Madness in Solidar The new novel in the New York Times bestselling Imager Portfolio by L E Modesitt Jr Four centuries after its founding Solidars Collegium of Imagers is in decline the exploits of its founder the legendary Quaeryt largely forgotten The Collegium is so lacking in leadership that the dying Maitre must summon Alastar an obscure but talented senior imager from Westisle far to the south who has little knowledge of politics in the capital as his successor When Alastar arrives in LExcelsis and becomes the new Maitre he finds disarray and lack of discipline within the Collegium and the ruler of Solidar so hated by the High Holders that they openly refer to him as being mad To make matters worse neither Rex Ryen ridiculed as Rex Dafou nor the High Holders have any respect for the Collegium and Alastar finds himself in the middle of a power struggle with Ryen demanding that the Collegium remove the strongest High Holders and the military leadership in turn plotting to topple Ryen and destroy the Collegium At the same time Ryen is demanding the High Holders pay a massive increase in taxes while he initiates a grandiose building project And all that Alastar discovers is only a fraction of the problems he and the Collegium face.
