Schism: Part One of Triad

Schism is part 1 of a side-story in a long and complicated SF series by Catherine Asaro. The most notable thing about Catherine's writing is that has a lot of good science in her SF. This is the real stuff not a copy of someone else's SF writing. This side-story is a Triad that forms part of the Skolian Empire Series, it is a good read and fills in some of the answers in the series. I enjoyed reading it.

All of the Skolian Empire books are an exciting read. The characters come to life and the reader becomes a part of that world. Highly recommend all of Catherine Asaro's books.

Asaro rocks us again with a great story. Fans of romance might not like this one as much as her other books in the Raylicon universe -- there are no love scenes. However, being the fabulous storyteller that she is, she again artfully mixes science, scientific speculation, paranormal, and genuine human struggle as Soz and her family each make their way through the obstacles in their path. You'll relate to all her characters and cheer them on to the finish. Of course the end of this book isn't really the finish: there's another book in the 2-book "Triad" group called The Final Key. Slightly confusing, the labeling Triad, but fans who've read the previous books will have no trouble with the reference to the Ruby Dynasty Triad that keeps the Kyle "net" running the Raylicon universe. I especially enjoyed the thread of Schism that deals with one of Soz's younger brothers, Shannon. He is genetically descended from a group called the Blue Dale Archers. Their looks and manner are very elf-like. Shannon is a wonderfully drawn character who, at 15, faces great obstacles to help save his family and find his place in the world. Thoroughly enjoyable and highligh recommended!

In "Schism," Catherine Asaro returns to the saga of one of her most fascinating characters, Sauscony (Soz) Valdoria, who readers first met in the author's first novel in the Skolian Empire series, "Primary Inversion." Here we drop in on Soz years before, in her late adolescence, as she prepares for military academy, against the wishes of her father, Eldrinson. Catherine Asaro develops a fascinating contrast--the "fast cold universe" of the high-tech military acadmey and the low-tech world of her father. The author interweaves the adventures of Soz, her parents, and her siblings skillfully, spinning a classic hard science fiction adventure (this time without the author's trademark hot sex). There are a few scenes that rank with some of the author's best work, and without spoiling the plot I'll mention the scene in which Soz's "node" is implanted, and the thrilling battle between the jagernaut squadron and the invading enemy. Notes and asides: To the publisher's great credit, "Schism" is prominently billed as "Part 1 of Triad." I.e., the publisher makes no pretense that all of the story is told here (and it clearly is not). And to the author's great credit, she does not leave her readers perched atop a cliff.

Humanity has colonized thousands of worlds; technology and medicine have made incredible advances; yet war still exists. The Skolian Empire is based on democratic ideals while conversely the Aristo Traders Empire is built on slavery. Hostility seems imminent between these giants. On the planet Lyshriol, seventeen years old Soz has gone behind her father Eldrinson's back to take the preliminary exams to enroll in the Desham Military Academy where her brother Alhtor is a fourth year cadet. Due to her high scores on the tests and the upcoming need for warriors, the Academy waives the age and parental requirements enabling Soz to enroll. Soz's father angrily disowns both Soz and Althor. Their father regrets his words almost immediately but before he can do anything about it, his as his fourteen year old son has run away. As he looks for the lad, an Aristo capture him. Somehow the Traders have bypassed security on this Skolian planet. The Aristo cripples and blind him; when he recovers he withdraws from everyone even his beloved wife. Meanwhile Soz amazes everyone as she learns at an accelerated pace, but now she knows what happened to her father and vows to be the avenging Jagernaut. Soz is a very interesting character, who, if she lives long enough, will probably replace her half-brother as the Imperator when Korj is unable to fulfill those duties any longer. Like her sire, she is a strong independent warrior who refuses to accept any weakness as she expects to be more than just the best soldier the academy ever graduated. Her father has a long recuperative road to journey, but like Soz stubbornly refused to allow his captors the victory they expected. SCHISM is filled with adventure, intrigue and drama on personal and galaxy levels that makes for an obvious Nebula nomination. Harriet Klausner