Alector's Choice (Corean Chronicles Series #4) by L. E. Modesitt

Product Details

Synopsis

Alector's Choice takes place several thousand years before the events chronicled in the Legacies Trilogy, at the time when Corus is ruled by the Talent-magic of the Duarchy. The Myrmidons of Justice command the skies riding their fearsome pteridons.
As the Alector Colonel of Myrmidons, Dainyl is the fourth highest ranking military officer of the Duarchy. Alectors are a race apart from the normal inhabitants of Corus, from another world. But there is a rebellion brewing against them.
Captain Mykel is a young officer potentially Talented and unaware that, should he ever discover that Talent, his life is forfeit. For Mykel is not an Alector, and only Alectors are allowed to use Talent.
The rebellion spirals out of control, spurred by treachery, corruption, and greed -- and aided by the re-appearance of the ancient soarers, a fragile humanoid race of flying beings thought to have become extinct. A terrible war is brewing, and one, or both of these men are the only ones who might stand against it.

Publishers Weekly

While not quite up to the Spellsong saga or the best of the Recluce novels, Modesitt's complex fourth entry in his Corean series (after 2004's Scepters) contains plenty of fine world building and intelligently developed magic. With the life force of the planet Ifryn almost exhausted, its population is about to migrate to Corus, where the eight-foot Alectors, a superior race with psychic powers, are overseeing the biological preparation of this new world. Unfortunately, the migration will reduce the status of the powerful Alectors, while the Corus natives, known as indigens, will move so far down the social ladder as to be barely visible. The many subplots tend to slow the pace, but Modesitt fans, knowing what they're in for, will find reaching the end of this challenging fantasy well worth the effort. Newcomers would do best to start with Legacies (2002), the first of the Corean chronicles. (June 8) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Biography

L. E. Modesitt, Jr. was born in Denver, CO in 1943. In the years since, he has 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 a U.S. Congressman; 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. In addition to his novels -- most notably the Recluce saga, Spellsong series and Corean Chronicles -- Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles (generally with boring titles), columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. He and his wife, a lyric soprano, make their home in Cedar City, UT.

L. E. Modesitt, Jr., is the bestselling author of the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. His science fiction includes Adiamante, the Ecolitan novels, and Archform: Beauty. He lives in Cedar City, Utah.