Primary Inversion
OCLC 34794832 | | |
Followed by | Catch the Lightning |
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Primary Inversion is a science fiction novel in the Saga of the Skolian Empire by Catherine Asaro. As Asaro's debut novel, it first appeared as a hardcover in 1995. It was nominated for the 1996 Compton Crook/Stephen Tall Memorial Award and placed tenth on the list for the Locus Award for Best First Novel.[1]
Synopsis
Primary Inversion is set in a future where three star-faring civilizations vie for control of human-settled space. Fighter pilot
The book is divided into three sections. In the first, Soz and her squadron are taking shore leave on a planet that has remained neutral in the hostilities between the warring empires. It is there that Soz meets the Highton heir, Jaibriol Qox the Second, the Aristo who will someday rule the Trader empire. She discovers he secretly possesses the same empathic abilities that she wields. The two link mentally and fall in love against their own wishes. From Jaibriol, Soz learns that his father is going to commit genocide against the inhabitants of a planet who have joined together to rebel against their Aristo rulers. She goes in with her squadron to warn and evacuate the planet. After a desperate space battle, they barely escape with their own lives, but are able to save some of the planet's inhabitants.
In the second section, Soz is sent by her brother,
In part three, Soz's brother calls her back to HQ. He has captured Jaibriol Qox and wants Soz to interrogate him. Knowing that if her brother discovers her secret meeting with Jaibriol, he will probably have her executed for treason, Soz undertakes a daring rescue and frees Jaibriol. With the help of her stunned father
Place in the series
Primary Inversion is the first book of the
Sauscony (Soz) Valdoria
Elements of science fiction
Primary Inversion has been described as an exemplary novel in the hard science fiction genre from sources such as Stanley Schmidt, the long time editor of Analog magazine, who wrote that the book is "an impressive first novel; not just a good story, but the kind of speculation we too seldom see—really new science that just might be possible". Asaro is also noted as one of the few female science fiction writers who also has a doctorate in hard science, specifically a Ph.D. from Harvard in theoretical Chemical Physics.[7]
In 1996, Asaro published a paper in the American Journal of Physics called "Complex Speeds and Special Relativity" that gives the mathematical formulation she developed for the fictional star drive used in Primary Inversion. Describing the idea as a "mathematical game", she shows how making the speed a complex number can remove the problems associated with the singularity at the speed of light.[8][9][10]
"Inversion" is the means of
Primary Inversion and its sequel, The Radiant Seas, deal with interstellar combat from the perspective of relativistic space travel. The battles in Primary Inversion and other of Asaro's works include extrapolations of current-day ideas in bio-cybernetics, artificial intelligence, situational awareness, relativistic complications, and weapons development. Reviewers have commented on the extent and excitement of the battles, and also the attention to detail.[4][11]
The presence of
The Skolian
Matriarchy
The
The main character, Sauscony Valdoria is a warrior, a Jagernaut (biomechanically enhanced fighter and pilot) with the rank of a Primary (military status equivalent to general) and very tough. She admits to being bad with words and emotions, she suppresses her feelings and hides her weaknesses. She is much more comfortable with physical rather than emotional confrontation. In her relationship with Jaibriol Qox, she also takes the dominant role. She is more than twice his age, more experienced and powerful. When he is captured, she rescues and more-or-less physically carries him out of his cell.
Place in genre and associated controversies
Described as "an unusually masterful first novel" by Booklist, Primary Inversion has been called hard science fiction, action-rich drama, space opera, military science fiction, science fiction romance, and space adventure. The book has received praise both for Asaro's development of the emotional lives of the characters and for its innovative use of scientific extrapolation.[4][5][12] In an interview at Intel's Moments of Genius web site, Asaro describes how her publisher introduced her books as hard science fiction and how she uses her doctorate in theoretical physics as background for her fiction.[13]
The label assigned to the book has become a source of controversy, in particular due to the blend of hard science with romance in the Romeo and Juliet tale of love between the scions of two empires. Some romance readers have said the book doesn't qualify as romance because it is, first and foremost, a story that emphasizes science fiction, one where the two lovers are separated for a third of the book; whereas some science fiction readers have criticized the extent of the development of the love relationship and emotional lives of the characters.[11][14][15][16][17]
Asaro has been accepting of the term romance despite the controversy and has expressed pleased surprise that her works attracted the interest of the romance community.[18]
References
- ^ Kelly, Mark R. (August 12, 2009). "The LOCUS Index to SF Awards: Index of Literary Nominees". Archived from the original on January 14, 2010.
- ^ "Free Revised Version of 'Primary Inversion'". Fantasy Cafe. August 28, 2008.
- ^ "Catherine Asaro". Baen Free Library.
- ^ a b c Schellenberg, James (October 29, 1997). "Primary Inversion, Catherine Asaro". Challenging Destiny.
- ^ a b "Reviews; Library Journal, Booklist, Carl Hayes". Amazon.com.
- ^ Spindler, Lisa Paitz (April 27, 2007). "Danger Gal Friday: Primary Sauscony "Soz" Valdoria". lisapaitzspindler.com.
- .
- doi:10.1119/1.18258.
- ^ Aylott, Chris (February 6, 2000). "Catherine Asaro: Space Opera = Physics + Romance". Space.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008.
- ^ "Catherine Asaro". Physics Central. American Physical Society.
- ^ a b "Catherine Asaro - Primary Inversion". ePinions.com.
- ^ Williams, Anthony G. (July 2007). "Review: The Skolian Empire series by Catherine Asaro". Science Fiction and Fantasy.
- ^ "Moments of Genius". BigThink. Archived from the original on June 26, 2010.
- ^ Horton, Richard (1999). "The Radiant Seas by Catherine Asaro, a review". SF Site.com.
- ^ Scott, Alan P. (December 31, 1999). "Review: Catherine Asaro, Primary Inversion". Cynical Biped.
- ^ "Catherine Asaro - Skolian Empire Series and Other Books". Library Thing.
- ^ "Primary Inversion". Goodreads.
- ^ "PBS Interview on Fast Forward TV". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14.