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The Official Chronology of the
Recluce Universe
by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
June 2000

LEM has always maintained that the books should be read in the order of their publication
as listed in the menu on the right.

  • Chronology of the Recluce Universe by L.E.M.
    1. In order of release:

    2. The Magic of Recluce
    3. The Towers of Sunset
    4. The Magic Engineer
    5. The Order War
    6. The Death of Chaos
    7. The Fall of Angels
    8. The Chaos Balance
    9. The White Order
    10. Colors of Chaos
    11. Magi'i of Cyador
    12. Scion of Cyador
    13. Wellspring of Chaos
    14. Ordermaster

    Approx. Year Novel Events
    1 Magi'i of Cyador Lorn must become a Mirror Lancer officer of the White Empire of Cyador, hiding his talents as a magus, while fighting barbarians and the Accursed Forest, and falling in love with the merchanter Ryalth.
    8 Scion of Cyador Now an overcaptain, Lorn -- and Ryalth -- must discover how to keep Lorn from falling prey to plots from ambitious senior officers, merchanters  and Magi'i who plot various coups to take over the Malachite Throne, and stop a barbarian invasion.
    401 Fall of Angels Ryba's and Nylan's ship Winterlance breaks order-chaos barrier into new universe; they and 24 female marines planetfall to the Roof of World, survive local attacks, build Tower Black and Westwind, begin the Westwind guards
    403 The Chaos Balance Nylan and Ayrlyn leave Westwind. They seek refuge in Lornth, which comes under attack by Cyador, the first white empire. Nylan discover the secret of the accursed forest to save Lornth and his son
    900 The Towers of Sunset Creslin, son of the Marshall of Westwind, flees an arranged marriage; is enslaved by White Wizards, escapes, and enters marriage of convenience to Maegara, the white witch; they escape Candar to a desert isle where they create the island nation of Recluce.
    1190 The White Order Cerryl, orphan of a renegade white mage, loses the rest of his family and works his way toward the heritage which fate - and the Guild of the White Order - appear to have denied him. He becomes an apprentice scrivener in Fairhaven, only to discover the white wizards are observing his every move - and may take his life.
    1200 The Magic Engineer Dorrin is exiled from Recluce because of his love of machines forbidden by the Black mages; he, Kadara, and Brede travel through Candar and settle in Spidlar; the White Wizards of Fairhaven raise mountains and build roads through them as they unite Candar under chaos-rule; Dorrin tries to build his machines, many turned to war uses by Brede, as the three fend off chaos.
    1205 Colors of Chaos Cerryl finds that he had only begun to discover the problems facing Fairhaven and the White Order and now must cope with dangers from all over Candar, from Recluce, and from within Fairhaven itself, including the jealousy and instability of the High Wizard himself.
    1650 The Order War Justen, a Black engineer, and his brother Gunnar volunteer to help Sarronnyn fight off the White Wizards of Fairhaven; Justen is driven into the Stone Hills, then rescued by a druid to face greater trials. He defies the Council of Recluce and builds a weapon horrifying both the Council and the White Wizards in his efforts to destroy Fairhaven.
    1710 The Wellspring of Chaos Wellspring of Chaos is set some 60 years after The Order War, and the book opens in the city of Brysta on the continent of Nordla. 
    1712 Ordermaster Kharl has become the Lord's Mage of Austra, only to find himself facing a rebellion by nobles dissatisfied with Lord Ghrant's efforts to curtail their excesses and corruption. And if he succeeds in keeping the young ruler on the throne, he will face an even greater challenge back in Nordla.
    1850 The Magic of Recluce Young, bored, woodworker Lerris leaves Recluce on his dangergeld exile; he travels Candar and finds the gray wizard Justen; he escapes danger and becomes a woodworker again; he fights the great white wizard Antonin; then finds love and understanding with Krystal, subcommander of Kyphros.
    1855 The Death of Chaos Lerris, Krystal, and all of Candar are threatened by both the growing power of the Emperor of Hamor and the growth of Chaos; Hamor attacks Candar, and then Recluce; in the end Lerris must attempt destroy Hamor's power and the power of Chaos, or face the proverbial fate worse than death.
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