/lit/ - Literature

Imager's Intrigue, Imager Portfolio #3 - L.E. Modesitt Jr. (2010)

The first third was great, the second ok, and the third was fun. The first story arc was unfortunately far too short. The protagonist was in the same position as he was at the end of the second book, but now he had to face his deadly foe yet: a recreational superdrug that seems to be like a combination of weed, cocaine, and heroin. Worse yet, many are dying because fentanyl is being mixed into it. This was easily the greatest part for me and it made me moan at times. This couldn't have been handled better, regardless of my personal preferences.

When GRRM asked, "What was Aragorn’s tax policy?" were you at least amused by it? Well, if so, then you're in luck. There were 25 direct uses "tax" as a base word, and not a single one of them meant strenuous. An example:
>considering revising the Solidaran sales tax structure and imposing a one percent value-added tax on both the bulk sale of agricultural produce and of manufactured goods, on the grounds that the sellers of those goods were effectively exempted from the end-use sales taxes.

There was a lot that was similar. There was also discussion about ancillary water rights, land tax, the specific details of their particular form of government, and much else. I didn't enjoy it.

In what I wrote about the second book, I stated that the protagonist had some villainous tendencies, though I suppose that's only my perspective. The overall tone seemed to be "you should be grateful to those who dirty their mind, body, and soul for you, and may have irrevocably lost their humanity." Which to me, is arguable, though with considerable skepticism. I previously wrote about being co-opted by the system, but that was the wrong sort of statement. It'd would've been better to have asked what happens when someone against the system becomes the system? What then is there to rebel against or blame for failure? Well, there's other systems, parts of your own system, and yourself. It seems rather uncommon that the last of those is chosen.

Thus this trilogy came to an end, though the series continues on at a different time and place with other characters. I was concerned that both the ending and protagonist's character arc would remain unfinished. That feeling lasted until I was most of the way through. Fortunately, the resolution and epilogue provided both. However, I was conflicted about the ending because it was weak and disproportionate. I understood the rationale and I thought about what I'd think if this was done on my behalf. It's something to publicly condem and it's only human to want to avoid suffering the consequences of our own actions, even if it means that many others must suffer in our stead.

Rating: 2.5/5

Imager's Intrigue, Imager Portfolio #3 - L.E. Modesitt Jr. (2010)

The first third was meh, the second ok, and the third was fun. The first story arc was unfortunately far too long. The protagonist was in the same position as he was at the end of the second book, but now he had to face his deadly foe yet: a recreational superdrug that seems to be like a combination of weed, cocaine, and heroin. Worse yet, many are dying because not-fentanyl is being mixed into it. This was easily the worst part for me and it made me groan at times. Surely this could've been handled better, regardless of my personal preferences. Eventually it ended and I enjoyed the rest considerably more, despite the abrupt and rapid pace of progression in all ways that followed.

When GRRM asked, "What was Aragorn’s tax policy?" were you at least amused by it? Well, if so, then you're in luck. There were 25 direct uses "tax" as a base word, and not a single one of them meant strenuous. An example:
>considering revising the Solidaran sales tax structure and imposing a one percent value-added tax on both the bulk sale of agricultural produce and of manufactured goods, on the grounds that the sellers of those goods were effectively exempted from the end-use sales taxes.

There was a lot that was similar. There was also discussion about ancillary water rights, land tax, the specific details of their particular form of government, and much else. I enjoyed it.

In what I wrote about the second book, I stated that the protagonist had some villainous tendencies, though I suppose that's only my perspective. The overall tone seemed to be "you should be grateful to those who dirty their mind, body, and soul for you, and may have irrevocably lost their humanity." Which to me, is arguable, though with considerable skepticism. I previously wrote about being co-opted by the system, but that was the wrong sort of statement. It'd would've been better to have asked what happens when someone against the system becomes the system? What then is there to rebel against or blame for failure? Well, there's other systems, parts of your own system, and yourself. It seems rather uncommon that the last of those is chosen.

Thus this trilogy came to an end, though the series continues on at a different time and place with other characters. I was concerned that both the ending and protagonist's character arc would remain unfinished. That feeling lasted until I was most of the way through. Fortunately, the resolution and epilogue provided both. However, I was conflicted about the ending because it was excessive and disproportionate. I understood the rationale and I thought about what I'd think if this was done on my behalf. It's something to publicly condemn, yet to be relieved about in private. It's only human to want to avoid suffering the consequences of our own (in)actions, even if it means that many others must suffer in our stead.

Rating: 3.5/5