ll be fine with it, but I’ll hope for a post-emporer short story if you have it in you someday 🙂

Let’s just say that in every world there are names that sometimes repeat or are similar, and that happens with authors as well.

—:  July 2nd, 2026 02:09 pmFeed     No Comments »
July 2nd Question

Last of the First. Oh, where to begin. This was a great 4-book tale. I enjoyed the inclusion of the short story from Tales into From the Forest. I was jumping up and down by the third book yelling, “Marry her already!” Fortunately, that did happen. I was a trifle disappointed with the “cliffhanger” regarding Saryalth. I was expecting her to show up with Hyysaal and telling him that her mother was taken by the Forest. I assume it happened sooner or later. Would have liked to learn about Hyrsaal, too. Hard to remain in the Mirror Lancers when you’re the brother-in-law to the Emperor. What superior is going to upbraid him if he messes up (which he probably would not)? A great ending to a great series. I know people will beg for the founding story (I was one of those), but your explanation of why you should not was sufficient for me. Now if you wanted to do a story of the past before any of the others, I would suggest a story from the dissidents’ point of view. The conflict is already in place for you.

I very much appreciate your comments and support. Alas, there are so many possibilities for another Recluce book, and, assuming that I can write another one, no matter which possibility I choose, some readers will be disappointed. Obviously, I’d prefer to have the time to follow all those storylines, but in a world as large as that of Recluce, that’s just not possible, especially since I’m no longer the proverbial “spring chicken,” but I’ll do what I can.

—:  July 2nd, 2026 08:44 amFeed     No Comments »
June 30th Question

I’ve just finished reading Last of the First and like all your Recluce books I enjoyed it immensely. Also, like all Recluce books, I dread the possibility it may be the last one. I’ve read all 26, almost all multiple times and am really hoping for more. I know it’s not really a question but I just wanted to say thank you for many hours of enjoyment these books have provided.

I appreciate your years of support. Right now, I am working on another book, but I’m not writing as fast as I used to, and, as I’ve always done, I won’t say anything about the next book until the first draft is finished and I have an indication that Tor will publish it. I don’t like to promise unless I’m sure I can deliver. Old-fashioned, perhaps, but I’ve never signed a contract until I at least had a complete draft finished.

—:  June 30th, 2026 08:54 pmFeed     1 Comment »
June 5th Question

You probably get this kind of proposal often; however, I wish to try. I am writing a book based on the Recluce tales. It is a mix of sci-fi and fantasy. I would like your permission to go ahead with the project. At 72 years old, I would like my dream of publishing come true.

Your question places me in a difficult position. On the one hand, I’m pleased that you think highly enough of the world of Recluce to base a book on it. On the other hand, while I have no problem with people writing what might be called fan fiction for their own enjoyment, I’m opposed to others writing Recluce stories or novels for commercial publication, which strikes me as a form of piracy of a series that I’ve labored on for more than thirty-five years.

I can also tell you that my publisher would most likely be very opposed to any commericial infringement on the world of Recluce, since they’ve supported those novels and stories for more than thirty years.

—:  June 5th, 2026 10:48 amFeed     No Comments »
June 1st Question

Sir, will there be anymore Recluce stories after The Last of the First?

At this point, I honestly don’t know if there will be another Recluce book. I have some ideas, but I can’t yet say if they’ll result in a book. I wish I could be more definitive, but I won’t promise anything until I know I can deliver it.

—:  June 1st, 2026 08:52 pmFeed     2 Comments »
May 11th Question

I don’t have a question. I just want to thank you for creating a world that got me into reading. I remember being 11 or 12 years old and staying up all night reading your books. Then having to hide the fact I could barely stay awake the next morning. Thank you.

Thank you. One of the greatest compliments for an author is to hear that his or her words have opened the world of books for a reader. I do appreciate your letting me know. Again… my thanks.

—:  May 11th, 2026 08:08 pmFeed     No Comments »
April 17th Question

So in The Magic Of Recluce/Death of Chaos it’s mentioned a lot about how the grandfather of the Emperor of Hamor was an exile from Recluse, which I had always though was Rahl from the Natural Ordermage books. However, during a recent reread I realized that during his training in Nylan it was mentioned that Fairhaven still existed (although Ceryl was mentioned as long gone)… which means that was before Justen melted the town, and then he lived 200 years after that to the time of Magic. So I don’t think that grandfather can be Rahl. So my question is, do we know anything about who that grandfather was? Was he ever mentioned in a short story or something?

That’s a story I never got around to writing, alas. As you may have guessed, I’ve often mentioned things in various books that could be stories or novels,and some of them… I just didn’t get to… or haven’t yet.

—:  April 17th, 2026 02:01 pmFeed     2 Comments »
March 19th Question

As I seclude myself in Recluce until 2028, I find that you might be some sort of puppet master???? As I read the news and the merchants, warriors, and “rulers” fight over “golds”, I wonder.

I’m far from a puppet master, but I’ve spent a long time in the political world and/or observing it, and certain patterns do have a tendency to prevail, which is one of the reasons I write about them.

—:  March 19th, 2026 10:35 amFeed     4 Comments »
March 13th Question

Thank you for writing the Magic of Recluce series. I stumbled onto the series about 7 years ago now. I have managed most of the original set in paperback but for series I truly enjoy I try to get it in hardcover. Magic of Recluce has become one such series. I currently have the entirety of the series thanks to my work, Goodwill, and some bargain bookstores along with sites like thriftbooks. I however have not been able to get a hold of The Magic of Recluce. Is there any chance you will/can bring some of these original books to print once again. If not, is it possible to get permission,if you retain copyright to find a way to print the book in hardcover personally. As more and more time passes I suspect it will be harder and more cost prohibitive in attaining this volume. I would prefer getting an original but the ability to print your own hardcovers has become somewhat more cost accessible.

Because The Magic of Recluce is available in print (i.e., trade paperback) and in ebook format, Tor still controls the publication rights, and it’s unlikely that Tor will reprint in hardcover any book first published more than thirty years ago. I obviously wish it were otherwise, but it’s not a situation I control.

—:  March 13th, 2026 12:24 pmFeed     No Comments »
March 6th Question

I’ve noticed that all of the Recluce series are either set outside Recluce or concern someone who leaves Recluce and tends not to come back (even Dorrin kind of founds his own version, rather than returning to Recluce-proper). We therefore tend to see how Recluce functions only through the eyes of exiles or enemies. What’s the reason for not having a novel set inside Recluce itself?

As Lerris observes in The Magic of Recluce, when things are functioning well in Recluce, they tend to be boring. Boring doesn’t make good stories. But, if you read Recluce Tales there are quite a few stories set within Recluce. Also, the last third or more of Towers of the Sunset is most definitely set in Recluce.

—:  March 6th, 2026 04:32 pmFeed     2 Comments »
March 2nd Question

If you read: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/02/social-media-literacy-crisis/686076/ What do you think of the concept that how humans think depends upon how they communicate? In 1974, NASA, in collaboration with scientists from the Arecibo Observatory and Cornell University, sent a radio message into space aimed at the globular star cluster Messier 13 (M13), about 25,000 light-years away. In light of this article, should NASA send a new message now (or every 100 years or so)?

I have no doubt that human communication methods affect the way we think. Even before the findings cited in The Atlantic, I saw plenty of examples of that in everyday life, which scientists would term anecdotal, but massive anecdotal evidence amounts to statistics. That said, I doubt that messages sent 25,000 lightyears away — unless intercepted by star-spanning intelligent aliens — are anything but a gesture, since I have doubts that humanity can maintain a high tech society for that long, not unless our intraspecies communications skills and perceptions increase significantly.

—:  March 2nd, 2026 05:09 pmFeed     1 Comment »
February 4th Questions

Two questions: 1. We have not had a sci-fi one shot since Quantum Shadows in 2020. Are you working on any new sci-fi novels? 2. I seem to recall from an interview that before you published any of your sci-fi short stories, you had published some of your poetry. Can you tell me where you poetry was published?

At present, I’m not working on any SF novels, partly because I haven’t had any good ideas that I found personably workable and partly because my publisher isn’t all that enthused about singleton SF novels (at least from me). My poetry was published in VERY small magazines that may not even exist today, including Jean’s Journal, Konglomerati, The Red Balloon, Poetry Today, and the Fountain Valley Literary Review, all in issues published before 1979.

—:  February 4th, 2026 10:17 amFeed     6 Comments »
January 21st Question

I’ve read most of the Grand illusion series, and wanted to know if there is a specific reason or connection to the Argentinian – inspired (Buenos Aires, really) elements? Not really important but since I am from there it was kinda noticeable and got me curious.

I hadn’t thought of Guldor as Argentinian-inspired. I just had a mental picture of the culture, but given my background and historical research, in hindsight, I can see the parallels.

—:  January 21st, 2026 10:29 amFeed     No Comments »
January 13th Question

I am a big fan of the Grand Illusion series and how it explores the themes of illusions both in politics, history, and in daily life. I enjoyed Legalist and how it told the story behind Avraal’s ancestor and the Scarlet Daughter incident. That being said, obviously the events in Legalist differ greatly from what Dekkard read in the book The Scarlet Daughter. My question is: when you wrote Isolate and the scenes in which Dekkard is reading The Scarlet Daughter, did you know at that time that the “history” was distorted or was that something you did not flesh out until you wrote Legalist?

History is always distorted, and I knew Delehya’s history was especially distorted well before I even finished writing Isolate.

—:  January 13th, 2026 11:35 amFeed     No Comments »
January 9th Question

Lorn noticed a difference between gold-white chaos and red-white chaos, which he felt was less pleasant. What’s the difference between the two? Also, what’s the difference between a wizard and a mage, or is it merely word choice of the speaker?

Red-white chaos is more “chaotic,” that is, with no internal linkages or order on any level. The speaker chooses the word, but mages tend to be those trained to follow codified rules for handling order and/or chaos.

—:  January 9th, 2026 10:44 amFeed     No Comments »
January 4th Question

Was Sligo, in your Recluce series, named after the Irish town Sligo and, if so, was it for any particular reason?

Yes, it was, partly because I liked Sligo the one time I visited, and partly because the location and setting of “my” Sligo was similar to that of the original setting.

—:  January 4th, 2026 08:27 pmFeed     No Comments »
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