Primary Inversion

A Novel of the Skolian Empire

By: Catherine Asaro

Narrated by: Anna Fields

Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

The Skolian Empire rules a third of the civilized galaxy through its mastery of faster-than-light communication. But war with the rival empire of the Traders seems imminent, a war that can only lead to slavery for the Skolians or the destruction of both sides. Destructive skirmishes have already occurred. A desperate attempt must be made to avert total disaster.

The best way to listen to this series: Primary Inversion (Unabridged) The Radiant Seas (Unabridged) The Last Hawk (Unabridged) Ascendant Sun (Unabridged) The Quantum Rose (Unabridged) Catch the Lightning (Unabridged)

©1995 Catherine Asaro (P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"In an unusually masterful first novel, physicist Asaro combines hard speculative science and first-rate storytelling to look at the galaxy's distant future....This is one of the best sf first novels in years." (Booklist)
"Though Asaro, a physicist, provides more than enough esoteric detail on faster-than-light inversion drives, cybernetic enhancements, and computer networks, she manages to anchor her story with thoughtful, engaging characters and an intriguing vision of the future." (Publishers Weekly)
"This novel deserves a wide readership." (Library Journal)

Interesting Concepts with a Slow Presentation

Though the concepts in this book are very intriguing, the presentation is slow and overall the book is kind of boring.

There is a lot of navel gazing by the main character. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind good character development, but this was just endless introspection.

Should have been a 3 hr novella

When I read this twenty years ago, I must have scanned past the dull stuff, because I had fond memories of the story. But, even for free, the was a slog to get through. It starts strong, with a team of telepathically linked super space pilots, led by a seasoned lady badass. She’s been a prisoner of war and has issues with the enemy... which forecasts a good, layered conflict when she ends up in a kind of insta-connection with one particular baddie due to her special genetic background. Then there’s a space battle with pretty good action. But, everything after the first third set up goes down hill.

The second third of the book is useless filler as she leaves the team, becomes the Kelly McGillis Tog Gun instructor character who sadly just mopes and dates boys half her age as the story withers. When it finally got back to the story, I’d lost all feeling in my sci-fi loving brain. Add in a lot of exposition on the politics of the galaxy, Skolian empaths vs. the Aristo empath-vampires, and science (lots of science), and, ugh, this was boring.

Spoiler- Harlequin Romance disguised as SF

So the premise...3 human species that hate each other, yet the first time two meet they fall into lust, and complete each other. Give me a break! The only possible SF connection so far... they are in space and the protagonist is sort of psycic

Lacking a good plot

This book lacks a good plot. 2 hrs into the book and couldnt tell what the story was about.