L. E Modesitt

A collection of short stories set in the world of the Recluce saga features seventeen new tales and four popular reprints spanning the thousand-year history of Recluse, in an anthology complemented by a background essay.

Rhennthyl has spent years becoming a journeyman artist and is skilled enough to be considered for the status of master artisan. Then his life is transformed when his master patron is killed in a flash fire, and Rhenn discovers he is an imager - one of the few in the entire world of Terahnar who can visualize things and make them real.

Cigoerne's Mirror Lances commander Lerial leads three troops on a mission to protect Afrit and Cigoerne from a Heldya invasion, an effort that is complicated by Lerial's troubled past.

Four centuries after its founding, Solidar's Collegium of Imagers is in decline. The dying Maitre summons Alastar, an obscure but talented senior imager from Westisle far to the south who has little knowledge of politics in the capital, as his successor. When Alastar arrives in L'Excelsis he finds disarray and lack of discipline within the Collegium, and himself in the middle of a power struggle. And all that, Alastar discovers, is only a fraction...

"The saga of the Imager Quaeryt, Commander in the forces of Lord Bhayar, reaches a new climax as the great struggle to unify the continent of Lydar enters its final phase. Only the land of Khel remains uncommitted to Bhayar's rule. Their decision could mean a lasting peace, or more conflict across an already war-ravaged realm. While the conqueror of Bovaria awaits emissaries to arrive with news of Khel's decision, other weighty matters occupy Bhayar,...

Solidar is in chaos. Charyn, its young and untested ruler, has survived an assassination attempt and struggles to gain control of a realm in the grip of social upheaval, war, and rioting. Solidar cannot be allowed to slide into social and political turmoil that will leave the High Holders with their ancient power and privilege and the common people with nothing. But the stakes are even higher than he realizes.

Continued poor harvests and steam-powered industrialization displace and impoverish thousands. Protests grow and gather followers. Against this rising tide of social unrest, Steffan Dekkard, newly appointed to the Council of Sixty-Six, is the first Councilor who is an Isolate, a man invulnerable to the emotional manipulations and emotional surveillance of empaths. This makes him dangerous. As unknown entities seek to assassinate him, Dekkard struggles...

"Beltur, an Order mage, discovers he possesses frightening powers not seen for hundreds of years. With his new abilities, he survives the war in Elparta and saves the lives of all. However, victory comes with a price. His fellow mages now see him as a threat to be destroyed, and the local merchants want to exploit his power. There's only one way he can remain free and survive--he's going to have to run."--