Contrarian: A Novel In The Grand Illusion (Book 3 of 3: The Grand Illusion) by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (book review)

‘The Grand Illusion’ series by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. was initiated with ‘Isolate’, continued with ‘Councilor’ and, here, concludes with ‘Contrarian’. There isn’t much point in reading ‘Contrarian’ unless you have first read the other two books as it won’t really standalone.

The background is a gaslight fantasy which means technology has reached steam power and society is going through an industrial revolution with all the trouble that entails. Workers are made unemployed by new machines and corporacions, as Modesitt calls them, are ruthless about increasing their profits, heedless of any social harm. The Craft Party represents guilds and workers more generally but for many years the Commerce Party controlled the government, supported by the Landor Party which guards the interests of the old landed aristocracy. The Commerce Party served the corporacions and corruption was rife. The rich get richer and the poor are getting poorer, surprise, surprise. But there was enough dissatisfaction afoot that the revolutionary New Meritorist movement is gaining support, assassinating Councilors and blowing up public buildings. Now, at last, the Craft Party has a majority and is in government.

As before, Stephan Dekkard is the main protagonist. He is now a Craft Party Councilor, junior in years and experience but with a reputation for getting things done. He has married Avraal, his former security comrade, and lives in a suburban house with her sister, Emrelda, now a widow. Every morning he gets up, breakfasts on coffee and a croissant full of quince paste and drives his steam-powered car to work at the council building. He is still investigating the New Meritorist revolutionary movement and trying to prove which corporacions provided them with help and financial backing for their attacks on the Council, one of which resulted in the death of his friend and mentor President Obreduur. Meanwhile, the economy is not in good shape and times are very hard for the poor people of Guldor. Food is expensive and there is looting of food markets, even riots. More people are homeless and it’s a cold winter. Dekker himself does not go hungry as the Council restaurant provides ample fare. He’s fond of three-cheese chicken but will sometimes have white bean soup. Modesitt continues to love describing menus.

He also loves to have his characters chatting about economics and politics, which they do with some erudition because of the author’s own experience in the field. However, there may be a limit to how much of this readers will take. In past fantasies, Modesitt has put the political musings into a traditional fantasy adventure story, albeit with human characters who have some special ability rather than dragons, gods or the more exotic trappings of the genre. Now the politics are to the fore. The only fantastic element in the story is the ability of empaths to sense the feelings of others and that’s not mentioned much. Like ‘Councilor’, this novel gives the reader a clear impression of the life of a politician: committee meetings, lunches, council meetings, meetings with individuals, conferences and lots of paperwork. But the life of a politician is not exciting and doesn’t make for a thrilling book.

The title is silly, too. For a brief, unbelievable few weeks, Dekkard decides that the political process is too slow and he will stir things up by starting another street movement. He goes to public squares wearing different clothes and a false beard and tries to stir people up with his Contrarian movement demanding fair wages and safe working practices. It’s out of character, doesn’t come to anything and ends up being pointless. Some editor at TOR should have advised Modesitt to cut it out and it definitely should not have made the title for the book.

After 400 pages, I was utterly bored with ‘Contrarian’ but a reviewer’s gotta do what a reviewer’s gotta do so I ploughed on and finished. All Modesitt’s books suffer somewhat from a sagging middle but often end well. This ended satisfactorily, if not in any spectacular fashion. It’s okay. As an allegory for many of the economic and political troubles facing the west today, it’s well thought out and intelligent with much to admire. As an escapist fantasy novel to read for entertainment, it’s a dud. His genuine concern for the state of his country and his desire to teach a better path has led the author astray. I share his sentiments, admire his values and love his blog but can’t recommend this book. Sorry.

Eamonn Murphy

August 2023

(pub: TOR, 2023. 624 page hardback. Price: £25.99 (UK), ISBN: 978-1-25084-701-0. Ebook: £12.99 (UK).

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