Viewpoints Critical: Selected Stories
This is the first story collection from the New York Times bestselling fantasy and science fiction author L. E. Modesitt, Jr. He began publishing as a short story writer in SF magazines in the 1970s, with his work appearing mostly in Analog, but in addition to his novels, he has continued to write equally insightful short fiction over the years. Some of the earliest stories in this collection contain kernels that foreshadow his SF novels, while others display the wide range of his talents and interests, from satire to military adventure.
This collection includes stories from his entire career, a number of which have won awards or been selected for inclusion in anthologies, as well as three new stories that have never been published before: "Black Ordermage" is a new tale set in the world of Modesitt's bestselling Recluce series. "Beyond the Obvious Wind," set in his Corean Chronicles universe, is a riff on what might have happened in the distant past of the Duarches when a military officer is sent to investigate trouble in an iron town and finds a lot more than he anticipated. "Always Outside the Lines," which is realted to the alternate-universe Ghosts of Columbia books, portrays a combat pilot who must fight for his existence simultaneously in three separate but related worlds.
Contents:
- Introduction by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
- The Great American Economy
- Second Coming
- Rule of Law
- Iron Man, Plastic Ships
- Power to...?
- Precision Set
- Fallen Angel
- Black Ordermage
- Understanding
- News Clips from the NYC Ruins
- Beyond the Obvious Wind
- Always Outside the Lines: Four Battles
- The Pilots
- The Dock to Heaven
- Ghost Mission
- Spec-Ops
- Sisters of Sarronnyn, Sisters of Westwind
- The Difference
- The Swan Pilot
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L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
L. E. Modesitt, Jr. is a name that resonates deeply in the world of science fiction and fantasy, particularly for readers who crave intricate world-building, compelling characters, and philosophical musings woven seamlessly into action-packed narratives. With a career spanning decades, Modesitt’s works explore complex themes of power, morality, and societal structure, all set against the backdrop of expansive universes where every decision ripples out with consequences.
Born in the mid-20th century, Modesitt’s early life was shaped by a love of literature, history, and the natural world. His formal education in political science and economics, coupled with his time as a writer, editor, and even a political assistant, gives his work a layer of intellectual depth rarely seen in speculative fiction. These experiences have contributed to the sharp political and ethical dilemmas that surface in his novels, particularly in his Recluce series, which explores a world governed by the struggle between order and chaos.
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