L. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt Jr. (; born 1943 By 2015, the 18 novels in the Recluce series had sold nearly three million copies. By 2025, there were 25 Recluce novels.

In addition to his novels, Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact. In 2008, he published his first collection of short stories, Viewpoints Critical: Selected Stories (Tor Books, 2008).

Modesitt was the Writer Guest of Honor at Balticon 58, held from May 24 to 27, 2024.

Early life

Modesitt was born in Denver, Colorado. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts and lived in Washington, D.C. for almost 20 years

Approach to writing

Modesitt has stated, "When all the research, all the writing group support, all the cheerleading, and all the angst fade away, and they should, the bottom line is simple: As a writer, you first must entertain your readers. To keep them beyond a quick and final read, you have to do more than that, whether it's to educate them, make them feel, anger them by challenging their preconceptions—or all of that and more. But if you don't entertain first, none of what else you do matters, because they won't stay around."

Bibliography

;Major series

  • The Saga of Recluce (1991–present)
  • Spellsong Cycle (1997–2002)
  • The Forever Hero (1987–1988)
  • The Corean Chronicles (2002–2011)
  • The Imager Portfolio (2009–2019)
  • The Grand Illusion (2021–present)

Personal life

He met his current wife, Carol A. Modesitt, after moving to New Hampshire in 1989. Carol has worked as a professional opera singer and has been a professor and opera director at Southern Utah University since 1993. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah, in 1993.

He has been married three times and has six daughters and two sons.

References

  • L. E. Modesitt, Jr. – Official Website
  • L. E. Modesitt, Jr. at Tor Books