After completing his Imager Portfolio series and in between volumes of The Saga of Recluce, Modesitt wrote “The Grand Illusion” trilogy - which though it can’t feel like anything else than a Modesitt fantasy novel he’s doing something a little bit different with this trilogy (Isolate, Councilor) that is focused on the inner workings of politics.

Steffan Dekkard is now somewhat more established as a Councilor (read: Senator) though still in his first term and dealing with the fallout of the last attack on the council building which killed his mentor (and Premier / Prime Minister) and a (seemingly) slow desperate investigation of the politically violent movement behind it and threatening future action and violence if their demands aren’t met.

I’m both curious about Modesitt’s personal politics and at the same time I don’t really want to know how much he is exploring ideas here compared to what he truly believes - but because of the particular demands of the Meritorists (the organized opposition group singing the song of angry men) and how Dekkard righteously states why most of their demands are a terrible idea - the one in particular that keeps coming up is the idea of public votes from councilors, with Dekkard’s criticism that if the populace knew which councilor voted which way then those councilors would be subject to significant financial and social pressure to fall in line rather than potentially voting for things they truly believe in. It is a bit of a criticism of the political system of the United States and, at least on a surface level, seems accurate if simplistic but the system in Dekkard’s world is equally full of party politics so there may not be a significant difference. It’s just more of a secret with the party politics, but maybe not that much more of a secret compared to contemporary American politics.

All of that musing is pertinent because that is the novel Contrarian is - a book where Dekkard manages to start a new political movement in a moment where readers everywhere say “oh, that’s why the title is what it is”, which I suppose is a spoiler but I’m not convinced is as much as it might come across. It’s a truly minor plot point that might be larger in the director’s cut. Along with the daily life details that Modesitt revels in, a significant portion of Contrarian exists within the details of this world’s political process - which all slow burns to a climactic bit of explosive action.

Unlike most Modesitt novels, prior knowledge of Isolate and Councilor are very much needed. Contrarian is a mostly successful conclusion to The Grand Illusion, though is a bit of a middling Modesitt novel.

My favorite author is L. E. Modesitt Jr. His Grand Illusion trilogy which takes place in a pre world War I simplified England with a unicameral legislature and empaths, has come to a conclusion. Steffan Dekkard is an Isolate (paper) immune to empathic pressure. Originally a guard to a powerful Councilor (paper), he is appointed to the Council of 66, and gets a security bill passed that angers the heads of a few corrupt industrialists. When the Council is attacked, first with bombs, and then by a stolen naval warship, Steffen, and his wife, must use his Contrarian (hard from TOR) nature to help create a subcommittee to investigate the attacks on Council, and by heading it, expose the plots that are hurting his country. A dry but enjoyable tale, without a lot of action.

L.E. Modesitt continues the political fantasy, the Grand Illusion, in Contrarian. Steffan Dekkard, the improbable new councilor, has survived the assassination of the Premier, his mentor. He is settling in as councilor with his empath wife, visiting his constituency and pursuing whiffs of corporate corruption. Stefan is an isolate, who cannot be influenced by empaths or emotion. Outstanding study of an attempt to render justice in a stratified society where the governing council is being targeted by corporations. Wonderful read.

In the dystopian world of Contrarian, the situation is worsening. The people are struggling to survive poverty and unemployment, and their frustration has led to violent protests that have now escalated into armed riots.

The government is struggling to maintain control while dealing with corruption and conspiracy that has plagued it for years. Despite the mounting challenges, Steffan Dekkard, the first Isolate Councilor elected to the Council of Sixty-Six, is dealing with the crisis.

Dekkard knows that he has his work cut out for him. He must navigate political infighting, assassination attempts, and the recent bombing of the Council Office Building by insurrectionists. The assassination of his patron, the Premier of the Council, has left him with little first-hand political experience and few political allies.

To make matters worse, the insurrectionists have received weapons and explosives from high-ranking government officials and corporations. The situation has now reached a critical point, with the insurrectionists having taken over a naval cruiser that no one seems to be able to locate.

Dekkard understands the importance of acting quickly to bring peace and stability to Contrarian. He is under immense pressure to find a solution to the crisis, and failure is not an option. Despite the odds against him, he remains committed to his mission, knowing that the people of Contrarian are counting on him.

As the days pass, the situation becomes increasingly volatile and dangerous. Dekkard must use all of his skills and resources to bring the situation under control. The fate of Contrarian rests in his hands, and he is determined to rise to the challenge and lead his nation out of its current state of chaos.

In the end, only time will tell whether Steffan Dekkard will be successful in his mission. But one thing is for sure: the people of Contrarian are looking to him for leadership and guidance, and he will not let them down. Contrarian is a prime example of a fantastical lens used to understand politics.

In Contrarian by L.E. Modesitt Jr., the author has created a phenomenal political intrigue with his continuation of The Grand Design. L.E. Modesitt Jr. has brought the trilogy to a stunning ending that wraps up many of the main storylines from the previous two books. Contrarian continues the legal and political intrigues of the previous novels with a build in the conflict that engages readers and keeps me intrigued throughout. 

I also love the main characters, Steffan and Avraal. They are written with complexity and the dynamic between them is loving. I like how realistic their relationship is portrayed in the book. I also appreciated how Steffan’s abilities are explained and grow in this novel. While those abilities don’t always take center stage, they are explored well. I also enjoy that this book wraps up the plot from the previous books but there is room for more to be done in this universe. 

 I also like the dynamics and the politics among the Council. This is very much a spotlight on how American politics work and sometimes don’t work. The author creates a compelling novel that explores what is currently happening in our nation today and while this is fiction, it does develop some ideas that our current leaders could use.  I love how the legalities and politics are developed and how much it reminds me of how politics should work, to the betterment of the people.

If you like novels of political intrigue with subtle magic like Empaths and Isolates, this is the novel for you. It has phenomenal political intrigue set in a fabulous fictional world. I do recommend reading the first two books as there is much referenced in this novel from the previous two. It draws the trilogy to a wonderful and successful conclusion that will leave readers satisfied.

The end, for now, of a series that began with Isolate. Steffan Dekkard and his partner/spouse Avraal Ysella navigate the political and social currents of a nation well into its transition from agrarian to trade and manufacturing. Sounds dull? Nope, exciting as all heck.
In the first book Dekkard, a security guard to an important MP (I am going to use British political nomenclature here even though Mr. Modesitt uses other words and his government is not really that close to the British system). Through the first book Dekkard learns about politics from his protectee and takes on some constituency duties for him. In the second book, Counselor, Dekkard becomes a Counselor (MP) himself. Now in the third book his joins the equivalent of the cabinet.
Contrarian has enough resolution that more is not needed to be satisfying. But there is more room for more if Mr. Modesitt so decides.

"L. E. Modesitt, Jr., bestselling author of Saga of Recluce and the Imager Portfolio, continues his gaslamp political fantasy series which began with Isolate and Councilor. Welcome to the Grand Illusion.

In Contrarian, protests against unemployment and poor harvests have become armed riots as the people sink deeper into poverty. They look to a government struggling to emerge from corruption and conspiracy.

Recently elected to the Council of Sixty-Six, Steffan Dekkard is the first Councilor who is an Isolate, a man invulnerable to the emotional manipulations and emotional surveillance of empaths - but not the recent bombing of the Council Office Building by insurrectionists.

His patron, the Premier of the Council, has been assassinated, leaving Dekkard with little first-hand political experience and few political allies.

Not only must Dekkard handle political infighting, and continued assassination attempts, but it appears that someone high up in the government and corporations has supplied arms and explosives to insurrectionists. Insurrectionists who have succeeded in taking over a naval cruiser that no one can seem to find."

Because sometimes we can only truly understand our own politics seeing them through a fantastical lens.

I’m never sure if Modesitt is pontificating on current political issues or if he is merely philosophizing. This book addresses political malfeasance as well as corporate corruption. Both issues are prominent in the news. Steffan Dekkard and his wife, Avraal, are targeted by corrupt elements in both business and political arenas.
Modesitt delivers a well-thought-out character or characters. He develops them by providing background motivation. His only use of fantasy might be science fiction in the mental powers available to a rare few. Regardless of the reason, his writing is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

I recommend the book but I suggest you read the previous books for a greater understanding of this book.