The Grand Illusion
The Imager Portfolio
The Corean Chronicles
The Ecolitan Matter
The Forever Hero
The Ghost Books
The Saga of Recluce
The Magic of RecluceThe Towers of the SunsetThe Magic EngineerThe Order WarThe Death of ChaosFall of AngelsThe Chaos BalanceThe White OrderColors of ChaosMagi’i of CyadorScion of CyadorWellspring of Chaos
OrdermasterNatural OrdermageMage-Guard of HamorArms-CommanderCyador’s HeirsHeritage of CyadorThe Mongrel MageOutcasts of OrderThe Mage-Fire WarFairhaven RisingFrom the ForestOvercaptainSub-Majer’s ChallengeRecluce TalesThe Spellsong Cycle
Timegods' World
Science Fiction and Other Novels
The Green ProgressionHammer of DarknessThe Parafaith WarAdiamanteGravity DreamsThe Octagonal RavenArchform: BeautyThe Ethos EffectFlashThe Eternity ArtifactThe Elysium CommissionViewpoints CriticalHazeEmpress of EternityQuantum ShadowsThe One-Eyed Man: A Fugue, with Winds and AccompanimentSolar Express
I have read all the Recluce novels. I started in 1991. I recently decided to go back and reread them all. I just saw the Recluce Chronology for the first time. Do you recommend rereading them in the order they were published or in the order of the chronology?
That’s a personal preference. For most readers, for a FIRST read, I suggest reading in publication order. For a rereading, I’d suggest the chronological order.
As someone who’s read and reread the entire series, the advantage to publication order the first time through is you can better appreciate LEM’s extremely thorough world-building.
Endless variations on the theme of order vs. chaos, and what can be done with each in the way of magic.
Then, internal-chronology order lets you appreciate the world-building in terms of the rise and fall of nations and cultures.