Around the 1st of each month the Tor.com eBook Club gives away a free sci-fi/fantasy ebook to club subscribers.
We’re happy to announce that the pick for December 2016 is: THE TOWERS OF THE SUNSET, the second book in L.E. Modesitt, Jr.’s fantasy Recluce Saga.
Wait…why Book 2?
Because The Magic of Recluce, the first book in L.E. Modesitt, Jr’s long-running fantasy series, is currently on sale for $2.99! [Amazon] [B&N] [iBooks]
This way, Tor.com Ebook Club members can get two books for three bucks! (Although if you don’t want to buy Magic, that’s also fine. The Towers of the Sunset can stand alone as its own story and introduction to the Recluce Saga.)
THE TOWERS OF THE SUNSET is available for download from December 1st through December 7th
Note: If you’re having issues with the sign-up or download process, please email ebookclub@tor.com.
How Modesitt’s Saga of Recluce begins…
Young Lerris is dissatisfied with his life and trade, and yearns to find a place in the world better suited to his skills and temperament. But in Recluce a change in circumstances means taking one of two options: permanent exile from Recluce or the dangergeld, a complex, rule-laden wanderjahr in the lands beyond Recluce, with the aim of learning how the world works and what his place in it might be. Many do not survive. Lerris chooses dangergeld.
When Lerris is sent into intensive training for his quest, it soon becomes clear that he has a natural talent for magic. And he will need magic in the lands beyond, where the power of the Chaos Wizards reigns unchecked. Though it goes against all of his instincts, Lerris must learn to use his powers in an orderly way before his wanderjahr, or fall prey to Chaos.
But that’s just the end of the story…
The second book in the Recluce series–The Towers of the Sunset–digs into the rich history and origin of L.E. Modesitt’s saga. 950 years earlier, Creslin, son of the Marshall of Westwind, flees an arranged marriage; is enslaved by the White Wizards, escapes, and enters a marriage of convenience to Maegara, the white witch. Their attempt at building a new life will grow to encompass the world…
L.E. Modesitt, Jr.’s bestselling fantasy novels set in the magical world of Recluce are among the most popular in contemporary fantasy. Each novel tells an independent story that nevertheless reverberates though all the other books in the series, to deepen and enhance the reading experience.
Happy reading! To keep track of Tor.com eBook Club offerings and discussion, just bookmark the Tor.com eBook Club tag page.
Does anyone else keep getting “kicked out” of the ebook club? I find that I keep having to sign up again because confirming my email address tells me that I am not a member.
Same here! I get the emails notifying me but I always have to “sign up” again.
1. I also have the issue with being “kicked” out of the book club.
2ndly: Tor, please, for the love of whatever you deem holy, why won’t you sell these books directly and without DRM? I do not want to buy stuff from Amazon/iBooks because of their DRM and ownership policies (basically you are renting a license to read the book) and I have no Nook device etc. I really want to buy this book from you but given the options I will have to pass.
Thank you for the free book! :)
@3 I believe most of the Tor books *are* sold without DRM.
1 / 2: I have the same issue.
Just as an FYI, the book description is for The Magic of Recluce and not Towers of the Sunset. Towers of the Sunset is Creslin’s book. Lerris is Magic of Recluce and The Death of Chaos.
Thanks for the heads up regarding the sign-up weirdness, everyone! We’re looking into it now and we appreciate you forging ahead with the download regardless.
@3 tehno. Tor ebooks should be available without DRM from every retailer. (That’s been Tor Books’ preference for a few years now.) On Amazon in particular you should see the phrase “At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.” when you click into the Kindle purchase page.
@5jsherry. The reason behind showcasing the copy that describes the first book is to give folks some context preceding Towers Of The Sunset. We’ll add some text describing Towers, though, to avoid any further confusion!
The Saga of Recluce is a wonderful series. I’ve been reading them since my father gave me the first one more than 20 years ago.
Yay! Each month I look forward to finding out what the new book is.
L.E. Modesitt Jr. was my first foray into the Sci-Fi Fantasy universe and his books have been a fantastic read. I love how his books focus on understanding of Order & Chaos, how they can be harnessed and the ways the person’s perspective allows them to individually manipulate it. I own many of the Saga of Recluse books and cannot say enough good things about them. I’ve recently gotten into Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere and I find it very interesting that Tor published both of my favorite authors!
Add me to the list of people who has to sign up again every month. At least I’m not the only one!
I’ve always had to jump through hoops to get the e-book of the month, but this, I think, is the first time that it’s actually said “You are not currently signed up for the promotion. Please sign up below.” — even after you SENT me the email to download it at the same address. That’s annoying, insulting, and almost enough to make me blacklist tor.com completely. Most of the books you’ve offered, I’ve read before; most of those, I own. I have never read ANY books by Modesitt, and unless you fix this, I likely never will (I won’t download THIS one until you fix it). I’ve participated in most of the discussions of the books you’ve released in the e-book of the month program, which is far more than 95% of the downloaders have done, and I have to wonder if you actually give a damn?
Auspex: don’t let the website dissuade you from Modesitt’s books. They are outstanding examples of fantasy genre.
Why shouldn’t I let the website dissuade me? Tor are Modesitt’s publisher. They should be encouraging me. I’ve seen nothing about these books that would convince me they’re worth paying for, and here’s Tor damning with faint praise.
And, yes, I totally understand that I’ve now devoted more time to this thread than it would have taken to just sign up again–but that’s how they got away with this for the last three books. This one doesn’t mean enough to me to make me do that. If they want to hook me into this series, they’re going to have to make it easier to get THIS book
@ReactorChris
I would also like to point out that downloads from a mobile device don’t work. The downloaded file is always corrupted and can’t be opened. Something to do with the way the mobile website is designed perhaps?
Another issue is that the cover art (atleast in the ePub format) has been missing for the last two books that I downloaded. I’ve not downloaded this month’s book yet so am unsure about the art for it. It shows a “generic” ePub book cover which looks god awful.
Would really appreciate if you could pass along these issues as well!
FWIW, I had no trouble just now in confirming my registered email address and downloading the ePub file onto my Nook tablet, and the file appears to be intact. (It does have the generic text-format cover page described in #14, but while I’d prefer the print-version cover art, that’s clearly a design/production choice — and possibly a rights issue — rather than a technical problem. Given that this is a free download, it strikes me as a not-unreasonable tradeoff.)
Thanks @14skratche, we’ll take a look at the files.
Folks who are having an issue with the email confirmation, does the following process work?
1.) You opened the “Tor.com’s eBook Club Book for December is…” email.
2.) You clicked the red “Download Your Free Copy” button.
3.) It sent you to the “http://ebookclub.tor.com/” webpage.
4.) You clicked the red “Confirm Details” button in the “Already Registered?” box.
5.) You typed in your email address.
6.) It sent you to the file download page.
From your feedback, it sounds like Step 4 and/or 5 isn’t functioning as it should. Is that the error that everyone is encountering?
You get to step 5, but then it tells you “You are not currently signed up for the promotion. Please sign up below.” instead of proceeding to step 6.
Thanks, auspex. That helps us narrow down what to fix significantly.
I get to the download page and it wont download.
How come thd free download doesn’t work on my Nook Samsung tablet?
Hi everyone,
If you’re having issues with the sign-up or download, please email:
ebookclub@tor.com
Tor.com will be able to remedy the situation and/or provide a more direct link to the ebook download. Thank you.
I simply loved this book! Great world-building, awesome magic system and a plot that reels you in as soon you start reading. Thanks, Tor!
Oh, Tor, am I signed up for this monthly offer? I’m new to this website, love it for short stories, found it through N.K. Jemisin’s updates to supporters via Patreon. I’m so disappointed that I’m too late for the Modesitt book. Can you make an exception?