In which I rave about Catherine Asaro and space operas

[bibliogramma]

Primary Inversion, Catherine Asaro

There’s something deeply satisfying about a good, old-fashioned space opera, with warring galactic empires and star-crossed imperial heirs. Catherine Asaro’s Primary Inversion is even more fun than most because it’s the Skolian Imperialate heiress, Sauscony Valdoria, who makes most of the bold moves and eventually sweeps her opposite number – Jaibriol Qox, the Eubian imperial heir – away to a safe haven where they can marry and create the foundation for peace between their respective empires.

For those who really like to rock out on a planet-smashingly good space adventure, Primary Inversion is heaven. There’s action, anger, angst, space battles, really, really dastardly villains, cloak-and-dagger rescues, dark family secrets and rivalries, twisted politics, murky plots, empaths and super-tech and all manner of exploits in the best space opera tradition. And it’s the first volume of a series of space operas, too. Yummy!

Comments

[lydamorehouse]

I loved Primary Inversion, too. Are there really sequels?

[bibliogramma.livejournal.com]

A dozen of them! I'm very excited about reading more.

See the Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Asaro) on Asaro, look for the section on The Skolian empire series.

[calico-reaction.livejournal.com]

I loved this book to bits! :)

Interesting bit of trivia:

This book was published first.
Catching the Lightning was published second.
The Last Hawk was published third.

My liking of these books goes from the bottom up, with PRIMARY INVERSION being the best so far.

But you know what I learned?

The Last Hawk was the FIRST book Asaro wrote in this series.
Catch the Lightning was the SECOND.
Primary Inversion was the THIRD.

I find that most interesting. :)

Sorry, I'm random. ;)

[morgan-dhu.livejournal.com]

Random is fun, and can be good.

This might explain why, as I understand it, The Last Hawk and Catch the Lightning are not sequels to Primary Inversion.

I'm debating whehter I want to find a really authoritative source and read the books in order of internal continuity, or stick to publication order.

[devilwrites.livejournal.com]

I would either do timeline order (there's timelines on Wikipedia to be found) or publication order. :) I guess I'm doing publication, sorta. :)

[sausconys-books.livejournal.com]

I love this series (which I've read in its entirety, including tracking down every single novella and short story). Primary Inversion is my favorite in the series and Soz is my favorite character. I've gotten a little frustrated with later books in the series, mostly because I want to know what happens next, but several books are prequels and several re-tell events from different characters' perspectives. I'm anxiously awaiting The Ruby Dice, which comes out at the end of the year (I've read the part that was published in Baen's Universe and it just made me want more).

[morgan-dhu.livejournal.com]

Do you know where I can find a good source for a reading order by internal continuity? From what I've heard, I'm not sure that I really want to read these in publication order.

[sausconys-books.livejournal.com]

Asaro posted a recommended reading order on her Yahoo Group, but the search feature isn't working right now, so I can't find it. There's a timeline on her web site though: http://www.sff.net/people/asaro/timeline.html I think the Wikipedia timeline is better, but Asaro's web site hasn't been updated in almost a year- although she did mention that it's being completely overhauled.

[morgan-dhu.livejournal.com]

Thanks!