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L. E. Modesitt Jr.
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The Soprano Sorceress (Spellsong Cycle, Book 1) Hardcover – Abridged, January 1, 1997

by L.E Modesitt Jr. (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 45 ratings
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Anna, a woman who dreams about being a singer and living anywhere other than Iowa, is brought into the mist world of Erde, thanks to the spell of a travel sorceress, and quickly finds that she has become caught in a desperate struggle for survival. 50,000 first printing.
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  1. Print length
    509 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Tor Books
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1997
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.75 x 10 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0312860226
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0312860226
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A singer/music instructor becomes a sorceress in this first in a new series.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Modesitt takes leave from Recluce, the scene of his successful series of fantasies, in a new take on the classic situation of someone from our world being tossed into a fantasy realm. In this case, the one tossed is singer and music teacher Anna, who is recovering from the death of her eldest daughter. She finds herself in a world in which songs are spells, music is the source of power, and she herself is a potent sorceress. That status promptly makes her the target of at least three villains who, for grittily realistic and unpleasantly plausible reasons, seek to exploit or destroy her. In fact, a tone of gritty realism pervades the whole book, as Modesitt develops his variation on a venerable plot with his usual intelligence, so that more than just his staunch fans will be busily turning pages. Moreover, few will be unmoved when Anna routs a hostile army with her (literally) spellbinding rendering of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Roland Green

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tor Books; First Edition (January 1, 1997)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 509 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0312860226
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312860226
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.9 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.75 x 10 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 45 ratings

About the author

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L. E. Modesitt Jr.

L. E. Modesitt Jr.

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No matter what anyone claims, writers are made, not born, and what and how they write is the result of just how they were made… or how they made themselves. I began by writing poetry, which was published only in small magazines, and then went on to write administrative reports while I was a U.S. Naval aviator, followed by research papers, speeches, economic and technical studies, and policy and briefing papers. Along the way, I’ve been a delivery boy; a lifeguard; an unpaid radio disc jockey; a U.S. Navy pilot; a market research analyst; a real estate agent; director of research for a political campaign; legislative assistant and staff director for U.S. Congressmen; Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues; a college lecturer and writer in residence; and unpaid treasurer of a civic music arts association.

As a result, my writing tends to incorporate all of the above, in addition to the science fiction I read from a very early age. After more than seventy-five published novels, and nearly fifty short stories, it’s fairly clear to me that “what kind of writer” I am for readers tends to depend on which of my books each reader has read.

Along the way, I’ve weathered eight children, a fondness for three-piece suits [which has deteriorated into a love of vests], a brown Labrador, a white cockapoo, an energetic Shih-tzu, two scheming dachshunds, a capricious spaniel, a crazy Saluki-Aussie, and three very individualist cats. In 1989, to escape nearly twenty years of occupational captivity in Washington, D.C., I escaped to New Hampshire. There I was fortunate enough to find and marry a lovely lyric soprano, and we moved to Cedar City, Utah, in 1993, where she directs the voice and opera program at Southern Utah University and where I attempt to create and manage chaos in the process of writing.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
45 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

jane s. covert
5.0 out of 5 stars The book is well written it pull's you into the ...
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2015
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The book is well written it pull's you into the story of all the different types of people and their beliefs. I am usually a slow reader but this story required you to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. There were surprise's with a few twists. in describing this book there were parts that had the hopefulness, a little bit of darkness mixed in with being thoughtful and caring about how she treated people and how they treated her. The pace was steady and fast at the same time. The characters were well developed but with a certain amount of a complexity to them. The only thing that could be improved upon is that the map in the book should have more of the cities labeled in it to find were they were at different times.
2 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Delivered on time and as described.
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2019
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No further commentary
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James Diaville
5.0 out of 5 stars BEST 5 BOOK SERIES I'VE READ IN A LONG TIME
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2015
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BEST 5 BOOK SERIES I'VE READ IN A LONG TIME.. LOST THE FIRST BOOK WHICH IS WHY I HAD TO ORDER IT.. READ THE SERIES MANY TIMES. JIM DIAVILLE
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BCarrara
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book made confusing by poor Kindle copy-editing
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2010
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Enjoyed the "Kindle version" book but sometimes had trouble understanding sentences as the words were liberally mis-spelled or runon or had symbols inserted improperly.
4 people found this helpful
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Bhel
5.0 out of 5 stars Love it
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2019
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Great book
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Arthur W Jordin
5.0 out of 5 stars Singing In the Rain and Fire
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2003
The Soprano Sorceress is the first novel in the Spellsong Cycle. In the world of Erde, sorcerers and sorceresses can use songs to build or destroy. Lord Brill uses song to build the foundations and walls of a fortress and then uses another song to destroy one of his musicians, Culain, whom he accuses of humming despite prior warning. Culain's son, Daffyd, wants revenge for this wrongful death and asks his friend Jenny to bring a sorceress from the mists to kill Lord Brill.
In this novel, Anna Marshall is a singer and music instructor at Iowa State University. She is a divorcee and has recently lost her daughter. She is on her way to sing at the Founders' Dinner for major donors when the world swirls around her. After a swaying step, she finds herself in a small, gloomy room in a peasant cottage on the world of Erde. Trying hard to remain calm, Anna questions Daffyd and Jenny to learn how and why she was brought to Erde. Meanwhile, Lord Brill is notified of the arrival by his magical alarm system and is shown the view in Jenny's cottage.
When Brill arrives at Jenny's cottage, he invites Anna to join him for supper at his Hall. On the way back in his carriage, he explains something of the nature and hazards of sorcery and tries to persuade her of his good intentions and the dangers facing Defalk. Her quarters are sumptuous and even has its own jakes. The Hall is guarded by armored men with swords and bows, yet is cooled by Lord Brill's magic. After washing her face and hands, Anna comes down for dinner, but is more interested in learning more about Erde and magic.
Lord Brill is building a fortress to defend against the Dark Monks, who have used massed Darksong to conquer Ebra. Now they threaten both Defalk and Ranuak. Lord Brill wants Anna to stand with him against the dark ones.
When Anna is brought through the mists to Erde, another alarm sounds among the Dark Monks. The Songmaster is informed that a Sorceress has been taken to Lord Brill's Hall, but nothing is known of her origins. He orders a thorough investigation of the new Sorceress.
This novel is a sword and sorceress fantasy with a number of twists and differences. Of course, the use of song to produce magic is not new; Foster's Spellsinger series exploits the same gimmick. However, this tale is a little more serious, with a more developed sociological and political structure as well as a cast of powerfully portrayed characters. Moreover, the energy losses from using spellsong are well-considered.
While the author shows snippets of Anna's inner thoughts, he does not fully explain her actions, so there is a continual suspense generated by her behavior. At first, she waits and gathers information, but then she cuts loose with her own sorcery.
The autobiographical aspects of this novel, and Of Tangible Ghosts, are intriquing. The author is married to a classical concert singer and some of the concerns and behavior probably come from real life. I wonder if his wife is also an instructor of music and voice tutor? The academic irritations and rewards seem to reflect modern academia.
Highly recommended to Modesitt fans and anyone who enjoys sword and sorceress tales with a strong heroine.
19 people found this helpful
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Bill1370
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2014
If you love Fantasy You'll Love this book
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Trudy
2.0 out of 5 stars A mediocre read.
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2012
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I can not bring myself to finish this book. Poorly written, I found the story line dull. A woman transported to another world who finds she is a sorceress, using her singing to kill armies sent to destroy. This new world and the characters have no depth and the writing quality is very poor. I would not recommend this book.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

H M Shepherd
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2018
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book in really good condition
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