Soarer's Choice: The Sixth Book of the Corean Chronicles

Modesitt's concluding volume to the Corean Chronicles (after 2005's Cadmian's Choice ) brings the fantasy saga to a thunderous, satisfying climax. The High Alector Dainyl is now a Marshal, charged with keeping peace among the infighting alectors on the planet Corus, a world they've settled and developed after exhausting the resources of their home planet, Ifryn. This final episode also continues the story of the Mykel, a human Major who possesses some psychic talent (like the alectors') in addition to his military prowess. The alector leaders have chosen to move the bulk of their population to a planet other than Corus, leaving Corus to chaos, with various human and alector factions fighting it out for survival. But it's the winged native Soarers, or Ancients, who will determine the fate of their planet and all its inhabitants. Modesitt's panoramic, battle-filled final installment ranks among his best work. (Nov.)