Catherine Asaro
Catherine Asaro (born 1955) is an American science fiction and fantasy author. She is best known for her books about the Ruby Dynasty set in the Skolian Empire. These novels, each telling a segment of a story that unfolds over several generations of characters, is one of a power struggle between two interplanetary empires. The Ruby Dynasty, (ancient rulers of the Skolian empire) while possessing empathic and telepathic abilities enhanced by tiny "pico" and "nano" technology, comprise a monarchy plagued by internal struggle and conflict with the elected assembly. The Eubian Traders, on the other hand, while larger in number and more successful economically, comprise a society built entirely of a slave hierarchy run by amoral Aristos, who, through genetic engineering gone astray have no capability for compassion, but rather experience pleasure in the form of "transcendence" through the projected suffering of powerful psions that have been kidnapped from the Skolian Imperialite.
A third but much smaller group, the Allieds, are an extension of a present-day Earth civilization who enter space travel only to find all worlds are already inhabited and thriving under either the Skolian or Eubian Empires. Their role in the series is that of a neutral party, interested only in the cessation of hostilities.
The Saga of the Skolian empire series of books details the adventures of main characters from both major empires. The plot of the book revolves around political intrigues, but also contains interesting subplots regarding physics, bio-enhancements, virtual computer networks, and romance.
Awards
Her novel The Quantum Rose was the winner of the 2001 Nebula Award for Best Novel.
About the Author
She was born in Oakland, California. She has a B.S. in chemistry from UCLA and a M.A. in physics and a Ph.D. in chemical physics from Harvard University. While at Harvard, she also founded a student ballet organization; she still teaches ballet in Maryland. In 1990, she established the physics research center Molecudyne Research.
She is married to John Kendall Cannizzo, an astrophysicist at NASA. They have one daughter, a ballet dancer and mathematician.
Published works
Saga of the Skolian Empire
- Primary Inversion (1995)
- Catch the Lightning (1996)
- The Last Hawk (1997)
- The Radiant Seas (1998)
- Ascendant Sun (2000)
- The Quantum Rose (2000)
- Spherical Harmonic (2001)
- "Aurora in Four Voices" (short story appearing in Analog) (2002)
- The Moon's Shadow (2003)
- Skyfall (2003)
- "Stained Glass Heart" (short story appearing in the Irresistible Forces collection) (2004)
- "Walk in Silence" (short story appearing in Analog) (2004)
- Schism (2004)
- The Final Key (2005)
Reading Order by Chronology
Note: name(s) between the parentheses denotes the main character; at the back of every Skolian Empire book is a chronology and a family tree
- Skyfall (Roca Skolia)
- "Stained Glass Heart"
- Schism (Sauscony Lahaylia Valdoria)
- The Final Key
- "Aurora in Four Voices" (Sauscony Lahaylia Valdoria)
- The Last Hawk (Kelricson Garlin Valdoria)
- Primary Inversion (Sauscony Lahaylia Valdoria)
- The Radiant Seas(Sauscony Lahaylia Valdoria)
- "Soul of Light"
- Aftermath of Radiant War - the following four books have a great deal of overlap but follow different characters
- Ascendant Sun (Kelricson Garlin Valdoria)
- Spherical Harmonic (Dyhianna Selei)
- The Quantum Rose (Havyrl Torcellei Valdoria)
- The Moon's Shadow (Jaibriol Qox Skolia)
- Catch the Lightning (Althor Vyan Selei, Akushtina Santis Pulivok)
Other works
- The Veiled Web (1999)
- The Phoenix Code (2000)
- The Charmed Sphere (2004)
- Sunrise Alley (2004)
- Misted Cliffs (2005)
Collections, including stories from other authors
- Charmed Destinies (2003)
- Irresistible Forces (2004)