The Moon's Shadow

Catherine Asaro's "The Moon's Shadow" is the final volume of a quartet within her fabulous Skolian Empire series that tells of the events in the aftermath of the Radiance War. (Newcomers are advised to read "Primary Inversion" and "The Radiant Seas" first.) While the first of these, "Ascendant Sun," was a classic space opera, in "The Quantum Rose" Asaro riffed on the once-high-tech world gone medieval theme, while "Spherical Harmonic" can perhaps best be described as a resurrection myth containing a quantum physics monograph (or perhaps the other way around).And now in "Shadow," one of the best of the entire series, the author returns to her romantic side--plenty of sex, plenty of space opera. Above all, though, it's a novel of manners. The red-eyed Eubian "Highton" aristocracy speak with indirection and false politeness. The biggest faux pas one of them can make is to say exactly what they mean. And suddenly among them comes their naive and reluctant new young emperor, Jabriol III, who has to grow up and take charge in a hurry (a typical Asaro theme), dealing with potential assassins and dubious allies, all the while trying to start peace negotiations with the Skolians (he's half Skolian himself); more important, all the while trying to figure out what's going on. A tall and complicated order indeed.Most delicious of all, though, readers are reintroduced to perhaps the most complex character Asaro has ever created, the Eubian finance minister Tarquine Iquar (who fans of the series will remember from "Ascendant Sun"). She's smart, she's tough, she's conflicted. For the second time in the series she appears on the book cover. Despite her age (which of course she doesn't look a bit of), she's not too old to do some growing up and taking charge herself. She knows the language of indirection, and she redirects it her way. She has plenty of secrets of her own. Will she reveal them? Indeed, dear reader, that is for you to discover.

If you haven't read THE LAST HAWK, ASCENDANT SUN and THE RADIANT SEAS you will probably miss a lot of the important story threads and character development in this story, as in a sense this is the story of the massive change in the Eubian empire that these previous novels were leading to.At the end of the Radiance War Jaibriol Qox-Skolia was still a school boy on Earth. When he saw his parents die in a shuttle crash he opted to trade himself to the Eubians in exchange for his uncle Eldrin, the Skolian Ruby Prince who had been captured in the war. For Jai was the true heir to the Eubian empire, but he was also everything they despised - a "provider" psion and a Ruby Prince - both secrets of his past and heritage he had to keep from everyone in the empire if he was to survive even a single day.This is the story of how Jai learned to survive as Emperor Jaibriol III and the difficult path to peace he finds at the heart of an empire that is the epitome of everything he hates. This is one of the best books in this series, but its true strength lies in the way it builds on previous events. In other books we have been given glimpse of the violent and corrupt Eubian empire and its vicious rulers the Highton caste but in this novel we get to know them in all their depravity and glory as Jai learns more about his father's people than he ever wanted to know.

Jaibriol Qox III has just assumed the carnelian throne of the Eubian Empire. He is the rightful heir to the throne, his DNA says so. But no one else is aware that his DNA also says that he is the son of the late Sauscony (Soz) Valdoria, the hated Imperator of the Eubian Empire's sworn enemy, The Skolian Empire. Jaibriol (or Jai as he likes to be called) was born in exile where his mother and father, Jaibriol II, fled after faking their deaths. In the aftermath of the crippling Radiance War, he now believes his parents are really dead and that he has a duty to see that they didn't die in vain. Realizing he is the only chance the warring worlds have for peace, he reveals himself to the Eubians and thus takes his place as Emperor. But it is harder than Jai thought. He is young and inexperienced. The Hightons, the ruling class on Eube, speak in a florid meandering language that is full of subtext and hidden meaning. Jai can't seem to master the subletites so he blunders constantly. Making enemies early on, he quickly becomes the target of assassination plots But Jai gains unlikely allies in the woman he makes his empress, Tarquine Iquar, and his wily adviser Corbal Xir. All three have devastating secrets that if they came to light mean sure death. In Tarquine and Corbal Jai gains access to the experience and ruthlessness necessary to run his empire. But he manages to maintain his own internal idealism and need to meet the Skolians at the peace table.If you haven't read any of the other books of the series, then this probably isn't the best place to be starting. In the previous seven books, there is so much back-story, so much explanation of the events that lead to Jai taking the throne, that you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you tried to start here. Reading this book, it made me think of Jai as a narc under deep cover. Constantly watching his back trying not to make a false move. Having to pretend to transcend is kinda like a undercover cop having to commit crime to be accepted. He is deep in enemy territory and one false move could get a slave collar slapped on his throat. The irony, of course , is that he is the rightful emperor and this is his empire. He should be right at home. He should be able to make changes if he wants, but the way of life and the attitudes of the people are so ingrained that his efforts are frightening and make him an assassination target.But he has Tarquine, who after Soz, has become my favorite character in these books. She is tough, wily, smart, duplicitous, forward thinking, selfish, compassionate, ruthless, wise and most of all she is looking out for Jai. I thought for sure Corbal would be the power behind Jai, but it is Tarquine who bears watching.This book has a lot to recommend it. There is Jai who is growing and learning and trying to make a legacy for his parents. There is lots of good sex. There is lots of great action that includes plotting and counter plotting, assassination at

The Moon's Shadow (2003) is the eighth novel in the Skolian Imperialate series, following Spherical Harmonic. In the preceding novels, the Skolians and Eubians have brought each other to their knees, Sauscony has rescued Jaibrol II and Althor and then fled under cover of an exploding decoy that convinces everyone that their shuttle has been destroyed, and Jaibrol III has exchanged himself for his uncle Eldrin and then has become the new Emperor of Eube (The Radiant Seas). Kelric has come back to Skolian space, is captured and enslaved as a provider by Eubians, but escapes to the Sphinx Sector Rim Base, where he declares himself Imperator through the stolen Lock, disables it, and therein meets the new Eubian Emperor; he flees from the SSRB in a stolen ship to Spikedown outpost and then on to Earth with his consort-to-be, Jeejon, a former Eubian taskmaster (Ascendant Sun). Furthermore, the Allied Worlds have been driven away from the Valdoria homeworld by public pressure (The Quantum Rose) and the Ruby Pharoah, Dyhianna Selei, has come back from Hilbert Space, reclaimed her husband, Eldrin, from the Allied Worlds, and, in a military coup, taken the rule of Skolia, which she graciously shares with the Assembly (Spherical Harmonic). In this novel, in 2277 AD, these events are replayed from the point of view of Jai, the new Emperor of Eube, and extended further into the peace talks between the Eubians and Skolians. Jai has a difficult time adjusting to Eubian manners and customs, especially the habitual use of circumlocation in speech, but an even more difficult time withstanding the telepathic noise and empathic pressure of the Aristo minds. Corbal Xir, his cousin and the power behind the throne, learns to care for him, a breach of Aristo conduct, and tries to help him, even to the extent of being direct in his verbal responses. Tarquine Iquar, his Minister of Finance, also becomes his wife and likewise learns to care for him. Both assist him in another way, for their minds are much less noisy and pressuring than the other Aristos, thus providing a quiet and restful haven for Jai. While his associates are slowly becoming his friends, Jai is opposed by the Joint Commanders of the Eubean Space Command, Xirad Kaliga and Kryx Taratus, and by a rich conniver, Jaibrol Raziquon. These plotters kidnap providers, encourage disparaging rumors, and attempt assassinations. They are greatly helped by the way Jai responds to fine old Highton Aristo traditions, like transcending, large-scale extortion, and fraudulent provider sales. This series is like a jigsaw puzzle that is just now beginning to provide a glimpse of the whole picture. The early works seemed to be totally independent of each other, but are finally coming together. Nevertheless, there is surely more to come. Recommended for Asaro fans and anyone who enjoys romantic space opera within exotic -- and stressful -- cultures. -Arthur W. Jordin

On the planet Delos, The Eubians exchange prisoner Prince Eldrin of the Skolian Empire for Jai Rockworth the heir to the Eubian Concord. Although nobody knows it, Jai, who will be the next Emperor, is related to all the high powered rulers in the Skolian Empire. The Skolians and the Eubians after centuries of war are holding to an informal and uneasy truce, one that could explode into war with the least provocation.The Eubian economy is based on the slave trade and is condemned by the Skolians who know their enemies feed on the pain of their psychic, slaves known as Providers. Jai's most fervent wish is to forge a permanent peace between the two empires but forces within his own government try their best to kill him before he can make any reforms. When he marries his Finance Minister Tarquine, he gets a wife who will use all her dirty tricks in her mighty arsenal to keep her husband safe.Readers get a close look at how the Eubian Concord really works and it will sicken them as much as it does the hero of THE MOON'S SHADOW. The protagonist is young but he gathers some powerful allies who help him rule and try to see that he is protected from assassination from those who disagree with his goals. Catherine Asaro has written one of the best works of her star-studded career, one that will have readers searching the shelves for her backlist.Harriet Klausner