Customer Reviews

Primary Inversion

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Asaro's future universe:

There are essentially 3 civilizations in Asaro's future universe. The Allied Worlds are those established by humans from Earth. The Skolian Empire and the Eubians (the Trader Empire) are remnants of another human civilization (the Raylicon Empire) that left Earth long ago and established a presence in the stars. When the Allied humans left Earth to explore the universe, they were suprised to find that humans were already there.

Allied humans are much like you and me. Skolians, however, are generally empaths, and their civilization is based on a royal family with exceptionally strong empathetic abilities. They are "psions", who can read emotion almost as well as communicating with words. The Eubians (or Traders) literally derive pleasure from the pain of a psion, who transmits the emotion and amplifies it like an antenna. Some of the Eubians are pretty nasty in their taste for the pain of their Skolian pleasure slaves. Other Eubians, however, aren't so bad.

The Skolians and Eubians are always either on the verge of war or are at war, and the Allieds try to be neutral.

This book, in particular, deals with one Skolian heir who is admirable in the way that she is a strong and amazingly capble woman. Sauscony Valdoria (or "Soz"), heir to the Skolian throne, is a Jag pilot, an elite fighter group composed entirely of highly empathetic psions. Soz can deal out some serious butt-whoopin' when she needs to, but her personality is more of an INFP for those of you familiar with the Myers-Briggss personality test. Soz is an introverted, intuitive, feeling and perceiving person who is exceptionally intelligent. The plot is well written and intriguing.

The science:

"Inversion" is a concept developed by Catherine Asaro to account for rapid transit through large distances in space; a possible solution to the problem of time dilation. Einstein kind of put a stick in the mud when, in 1905, he told everyone that Special Relativity wrote in a universal speed limit at ~3x10^8 m/s, citing anyone caught travelling near this speed with a significant time penalty. Some authors embrace time dilation, like Poul Anderson in "Tau Zero" and Joe Haldeman in "The Forever War". Others find ways around it, like Gene Roddenberry in the "Star Trek" series. Other authors ignore it altogether. The neat thing about Asaro's solution, however, is that it is mathematically explicit, even if it is not possible by today's understanding of real and imaginary numbers and their role in real space.

-- For the reader who is not fond of math, skip this paragraph. For everyone else, read on -- All numbers have a real and imaginary part, i.e., a+ib, where "a" is the real coordinate and "b" is the imaginary coordinate. "i" is the imaginary number i=sqrt(-1). In Einstein's equation for time dilation, if one simply makes a substitution "iV" for the velocity "V", one gets an i^2 term in the equation, which is simply "-1". This completely changes the behavior of Special Relativity. It breaks the speed limit, and time dilation can even become "time reduction". Similarly, length contraction becomes "length elongation", and the mass inflation term (defined in terms of momentum), actually becomes "mass reduction".

It's pretty neat how it all works out, actually. It would be to one's benefit to simply flip oneself out of real space and into imaginary space, and then hit the gas pedal. The faster you go, the lighter you get, and you can actually make time on the way. In fact, you could go back in time if you felt like it (if Hawking finds a way around the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics). With this simple mathematical trick, Asaro has opened up a science fiction can of worms, where she can put an infinite number of spins on a fundamental plot line.

That's not all Asaro came up with. Her background in chemical physics has given her the ability to take relevant real world problems and incorporate them into her fiction. Imagine Klein Bottles that maintain objects in imaginary space while being transported through real space. Quantum stasis fields that freeze all the atoms in an atomic state and hold them there for a finite time. An infinite information network that spans all of real space while only existing in imaginary space. This is neat stuff.

Perhaps the best thing about this book (and her other books) is that Asaro balances hard science fiction with a genuine effort to write about *people*. Catherine Asaro is a unique woman because she is not only a chemical physicist (Ph.D., Harvard), but also a ballerina. Her characters often show a similar duality. Some of her books are more romance novels than hard sci fi, but there are quite a few gems in this series. "Primary Inversion", "Radiant Seas", "The Moon's Shadow", and "Schism" all tell the story of Sauscony Valdoria and her kids, and these are some of her most "hard" sci fi novels. In addition, the story of Soz's brother, Kelric, is told in "The Last Hawk" and "Ascendant Sun", and both of these novels are equally entertaining.

PRIMARY INVERSION is apparently the first scifi novel by Asaro. For a first try, it is pretty good, despite some shortcomings. She clearly is well-grounded in science, and the hard scifi aspect of her writing is intriguing and well thought out. The plot of the story held my interest (though I wouldn't quite describe it as a page-turner)and the main characters have enough depth to make you care what happens to them. On the other hand, Asaro's political set-up is, at best, fuzzy. The Skolian dynasty is "decrepit" and there is some sort or elected body, but once you get into the story Primary Valdoria's half-brother seems to rule in a very absolute sense. Further, way too much of this story revolves around special mental powers. The advanced inter-personal links that might flow from nanotechnology and computer implants aren't enough. There have to be special psychic powers as well, and these powers constitute the main difference between the rival Skolian and Trader empires. The special powers should have been left out, in my opinion. The sadism of the Trader ruling class could easily have had other sources. The "Rhon" versus "Aristo" business was, in its genetic origins, obscure and confusing. Finally, most of the action (which is well written, by the way) takes place in the first part of the book. More action in the latter part of the story would have been a plus.

Although PRIMARY INVERSION has its weaknesses, it was engaging enough to hold my interst throughout. For a first effort, it was promising. I will probably be reading more of Ms. Asaro's books. I think most scifi fans will find this an entertaining read.

Primary Inversion is a heady mix of the worst of romance and the best of hardcore sf. The sadistic Traders and psionically-enchanced Skolians are fighting a continuous war. The two heirs of enemy houses(ahem, Romeo and Juliet?) fall instantly in love and cause a great ruckus. After a quick Sunday morning run-through, that is all I got from the book.

I'll probably be blasted for not giving this book stellar ratings, but hey I'm trying to be helpful by critiquing good AND bad points. I was interested in Asaro's writing because of her background in physics and was hungry for new female science fiction writers. Unfortunately, the plot reeks of immaturity. Grossly adolescent, Sauscony, the older but so sexy heroine, reads like a female version of James T. Kirk whose "heartbender" (umm, shrink) asserts that she is incapable of being with an equal. Bagging little boys is fine, but even that was boring! The galaxy seems to be chock full of strapping Jagernauts, quivering barmaids, and gorgeous little college boys, and a line of Emperors surnamed "Qox". Oh baby, whose Qox is it.. Ur Qox baby! And for "puggings sake", do adults not swear like adults? This is like the Bold and the Beautiful in Space.

There are a few positive points that, with more time and training would have made this book digestable. The underlying technology is refreshingly real and captivating, the ftl drives and antimatter weapons for example. Empathic fighters have cybernetic implants that can block their victims dying screams. The notion of love at first sight between the two heirs would seem silly if not for the fact that they had engineered "Rhon" genes that create pheremones so potent, they rack their potential mates with primal lust (like genetic soulmates). I honestly have no qualms about mixing romance with SF, but I was hoping for a more depth in character, plot, etc. You won't get compelling themes on the human condition, or strangely unique aliens or strong memorable characters. Hopefully, after this first try, Asaro will churn out much better yarns with the hope that she will dump the vacuous romantic cliches, keep the clean prose and intelligent science, and come up with a stronger plot.

Future Shock Among the Mayans

Primary Inversion (1995) is the first novel in the Skolian Imperialate series, but takes place rather later, following The Last Hawk in internal chronological sequence. In that novel, Keric crashed on Coba and became a Calanya. His fate was not known to the Skolians.

In this novel, in 2259 AD, Sauscony Valdoria is a Jagernaut Primary, a rank equivalent to Admiral, a Psion, and a member of the Ruby dynasty. Soz and her fellow cyberfighters, and empaths, have landed on Delos for R&R and are having a difficult time handling the fear of the population.

When they encounter a group of Eubian bodyguards, one invites Soz out for a drink, but this only initiates flashbacks to a time when Soz became a provider to a Highton Aristo while undercover in an intelligence operation. The Eubians, also known as Slave Traders, are stunted Psions who can only receive feelings of pain, but experience pleasure at the sensation. Thus, they are all sadists, basking in the pain of others, particularly the Rhon empaths, who generate stronger feelings of pain and hence are called providers for the intense pleasure they provide to the Aristos.

The Skolians sense that the Eubian is an Aristo in disquise, probably looking for providers to kidnap. They report the Eubian's presence to the local police and discover a fellow empath in the interpreter who takes their report. When the others leave, Soz stays behind to talk to the interpreter and he gives her a vintage book as a gift for confirming that he is an empath.

When Soz returns to the inn, she finds Rex, her Secondary, in a fey mood. He announces that he is going to retire and asks Soz to marry him. Soz agrees, but then Rex learns that their children cannot be part of the Ruby dynasty, since Rex lacks the recessive genes that allow the Ruby dynastic line to access the ancient controllers for the Skol-Net which links all human space with instantaneous communications. This reminder chills his desire to marry Soz, but he warms up again after re-consideration.

While walking around, Soz has a conversation with a little girl which triggers a connection in her memories: the Eubian didn't generate the usual empty feeling to her empathic talents that is characteristic of an Aristo. Soz investigates further and finds something very strange: an Aristo heir to the Eubian throne who is a full Psion.

This novel is full of strange ideas and viewpoints. Although the backstory is imparted in small doses, there is an immense history that looms in the background. Overall, this novel is confusing, but still a fun read, and the romantic aspects are just as well handled as the technological. Portions of this series have been published in Analog, yet the series has been praised in Romantic Times. An unusual combination that should happen more often.

Recommended for anyone who enjoys hard SF intermingled with a plot of political intrigue and romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

I was impressed by "Aurora in Four Voices," which is one of the author's short stories set in this universe, and read in the foreword to the short story that this series was in the vein of Bujold's Vorkosigan novels. That convinced me to purchase this, her first published novel, in the expectation that I would read the entire series.

Although relatively short, unfortunately the book is an interminable slog filled with plot, character, and logic holes large enough to pass the Milky Way Galaxy through. Clearly, a first novel is a challenge but the result was too disappointing for me to read more in the series despite the fact that a later book, "The Quantum Rose" won the Nebula Award in 2001. Generally, the writing is quite good. Unless. Unless she. Unless she writes. Unless she writes sentences like this.

The book has been criticized for fusing genre romance with hard science, an idea which didn't put me off. However, the result is indeed a disaster. The main character is a silly authorial fantasy combining the solo swagger of a freshly-minted lieutenant with the raw power of an Admiral who happens to be the even more powerful - albeit surreptitious - heir to the throne, a fact she hides from everyone unless she, well, tells them. But. But wait. But wait there's more.

She's also a nearly all-powerful empath/telepath/cybernetic fighting machine under the thumb of her evil brother emperor whom she grudgingly calls "sir" since he's her commanding officer. In her spare time, as if she really were a lieutenant and not an Admiral, she leads a tiny battalion of four "fighter pilots" on highly dangerous solo missions risking her precious psion/imperial DNA. During her adventure, she lusts after the throne and plots conquest/treason. All the while this 47-year-old woman pines after the man she loves as she beds teenagers and really pines after the other man she really loves.

Other books in the series may solve some of these character/logic issues and reach the level evinced in the short story that spurred my initial interest in the Skolian universe. However, this will be the last book in the series I read.

I couldn't disagree more with the reader below, who seems to have a problem with empowered women.

I just finished the 4 books that Ms Asaro wrote in the Skolian empire, of which Primary Inversion is the first. As a biologist, I found the science to be provocative and accurate. As a woman, I found the characters and relationships to be honest and appealing. I would recommend these to anyone who likes books by Bujold, Willis, Kress, etc. It's character-driven SF with a serious dose of science.

Primary Inversion first appeared in hard cover in 1994 and was one of the strongest first SF novels ever, a romantic adventure with a healthy dose of super science. Not an unexpected gem, if one considers the author: Catherine Asaro holds a Ph.D. from Harvard in Mathematical Chemistry, Masters in Physics, edited her own SF/Science magazine, Mindsparks and had a previous Ruby Dynasty story in Analog, April 1994. Primary Inversion introduces us to our universe in the 2200's, but from the point of view of the genetically advanced humans that we discover seeded through the galaxy when we Earthlings finally make the leap to space. The Allied Worlds (Earth) holds one corner of the power triangle, but the struggle Sauscony (Soz) Skolia lives is between the Skolian Imperialate and the Eubian Traders (evil incarnate). She is the ideal of a perfect soldier. Jaggernaut physical training, a bio-web of weapons embedded in her body and a psi connection to the Skolian web that controls instantaneous communication in the universe make her nearly indestructible, but the fact that she's an empath and a telepath make her vulnerable in a way we rarely see in a killing machine. Throw in drop-dead-gorgeous and lonely as hell (no possibility of a Rhon mate, a man who can link minds with her, in the entire universe) and you see the formula for a novel filled with nova bursts of energy. Although this novel is meant to stand alone, it is actually the first half of a book. What is part two? The Radiant Seas (Tor 1999).

First off, I'm a lover of romance as well as science fiction and I can tell you, there is no romance in this book! Here Ms. Asaro uses the old tried and true cheat of having two people "destined" for each other and bound together through some sort of mystic or psychic melding of minds. It's especially galling here since Soz and Jailbait- whoops! I mean Jaibriol have almost NOTHING in common.

OK, so the romance is bad, what about the science fiction? Well first of all there is Ms. Asaro's future history. I have to give her credit for trying but it just doesn't hold together for me. Aliens pluck prehistoric humans from Earth to seed another planet? Why? When did psi abilities first show up and why do the Allied worlds deny that the abilities exist? If the sadistic Aristos only genetically enhanced ability is a high tolerance for pain how did they come into power and stay in power for so long? And here is the biggest thing that made no sense: If the entire safety of the Tholian Web - whoops! I mean Skolian Web and therefore Skolian Empire rests on a handful people (the Rhons) why in the HEdoublehockeysticks are they allowing these people to get into dangerous situations?! All of them should be the most protected people in the galaxy. That Soz would be allowed to go into battle is ridiculous.Maybe I'm missing some important point because the whole explanation of the Rhon and the Skolian web was very confusing.

Even though the future history was a bit shakey I enjoyed the heck out of the first 1/3 of the book. It was very well written with some excellent action sequences. I love the way it was from a Skolian point of view with people from Earth being the Aliens. This also made for some good humor. My only big problem with the plot here is that Soz lets Jaibriol go. HUH? She knows what will happen to him and she knows what kind of threat he could be but she gives him no help and makes no plans to provide him with any help. That's just plain ludicrous. And why were the Traders allowing Jaibriol to stroll around an Allied Planet anyway?

In the second part of the book, the plot grinds to a complete halt while Soz takes a little vacation and undergoes pschoanalysis. I kid you not. Now having the main character undergo analysis in a scince fiction book is not a new idea (check out Fredrick Pohl's "Gateway"). However, unlike "Gateway" the analysis here is not well done and is just plain boring. This is the worst section of the book and almost pointless.

The third part of the book is quite readable but by the time I had gotten to it I had pretty much lost interest. It's too bad because after reading the first part of the book I really thought it had a lot of potential. Although this is certainly not the worst science fiction I've ever read it is no where near the best. I do not recommend buying this book.

I picked up and set down this book in a store several times because the title and the artwork were so uninviting, even though I'd heard good things about Asaro's writing and had enjoyed Catch the Lightning. Luckily, I finally broke down and enjoyed Primary Inversion very much. I like Asaro's focus on character, and the way she plays with gender expectations such as appropriate ages for romantic partners. That kind of social thinking is really more revolutionary (subversive, even) than tech talk, which doesn't interest me anywhere near as much as character. I've read all of Asaro's books, and find her both original and highly entertaining.

The novel is a fast paced story of political intrigue on a galactic scale. It is the first novel in a long time which uses psi senses in such a believable manner. I found her design of the three civilizations quite well structured. Ms. Asaro uses the romantic elements in fine style. I simply did not wish to put down the book.