"Princeps"

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.

Modesitt applied the Page 69 Test to his latest novel Princeps, and reported the following:

Page 69 of Princeps describes the entry of Quaeryt and Vaelora into a ball hosted by a noted High Holder of Tilbor. Quaeryt is the princeps of Tilbor, second to the governor in the regional government of the province. As such, he would not normally be invited to such a gathering, because government officials are seen as below High Holders. Even the governor is invited only as a necessity. But… since Quaeryt is married to Vaelora, and she is Lord Bhayar’s younger sister, there is no way High Holder Thurl can avoid inviting the couple.

Part of the initial meeting with the High Holder follows:

“…We appreciate your grace and hospitality,” [replied Quaeryt]. Glancing beyond Thurl, where but a handful of couples stood, generally near the sideboards offering wine, Quaeryt could see that his browns represented the most severe attire of anyone present.

“We can do no less.” With a smile, Thurl turned to those following Quaeryt and Vaelora.

Quaeryt understood that Thurl had meant those words literally, no matter how graciously uttered.

This scene on page 69 and the following pages foreshadows the difficulties Quaeryt and Vaelora will have in dealing with High Holders for the remainder of the book, and the very high stakes involved in dealing with High Holders… even when such High Holders are obviously in the wrong.

Learn more about the author and his work at L. E. Modesitt, Jr.'s website.

--Marshal Zeringue