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The 16 books of the series describe the changing, often confrontational, relationship between the [[AncientAstronauts genetic descendants of two technologically advanced cultures]], representatives of which have been [[LostColony marooned]] on a sparsely inhabited planet and regressed to the level of the existing inhabitants' primitive technology. Themes of gender stereotyping, prejudice, ethics, economics, environmentalism and politics are explored in the course of the series, which examines the world through the eyes of all its main characters.
to:
The 16 20 books of the series describe the changing, often confrontational, relationship between the [[AncientAstronauts genetic descendants of two technologically advanced cultures]], representatives of which have been [[LostColony marooned]] on a sparsely inhabited planet and regressed to the level of the existing inhabitants' primitive technology. Themes of gender stereotyping, prejudice, ethics, economics, environmentalism and politics are explored in the course of the series, which examines the world through the eyes of all its main characters.
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''The Saga of Recluce'' is a series of fantasy novels written by Creator/LEModesittJr. The initial novel in the series, ''The Magic of Recluce'' (from which the series derives its name), was published in 1991. The series is still in publication with the recently released ''Arms-Commander'' in January 2010.
to:
''The Saga of Recluce'' is a series of fantasy novels written by Creator/LEModesittJr. The initial novel in the series, ''The Magic of Recluce'' (from which the series derives its name), was published in 1991. The series is still in publication with the recently released ''Arms-Commander'' ''Outcasts of Order'' in January 2010.
June 2018.
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# Mage-Guard of Hamor (Immediately following Natural Ordermage)
# Arms-Commander (Year 413?)
# Arms-Commander (Year 413?)
to:
# Mage-Guard of Hamor (Immediately following Natural Ordermage)
(Year 1503)
# Arms-Commander (Year413?)
415)
# Cyador's Heirs (Year 425)
# Heritage of Cyador (Year 433)
# The Mongrel Mage (Year 675)
# Outcasts of Order (Year 677)
# Arms-Commander (Year
# Cyador's Heirs (Year 425)
# Heritage of Cyador (Year 433)
# The Mongrel Mage (Year 675)
# Outcasts of Order (Year 677)
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''The Saga of Recluce'' is a series of fantasy novels written by L.E. Modesitt Jr. The initial novel in the series, ''The Magic of Recluce'' (from which the series derives its name), was published in 1991. The series is still in publication with the recently released ''Arms-Commander'' in January 2010.
to:
''The Saga of Recluce'' is a series of fantasy novels written by L.E. Modesitt Jr.Creator/LEModesittJr. The initial novel in the series, ''The Magic of Recluce'' (from which the series derives its name), was published in 1991. The series is still in publication with the recently released ''Arms-Commander'' in January 2010.
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from LE Modessit Jr
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* InHarmonyWithNature: Central to the series.
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* SummonEverymanHero: Suggested.
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** Of course, the so-called book is really just the disorganized ramblings of another exile who came home, who they decided was a genius [[ImNotAHeroIm without his consultation]].
to:
** Of course, the so-called book is really just the disorganized ramblings of another exile who came home, who whom they decided was a genius [[ImNotAHeroIm without his consultation]].
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*** Of course, none of this prevented Recluce from using terrorist tactics against civilians in a duchy of Candar in the very first book,nor engaging in piracy in the later books. The suffering of associated order magi is their cross to bear alone.
to:
*** Of course, none of this prevented Recluce from using terrorist tactics against civilians in a duchy of Candar in the very first book,nor book, nor engaging in piracy in the later books. The suffering of associated order magi is their cross to bear alone.
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** Further, there are extremely practical reasons that certain advances we made in technology cannot be used. Firearms, for example, could be disastrous from a tactical standpoint when one relatively weak chaos user (not necessarily even powerful enough to call them a mage) could heat the gunpowder, and internal combustion engines generate raw chaos which is much more powerful in the universe of Recluse than ours. There's a reason that most technology that actually get used requires black Order-imbued iron, and using too much of that creates Chaos concentrations elsewhere in the world. A major criticism of Recluse is that their over-concentration of Order is responsible for the constant war and other social evils of Candar.
to:
** Further, there are extremely practical reasons that certain advances we made in technology cannot be used. Firearms, for example, could be disastrous from a tactical standpoint when one relatively weak chaos user (not necessarily even powerful enough to call them a mage) could heat the gunpowder, and internal combustion engines generate raw chaos chaos, which is much more powerful in the universe of Recluse Recluce than ours. There's a reason that most technology that actually get used requires black Order-imbued iron, and using too much of that creates Chaos concentrations elsewhere in the world. A major criticism of Recluse Recluce is that their over-concentration of Order is responsible for the constant war and other social evils of Candar.
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Redheaded Hero is being cut per the Appearance tropes cleanup thread.
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* RedHeadedHero: Many, Dorrin and Maegera being the most notable.
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Redheaded Hero is being cut per the Appearance tropes cleanup thread.
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* HeroesWantRedheads: This, RedHeadedHero, and FieryRedhead figure prominently throughout the series; and are repeatedly played straight, inverted, subverted, and twisted around various ways that indicate a significant AuthorAppeal.
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* HeroesWantRedheads: This, RedHeadedHero, This and FieryRedhead figure prominently throughout the series; and are repeatedly played straight, inverted, subverted, and twisted around various ways that indicate a significant AuthorAppeal.
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* ImNotAHeroIm: Most of the main characters are exiles from Recluce (or in one case, Westwind), because they develop strong Order magic powers. They consistently resist being labeled as "order-masters", but insist they're just simple woodworkers/blacksmiths/engineers/etc.
* Through two of the three books he appears in, Justen continually insists that he is not a druid, even after having passed their magical trials to become one. He eventually capitulates and accepts the designation, though only with qualifications (a "sort of druid").
* Through two of the three books he appears in, Justen continually insists that he is not a druid, even after having passed their magical trials to become one. He eventually capitulates and accepts the designation, though only with qualifications (a "sort of druid").
to:
* ImNotAHeroIm: ImNotAHeroIm:
** Most of the main characters are exiles from Recluce (or in one case, Westwind), because they develop strong Order magic powers. They consistently resist being labeled as "order-masters", but insist they're just simple woodworkers/blacksmiths/engineers/etc.
* ** Through two of the three books he appears in, Justen continually insists that he is not a druid, even after having passed their magical trials to become one. He eventually capitulates and accepts the designation, though only with qualifications (a "sort of druid").
** Most of the main characters are exiles from Recluce (or in one case, Westwind), because they develop strong Order magic powers. They consistently resist being labeled as "order-masters", but insist they're just simple woodworkers/blacksmiths/engineers/etc.
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* BrilliantButLazy: Lerris and Rahl are prime examples.
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* BrilliantButLazy: Lerris and Rahl are prime Rahl, among other examples.
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* BrilliantButLazy: Lerris and Rahl are prime examples.
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* FantasticNuke: Figures heavily into the climax of ''The Order War''.
** For a while, the possibility of an ''actual'' nuke is tossed about, [[AbortedArc before the idea is thrown out and never spoken of again.]]
** For a while, the possibility of an ''actual'' nuke is tossed about, [[AbortedArc before the idea is thrown out and never spoken of again.]]
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*** It's also a method of limiting the number of Order Masters. Due to the balance of chaos and order, a concentration of one will cause a concentration of the other. By offering prospective Masters minimal guidance so they will instead pursue other crafts, the chance of a chaos concentration forming is reduced.
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*** It's also a [[ExploitedTrope method of limiting the number of Order Masters.Masters]]. Due to the balance of chaos and order, a concentration of one will cause a concentration of the other. By offering prospective Masters minimal guidance so they will instead pursue other crafts, the chance of a chaos concentration forming is reduced.
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* HeroesWantRedheads: This and FieryRedhead figure prominently throughout the series; and are repeatedly played straight, inverted, subverted, and twisted around various ways that indicate a significant AuthorAppeal.
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* HeroesWantRedheads: This This, RedHeadedHero, and FieryRedhead figure prominently throughout the series; and are repeatedly played straight, inverted, subverted, and twisted around various ways that indicate a significant AuthorAppeal.
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** Dorrin from ''The Magic Engineer'' on the other hand, is a complete subversion, being generally the most passive and level-headed character in the book.
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** Dorrin from ''The Magic Engineer'' on the other hand, is a complete subversion, being generally the most passive and level-headed character in the book.book; although he can be quite formidable once his anger is roused.
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** Dorrit from ''The Magic Engineer'' on the other hand, is a complete subversion, being generally the most passive and level-headed character in the book.
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** Dorrit Dorrin from ''The Magic Engineer'' on the other hand, is a complete subversion, being generally the most passive and level-headed character in the book.
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* RedHeadedHero: Many, Dorrin and Maegera being the most notable.
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* BelligerantSexualTension: Quite a few relationships are either this, or are hinted to be this before being subverted. The most notable straight example being Creslin and Maegera, whith Lerris and Tamra being a notable subversion.
to:
* BelligerantSexualTension: BelligerentSexualTension: Quite a few relationships are either this, or are hinted to be this before being subverted. The most notable straight example being Creslin and Maegera, whith Lerris and Tamra being a notable subversion.
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* BelligerantSexualTension: Quite a few relationships are either this, or are hinted to be this before being subverted. The most notable straight example being Creslin and Maegera, whith Lerris and Tamra being a notable subversion.
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* SlapSlapKiss: Quite a few relationships are either this, or are hinted to be this before being subverted. The most notable straight example being Creslin and Maegera, whith Lerris and Tamra being a notable subversion.
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** Maegera from ''Towers of the Sunset'' is a very literal example while she is still a Chaos wizard, throwing fireballs at the slightest provocation.
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** Maegera from ''Towers of the Sunset'' is a very literal example while she is still a Chaos wizard, throwing fireballs chaos-fire at the slightest provocation.
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* FieryRedhead: Played straight and subverted repeatedly throughout the series. The author [[AuthorAppeal seem to really like redheads]].
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* FieryRedhead: Played straight and subverted repeatedly throughout the series. The author [[AuthorAppeal seem seems to really like redheads]].
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** Maegera from ''Towers of the Sunset'' is a very literally while she is still a Chaos wizard, throwing fireballs at the slightest provocation.
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** Maegera from ''Towers of the Sunset'' is a very literally literal example while she is still a Chaos wizard, throwing fireballs at the slightest provocation.
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* ImNotAHeroIm: Most of the main characters are exiles from Recluce (or in one case, Westwind), because they develop strong Order magic powers. They consistently resist being labeled as "order-masters", but insist they're just simple woodworkers/blacksmiths/engineers/etc.
* Through two of the three books he appears in, Justen continually insists that he is not a druid, even after having passed their magical trials to become one. He eventually capitulates and accepts the designation, though only with qualifications (a "sort of druid").
* Through two of the three books he appears in, Justen continually insists that he is not a druid, even after having passed their magical trials to become one. He eventually capitulates and accepts the designation, though only with qualifications (a "sort of druid").
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* CannotTellALie: Order mages have a very difficult time with any sort of deception, even withholding the truth causes them pain and discomfort, although some become practiced at the art of deceiving with incomplete truths.
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** Maegera is described in the books as grey, because she is able to move from using Chaos magic to using pure Order magic. Aside from the druids, the only truly grey mage is Justen. Earlier grey mages are described as "unstable", and tended to have shorter lifespans than even Chaos wizards.
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* FieryRedhead: Played straight and subverted repeatedly throughout the series. The author [[AuthorAppeal seem to really like redheads]].
** Maegera from ''Towers of the Sunset'' is a very literally while she is still a Chaos wizard, throwing fireballs at the slightest provocation.
** Dorrit from ''The Magic Engineer'' on the other hand, is a complete subversion, being generally the most passive and level-headed character in the book.
** Maegera from ''Towers of the Sunset'' is a very literally while she is still a Chaos wizard, throwing fireballs at the slightest provocation.
** Dorrit from ''The Magic Engineer'' on the other hand, is a complete subversion, being generally the most passive and level-headed character in the book.
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* SlapSlapKiss: Quite a few relationships are either this, or are hinted to be this before being subverted. The most notable straight example being Creslin and Maegera, whith Lerris and Tamra being a notable subversion.
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None
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* HeroesWantRedheads: This and FireyRedhead figure prominently throughout the series; and are repeatedly played straight, inverted, subverted, and twisted around various ways that indicate a significant AuthorAppeal.
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* HeroesWantRedheads: This and FireyRedhead FieryRedhead figure prominently throughout the series; and are repeatedly played straight, inverted, subverted, and twisted around various ways that indicate a significant AuthorAppeal.
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* HeroesWantRedheads: This and FireyRedhead figure prominently throughout the series; and are repeatedly played straight, inverted, subverted, and twisted around various ways that indicate a significant AuthorAppeal.
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** The black mages can't even tell a lie without suffering stomach cramps.
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** The black mages [[CannotTellALie can't even tell a lie lie]] without suffering stomach cramps.
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moved to namespace
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''The Saga of Recluce'' is a series of fantasy novels written by L.E. Modesitt Jr. The initial novel in the series, ''The Magic of Recluce'' (from which the series derives its name), was published in 1991. The series is still in publication with the recently released ''Arms-Commander'' in January 2010.
The 16 books of the series describe the changing, often confrontational, relationship between the [[AncientAstronauts genetic descendants of two technologically advanced cultures]], representatives of which have been [[LostColony marooned]] on a sparsely inhabited planet and regressed to the level of the existing inhabitants' primitive technology. Themes of gender stereotyping, prejudice, ethics, economics, environmentalism and politics are explored in the course of the series, which examines the world through the eyes of all its main characters.
The series is published outside internal chronological order: The first book published in the series occurs near the end of the overall story, with subsequent books jumping further into the past to expand on elements of history. (The author strongly recommends reading the books in publication order.) As of the sixteenth novel, Arms-Commander, the saga covers seven different time periods and ten major storylines. The stories demonstrate the progression of real-life events into myth and legend over the progression of centuries, as the characters in one book will be referenced as heroes or mythical figures in other, chronologically later books. Additionally, certain characters appear in multiple books even if they aren't the main protagonist in that particular novel.
Modesitt's fantasy novels are known for their [[MagicAIsMagicA unusually rigorous system of magic]], in contrast to typical fantasy universes where magic is ill-defined. Within the Recluce universe, magic is manifest as a person's ability to harness the natural [[OrderVersusChaos order or chaos]] inherent in matter. The feats of magic that are possible rely on the user's understanding not only of order or chaos, but in the interaction between the two and how they occur in balance in nature. Modesitt is unusual in fantasy writing in that he shows how the use of order and chaos affects all aspects of society. For example, his order wizards have jobs—they are carpenters, coopers, smiths, and engineers—all areas where order gives an added understanding. The chaos wizards are mostly enforcers, but can take on tasks like road-building when it is in their interest.
The Series so far:
# The Magic of Recluce (Year 1850)
# The Towers of the Sunset (Year 900)
# The Magic Engineer (Year 1200)
# The Order War (Year 1605)
# The Death of Chaos (Year 1855)
# The Fall of Angels (Year 401)
# The Chaos Balance (Year 403)
# The White Order (Year 1190)
# Colors of Chaos (Year 1205)
# Magi'i of Cyador (Year 1)
# Scion of Cyador (Year 8)
# Wellspring of Chaos (Year 1710)
# Ordermaster (Year 1712)
# Natural Ordermage (Year 1500)
# Mage-Guard of Hamor (Immediately following Natural Ordermage)
# Arms-Commander (Year 413?)
----
!!The series provides examples of:
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: With few exceptions, pure chaos mages are generally unpleasant, corrupt and power-hungry.
* AnachronicOrder: If you read the books in order of their release, you'll be jumping back and forth from past, to future, and back, many times before you're done. The order above is the list by their publish dates followed by their year that the events occur InUniverse. Modesitte jumps back and forth over almost two millennia.
* DarkIsNotEvil[=/=]LightIsNotGood: The "black" mages are the ones who use order, and are unable to do violence or kill without suffering painful headaches and blindness. Meanwhile, the "white" chaos wielders can pretty much be guaranteed to be the villains of the story.
** The black mages can't even tell a lie without suffering stomach cramps.
*** Of course, none of this prevented Recluce from using terrorist tactics against civilians in a duchy of Candar in the very first book,nor engaging in piracy in the later books. The suffering of associated order magi is their cross to bear alone.
** The Backstory also had [[EldritchAbomination "demons of light"]].
* DullSurprise: More or less sums up the range of emotions most of the main characters display.
* FigureItOutYourself: ''The Saga of Recluce'' has a particularly ridiculous case of this. Order mages are usually "trained" by being given a near-incomprehensible textbook and sent off into danger. Why? Because, for no apparent reason, actually explaining things prevents mages from applying what they were told. Even though the explanations make perfect sense to the reader.
** It's like Zen Buddhism. They need to understand the concepts on a deeper level than simple knowledge. It's a basically a giant book of {{Koan}}s.
** In a few places it's stated that this isn't so much the ''normal'' method of training an Order Master so much as whichever mage we happen to be following is an exceptionally tough nut to crack, and wouldn't listen to advice even if it was offered.
*** It's also a method of limiting the number of Order Masters. Due to the balance of chaos and order, a concentration of one will cause a concentration of the other. By offering prospective Masters minimal guidance so they will instead pursue other crafts, the chance of a chaos concentration forming is reduced.
** Of course, the so-called book is really just the disorganized ramblings of another exile who came home, who they decided was a genius [[ImNotAHeroIm without his consultation]].
* FoodPorn: Lavish detail is often given to the food served in the books.
* MagicAIsMagicA: The rules of what can be done with order and chaos magic ''are'' rigorously defined, and the author seldom breaks his own rules.
** New variations of the magic seen in subsequent books often focus more on deeper understandings of how the two forces interact and combine, often verging on what appears to be a magical variant of molecular physics.
* TheMagicGoesAway: In ''The Death of Chaos'', the final battle between the order users and chaos wielders results in magic being rendered unusable for an indefinite amount of time - possibly for hundreds or thousands of years.
* MedievalStasis: Averted in some respects, played straight in others. The books span more than 1,500 years of history, and while there is progress in some respects — steam engines, firearms — in other respects, society and technology are ''exactly'' the same in the final story as they were in the first.
** There's a good reason for said stasis in this case. Much like how the ancient Greeks had invented a steam engine but never really found a purpose for it because they had slaves to do most of the work, the mages in the world of Recluce get by just fine on magic, somewhat obviating the need for technological development. And considering the way some bits of technology affect the balance, there's actually kind of a disincentive to develop anything really complex.
** Further, there are extremely practical reasons that certain advances we made in technology cannot be used. Firearms, for example, could be disastrous from a tactical standpoint when one relatively weak chaos user (not necessarily even powerful enough to call them a mage) could heat the gunpowder, and internal combustion engines generate raw chaos which is much more powerful in the universe of Recluse than ours. There's a reason that most technology that actually get used requires black Order-imbued iron, and using too much of that creates Chaos concentrations elsewhere in the world. A major criticism of Recluse is that their over-concentration of Order is responsible for the constant war and other social evils of Candar.
* OrderVersusChaos: The driving force of the stories; an emphasis is placed on finding a balance.
* RecycledINSPACE: HoratioAlger stories WITH MAGIC.
* TheRedMage: Some mages are capable of tapping into both order and chaos, and are called "gray" mages, or druids. They generally are more powerful than all-black or all-white. The only two white mage main characters in the novels, Lorn and Cerryl, are both actually grey - they can both wield order powers.
** The incomprehensible textbook for white mages points out that you'll just blow yourself up with pure chaos. All chaos mages use order to channel their chaos. This doesn't make them grey in the same way the druids are grey.
* ShownTheirWork: All of the Order mages have mundane day jobs, as mentioned above. The author clearly did the research on their occupations; and his depictions of their activities demonstrate this in excruciating detail.
* WorldBuilding: Modesitt creates a world and history as detailed and realistic as Creator/FrankHerbert's ''Literature/{{Dune}}'', or Creator/LarryNiven's ''Literature/KnownSpace''.
* WrittenSoundEffect: Used with restraint for the most part, though in a few books things like chewing, drinking, and doors being opened and shut all have their own sound effects, used frequently.
----
The 16 books of the series describe the changing, often confrontational, relationship between the [[AncientAstronauts genetic descendants of two technologically advanced cultures]], representatives of which have been [[LostColony marooned]] on a sparsely inhabited planet and regressed to the level of the existing inhabitants' primitive technology. Themes of gender stereotyping, prejudice, ethics, economics, environmentalism and politics are explored in the course of the series, which examines the world through the eyes of all its main characters.
The series is published outside internal chronological order: The first book published in the series occurs near the end of the overall story, with subsequent books jumping further into the past to expand on elements of history. (The author strongly recommends reading the books in publication order.) As of the sixteenth novel, Arms-Commander, the saga covers seven different time periods and ten major storylines. The stories demonstrate the progression of real-life events into myth and legend over the progression of centuries, as the characters in one book will be referenced as heroes or mythical figures in other, chronologically later books. Additionally, certain characters appear in multiple books even if they aren't the main protagonist in that particular novel.
Modesitt's fantasy novels are known for their [[MagicAIsMagicA unusually rigorous system of magic]], in contrast to typical fantasy universes where magic is ill-defined. Within the Recluce universe, magic is manifest as a person's ability to harness the natural [[OrderVersusChaos order or chaos]] inherent in matter. The feats of magic that are possible rely on the user's understanding not only of order or chaos, but in the interaction between the two and how they occur in balance in nature. Modesitt is unusual in fantasy writing in that he shows how the use of order and chaos affects all aspects of society. For example, his order wizards have jobs—they are carpenters, coopers, smiths, and engineers—all areas where order gives an added understanding. The chaos wizards are mostly enforcers, but can take on tasks like road-building when it is in their interest.
The Series so far:
# The Magic of Recluce (Year 1850)
# The Towers of the Sunset (Year 900)
# The Magic Engineer (Year 1200)
# The Order War (Year 1605)
# The Death of Chaos (Year 1855)
# The Fall of Angels (Year 401)
# The Chaos Balance (Year 403)
# The White Order (Year 1190)
# Colors of Chaos (Year 1205)
# Magi'i of Cyador (Year 1)
# Scion of Cyador (Year 8)
# Wellspring of Chaos (Year 1710)
# Ordermaster (Year 1712)
# Natural Ordermage (Year 1500)
# Mage-Guard of Hamor (Immediately following Natural Ordermage)
# Arms-Commander (Year 413?)
----
!!The series provides examples of:
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: With few exceptions, pure chaos mages are generally unpleasant, corrupt and power-hungry.
* AnachronicOrder: If you read the books in order of their release, you'll be jumping back and forth from past, to future, and back, many times before you're done. The order above is the list by their publish dates followed by their year that the events occur InUniverse. Modesitte jumps back and forth over almost two millennia.
* DarkIsNotEvil[=/=]LightIsNotGood: The "black" mages are the ones who use order, and are unable to do violence or kill without suffering painful headaches and blindness. Meanwhile, the "white" chaos wielders can pretty much be guaranteed to be the villains of the story.
** The black mages can't even tell a lie without suffering stomach cramps.
*** Of course, none of this prevented Recluce from using terrorist tactics against civilians in a duchy of Candar in the very first book,nor engaging in piracy in the later books. The suffering of associated order magi is their cross to bear alone.
** The Backstory also had [[EldritchAbomination "demons of light"]].
* DullSurprise: More or less sums up the range of emotions most of the main characters display.
* FigureItOutYourself: ''The Saga of Recluce'' has a particularly ridiculous case of this. Order mages are usually "trained" by being given a near-incomprehensible textbook and sent off into danger. Why? Because, for no apparent reason, actually explaining things prevents mages from applying what they were told. Even though the explanations make perfect sense to the reader.
** It's like Zen Buddhism. They need to understand the concepts on a deeper level than simple knowledge. It's a basically a giant book of {{Koan}}s.
** In a few places it's stated that this isn't so much the ''normal'' method of training an Order Master so much as whichever mage we happen to be following is an exceptionally tough nut to crack, and wouldn't listen to advice even if it was offered.
*** It's also a method of limiting the number of Order Masters. Due to the balance of chaos and order, a concentration of one will cause a concentration of the other. By offering prospective Masters minimal guidance so they will instead pursue other crafts, the chance of a chaos concentration forming is reduced.
** Of course, the so-called book is really just the disorganized ramblings of another exile who came home, who they decided was a genius [[ImNotAHeroIm without his consultation]].
* FoodPorn: Lavish detail is often given to the food served in the books.
* MagicAIsMagicA: The rules of what can be done with order and chaos magic ''are'' rigorously defined, and the author seldom breaks his own rules.
** New variations of the magic seen in subsequent books often focus more on deeper understandings of how the two forces interact and combine, often verging on what appears to be a magical variant of molecular physics.
* TheMagicGoesAway: In ''The Death of Chaos'', the final battle between the order users and chaos wielders results in magic being rendered unusable for an indefinite amount of time - possibly for hundreds or thousands of years.
* MedievalStasis: Averted in some respects, played straight in others. The books span more than 1,500 years of history, and while there is progress in some respects — steam engines, firearms — in other respects, society and technology are ''exactly'' the same in the final story as they were in the first.
** There's a good reason for said stasis in this case. Much like how the ancient Greeks had invented a steam engine but never really found a purpose for it because they had slaves to do most of the work, the mages in the world of Recluce get by just fine on magic, somewhat obviating the need for technological development. And considering the way some bits of technology affect the balance, there's actually kind of a disincentive to develop anything really complex.
** Further, there are extremely practical reasons that certain advances we made in technology cannot be used. Firearms, for example, could be disastrous from a tactical standpoint when one relatively weak chaos user (not necessarily even powerful enough to call them a mage) could heat the gunpowder, and internal combustion engines generate raw chaos which is much more powerful in the universe of Recluse than ours. There's a reason that most technology that actually get used requires black Order-imbued iron, and using too much of that creates Chaos concentrations elsewhere in the world. A major criticism of Recluse is that their over-concentration of Order is responsible for the constant war and other social evils of Candar.
* OrderVersusChaos: The driving force of the stories; an emphasis is placed on finding a balance.
* RecycledINSPACE: HoratioAlger stories WITH MAGIC.
* TheRedMage: Some mages are capable of tapping into both order and chaos, and are called "gray" mages, or druids. They generally are more powerful than all-black or all-white. The only two white mage main characters in the novels, Lorn and Cerryl, are both actually grey - they can both wield order powers.
** The incomprehensible textbook for white mages points out that you'll just blow yourself up with pure chaos. All chaos mages use order to channel their chaos. This doesn't make them grey in the same way the druids are grey.
* ShownTheirWork: All of the Order mages have mundane day jobs, as mentioned above. The author clearly did the research on their occupations; and his depictions of their activities demonstrate this in excruciating detail.
* WorldBuilding: Modesitt creates a world and history as detailed and realistic as Creator/FrankHerbert's ''Literature/{{Dune}}'', or Creator/LarryNiven's ''Literature/KnownSpace''.
* WrittenSoundEffect: Used with restraint for the most part, though in a few books things like chewing, drinking, and doors being opened and shut all have their own sound effects, used frequently.
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