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The Octagonal Raven Paperback – July 14, 2002

by L.E. Modesitt Jr. (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 198 ratings
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Someone is trying to kill Daryn Alwyn. Born to privilege, with pre-selected genetic advantages and the best nanotech augmentation his father's fabulous money can buy, Daryn spurned the lucrative family Media Network to seek his own path, a crafty raven among soaring eagles. After serving with distinction as a space pilot in the military, he enjoys success as a media consultant. But when he finds himself the target of sophisticated murder attempts, his world is turned upside down. It seems unlikely his success outside the family business could have inspired such expensive assassination attempts, and his father and brother and sister would be more obvious targets within the family. Then his sister is killed, and Daryn is her heir--suddenly one of the richest and most powerful men in the world.

Modesitt's new SF thriller lays bare the prejudices of the powerful in a fascinating future society, and reads like an express train.

Other Series by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
The Saga of Recluce
The Imager Portfolio
The Corean Chronicles
The Spellsong Cycle
The Ghost Books
The Ecolitan Matter
The Forever Hero
Timegod's World

Other Books
The Green Progression
Hammer of Darkness
The Parafaith War
Adiamante
Gravity Dreams
The Octagonal Raven
Archform: Beauty
The Ethos Effect
Flash
The Eternity Artifact
The Elysium Commission
Viewpoints Critical
Haze
Empress of Eternity
The One-Eyed Man
Solar Express

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    480 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Tor
  4. Publication date
    July 14, 2002
  5. Dimensions
    4 x 1.25 x 6.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0812570081
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0812570083
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“As usual, Modesitt does an exceptional job of painting an environmentally informed society, plotting an exciting yarn, assembling an interesting cast, and leading it all in an interesting direction. I recommend this one heartily.” ―Analog on The Octagonal Raven

About the Author

L. E. Modesitt, Jr., is the bestselling author of the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce, Corean Chronicles, and the Imager Portfolio. His science fiction includes Adiamante, the Ecolitan novels, the Forever Hero Trilogy, and Archform: Beauty. Besides a writer, Modesitt has been a U.S. Navy pilot, a director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant and staff director for a U.S. Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer. He lives in Cedar City, Utah.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tor (July 14, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0812570081
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0812570083
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4 x 1.25 x 6.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 198 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
198 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Barbara A. Hickcox
5.0 out of 5 stars Another outstanding Modesitt book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2014
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Like all Modesitt books a wonderful story and well developed characters and setting. Set in a timeline well after the collapse of our current society and during a time of space exploration when evidence of alien life has been found the story surrounds a main character who is among the preselected genetic and nanite bearing elite and is exposed to alien nanites that attack his augmented nanites. He is surrounded by conspiracy and other efforts to kill him yet he survives due to the efforts of his cousin, a preselected physician. As he fights his way through the conspiracy and his family is attacked he develops a relationship with a woman who becomes involved in the fight. There are a lot of surprises ahead with action and political intrique as only L.E. Modesitt can deliver. Very enjoyable.
2 people found this helpful
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Howard Brauner
5.0 out of 5 stars A truly great story teller.
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2015
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My very favorite author. I have reread all his books many times and I have always been captivated. His characters are always well developed. The only negative thing in all his books is the spelling and grammar. He really needs better proofreaders who read every word. The stories are always good and thought provoking, but the many errors in all his books always distracts me.
One person found this helpful
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Helen Kim
5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Writing
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2023
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The author is one of the better writers in hard fiction who offers more substance than most fiction writers and is apparently one of the few writers whose editors does not inject gratuitous sex scenes or gender politics into their work in hopes of garnishing interest. I'm slowly working through his works and am quite pleased with the quality so far. I highly recommend his work.
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Craig K. Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars Difficult, Thoughtful, Excellent Story and Philosophy
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2014
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This book is an excellent example of the use of science fiction to say things that would be difficult or impossible to say in any other medium. It's a book that demands at least two readings, the first to grasp the surface story and subsequent readings to absorb the philosophy and implications of the story. The Octagonal Raven belongs in every thoughtful person's library. It matters not whether you agree with the ideas put forth, what matters is that you understand them.
One person found this helpful
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Lura B. Pyle
5.0 out of 5 stars It was great! I love this writer
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2015
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It was great! I love this writer. This book has strong characters and an excellent plot for a future world. I look for new books by L. E. Modesitt Jr
I have also read Heirs of Cyador and Magic of Cyador. I just bought the 8th book in the Imager Series and am waiting for the 9th.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars L.E. Modesitt Jr. Does NOT disappoint.
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2012
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Another classic for me by one of my favorite authors. I love his characters and stories in this genre. Superb story written in Modesitt's classic style of Action and thought provoking discussion. Added to my all time favorite list!
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Kindle Customer
2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2014
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Same plot line as several of his other futuristic novels.
I had to force myself to keep reading and upon reaching the end said, "Is that it?"
Usually Modesitt's stories provide much more character development, even in the supporting characters, and leave me anxiously waiting for the next book in the series.
The only way that the Octoganal Raven can develop is by adding prequels because it left me with no desire to continue.
The novel's quality, social commentary, and entertainment value falls far below his previous efforts.
2 people found this helpful
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James D. DeWitt
3.0 out of 5 stars Modesitt Has Done Better...
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2001
Modesitt is best known for his Recluce novels. I discovered "The Magic of Recluce" through Science Fiction Book Club, and was captivated. It's a brilliant book, with some genuinely new ideas on the shop-worn coming of age theme, and a truly new set of ideas for a the operating rules of a universe.
When he leaves Recluce, it seems to me, Modesitt fares less well. "Raven" is an interesting yarn, speculating on societal balance if we had genetic engineering and on-demand nanotech assistance. If those benefits were available only at a steep price, how would the society be affected? Would the wealthy establish a plutocracy?
This is hardly a new theme in science fiction. Zelazny's "Lord of Light" probably defined this plot line. Modesitt is not Zelazny. While the protagonist, himself one of the augmented elite, acts on behalf of the disadvantaged, he doesn't do so from any higher principle than self-protection: it's to stop the shadowy bad guys from killing him. And he doesn't act to make things better; he preserves the deeply flawed status quo to keep things from getting still worse.
At times the plotting and dialogue sinks to the potboiler yarn, reminiscent of the recent Julian May "Perseus Spur" series; likeable enough but annoying because you know the author can do much better.
In some ways, Modesitt seems to just be grinding out the books now, no longer bringing to them the soaring invention and new ideas that characterized the first few Recluce books. He's still worth reading, but keep your expectations firmly under control... And let's hope for a return to form.
21 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Mrs. Suzanne Brydges
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on February 19, 2015
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I cancelled this order for a used one because I found my original hardcover copy of this book.
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Green
3.0 out of 5 stars Moyen
Reviewed in France on August 17, 2012
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Lassitude, redite, manque d'inspiration....
... malgré une plume toujours aussi fluide et brillante,
Modesitt peine à me convaincre dans ses derniers ouvrages de Science Fiction.
Alors que, paradoxalement,pour ses ouvrages d'Héroïc Fantasy, il garde une grande fraicheur d'inspiration qui me comble.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Australia on May 9, 2015
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An example of great writing
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Raul Leite
5.0 out of 5 stars Nanotech in the year 4,000.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 30, 2004
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Basically a murder "whodunit", the "Octogonal Raven" starts off very inocently, until the main character suffers a murder attempt.
From then on, the plot slowly lifts the veil of what is wrong with this future society, putting our main character under the option of sitting still and doing nothing, or trying to prevent a new colapse of civilization.
Nanotech abounds, and in the first few hundred pages the reader can be thrown slightly off by the amount of terms "invented" by Modesit to depict this far-off future, after we get used to it though, the story flows quite smoothly.
The storytelling alternates scenes between the main character's present and past, giving the reader a greater insight into him, not only from where he came, or what he has done, but also from his own thoughts and interpretations of the human nature.
A good read.
3 people found this helpful
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Jinna van Vliet
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in Canada on February 22, 2016
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Although I enjoyed the Recluse Saga series more and found this other version interesting as well.
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