Schism (Saga of the Skolian Empire, #10; The Triad, #1)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Schism (Saga of the Skolian Empire #10)

by Catherine Asaro (Goodreads Author)

3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 · rating details · 339 ratings · 22 reviews

In 2002, Catherine Asaro won the Nebula Award for The Quantum Rose, the sixth novel in her Saga of the Skolian Empire. This very same novel was also named Best SF Novel by the Romantic Times. Schism: Part One of Triad is the tenth novel in this multiple award-winning series, and represents an excellent entry point into the series.

For Schism harkens back to the early years

...more

Mass Market Paperback, 432 pages

Published August 30th 2005 by Tor Science Fiction (first published 2004)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Best Sci Fi Books with Female Main Characters

93rd out of 310 books — 346 voters

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Best Books of 2004

180th out of 220 books — 105 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 528)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Sep 25, 2012 Kerry rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 10, 2004, sf

Like Skyfall before it, Schism is set prior to Catherine Asaro's other Skolian novels, this time telling the story of Roca and Eldrinson's children, with special focus on Soz's entrance to the Deshian Military Academy and her younger brother Shannon's adolescence.

Soz is seventeen as the book begins, determined to follow her older brother Althor off Lyshriol and become a Jagernaut. Her father is violently opposed to this, both because women are not warriors by Lyshrioli tradition and, more impor...more Like Skyfall before it, Schism is set prior to Catherine Asaro's other Skolian novels, this time telling the story of Roca and Eldrinson's children, with special focus on Soz's entrance to the Deshian Military Academy and her younger brother Shannon's adolescence.

Soz is seventeen as the book begins, determined to follow her older brother Althor off Lyshriol and become a Jagernaut. Her father is violently opposed to this, both because women are not warriors by Lyshrioli tradition and, more importantly, because he cannot bear the thought of sending his children to war against the Traders. When Soz is granted early admission to DMA and Althor agrees to take her there, he disowns both his children. From there, the book follows three main characters; Soz, Eldrinson and Shannon.

Soz enters the Academy as plain Sauscony Valdoria, but knowing that Kurj has just selected both her and Althor as potential heirs and is waiting to see how they both turn out. Outspoken, impetuous and brilliant, she is soon racing through her classes and building up a mountain of demerit points. She rapidly progresses through the Academy, but still needs to do some growing and maturing to best use her great talents.

Shannon, fourteen, quiet and very different even among Roca and Eldrinson's different children, after a confusing encounter with Althor while he is home, decides the troubles that have now beset the family are all his fault. He takes his father's lyrine, Moonglaze, and literally heads for the hills. Shannon is a throw back to a Blue Dale Archer ancestor, and he heads into the Blue Dale Mountains hoping to find the legendary Archers and a place where he fits in.

As soon as Shannon is discovered missing, Eldrinson sets off to find him and falls into his own kind of trouble. He has to fight to survive at the same time as he is trying to reconcile himself to the fact his children don't have the same vision of their own futures that he does.

Schism is the first book of two, that together are titled Triad, suggesting part of the ultimate story will be how Eldrinson becomes the Web Key and the Dyad becomes a Triad, since we know from the later books that this happens. That is perhaps the main weakness of this book - we know what is going to happen, at least in general terms. The book ends on what would be a major cliffhanger, except for the fact that we already know the character this concerns is going to make it because we've already met them in the other books. For me, this isn't a concern. I'm more concerned about how and why things happen rather than what happens. It can be quite fun knowing what is going to be the end result and still navigate the curve balls the author throws at readers along the way. I might not need to worry about the endangered character's survival, but I sure want to know how the current mess is going to be resolved.

I am already predisposed to love Asaro's books, especially the Skolian series. I love the setting, I love the characters and I love the way she is changing the world from the black and white we first through it was. So I loved this one too. Soz would have to be my favourite character, so seeing more of her and how she became the woman I first met in Primary Inversion is a delight. I am finding that I don't remember everything that has already happened in other books, and I'm sure I've missed a few subtle moments of foreshadowing, which is a pity as I love the way Asaro does these. Still, I'm sure I'll be reading Schism again in the future, so hopefully I'll pick up things of missed that time around.

I do love the way Asaro plays with the characters and their companions. There is a lovely little scene where Soz's room mates want to know how it is that she appears to know Imperator Kurj. She tries to prevaricate, but they are persistent. Finally, she admits that her mother knew his father and when asked how, states simply, "They were married" and waits for the penny to drop.

I think my only real complaint is that, in this attitude to his children's dreams and the way he deals with a major disability Eldrinson tends to come across as a whiny boy at times. I'm guessing this in intentional and he's going to grow out of it - after all, despite having ten children he can't be much older than his late thirties. But I did want to slap him around a bit, especially for the way he treated Roca.

I don't really think that this would be the best book to start reading Asaro's Skolian series with, but it is a great addition to the tale. However, it is clearly unfinished. I have a feeling I read somewhere that Triad was supposed to be one book, but it got too big. This makes sense, as it ends like the end of a chapter, not the end of the book. I'm eagerly awaiting the second half of the story.

[Copied across from Library Thing; 25 September 2012](less)

1 like · like · see review

Dec 04, 2009 Jadetyger Sevea rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book comes smack in the middle of a series. Even so, it was billed as a good entry point for newcomers. I ended up enjoying Schism by the end of the novel, but I admit it was slow going at first.

Schism suffers from two major faults. The first is a series of Tom Clancy-esque point of view switches. Thankfully, Asaro doesn't change POV
multiple times per chapter(as Clancy does). However, I wasn't as engaged with some characters as I was with others, and I was often impatient to skip less inter...more

like · see review

Apr 29, 2012 Steve rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-women, science-fiction, young-adult, 2012-reading-list

Schism jumps you into the middle of a long series of books by Catherine Asaro. Multi-talented Asaro brings to her writing hard science (Harvard PhD in Chemical Physics), serious music (she's a jazz vocalist and dancer), and inclination toward space opera and soft romance of a young adult type, at least in this series. Intrigued? Schism seems a good place to start.

Schism comes toward the end of the series yet takes place in more of a prequel zone. I don't suspect you will suffer if you decide to...more Schism jumps you into the middle of a long series of books by Catherine Asaro. Multi-talented Asaro brings to her writing hard science (Harvard PhD in Chemical Physics), serious music (she's a jazz vocalist and dancer), and inclination toward space opera and soft romance of a young adult type, at least in this series. Intrigued? Schism seems a good place to start.

Schism comes toward the end of the series yet takes place in more of a prequel zone. I don't suspect you will suffer if you decide to read the rest. Though this book starts a trilogy of its own, it seems far removed from the main events that follow long after. In general, we have a Star Wars-esque far future empire, fewer aliens yet more varieties of human, and post-human species. One strand of human notably have hands that fold down the middle instead of an opposable thumb. I found the descriptions hard to imagine, though it seemed equally useful to the characters with that adaptation.

Some jaunts into "world-building" human colonies work better than others. Asaro takes care with the details, if you like that sort of thing. I focused on the story. The story definitely has a military theme to it. I don't usually go for that, yet it seems a rising trend again, including among women science fiction writers, and it makes sense to see what its all about.

The most interesting science focuses on how humans get trained and adapted (in-plants and all) to merge with their fighter craft to do some fairly spectacular maneuvering. Speculative fiction has classically focused on machines-we-hope-we-can-trust to take care of business (think HAL in 2001). Given the pace of computer technology, this has seemed like the like reach. Some other writers have explored the human mind/machine merge, and Asaro handles it as realistically as you would expect from a serious science person. I suspect we will see more thought go in this direction: Google's new glasses seem just the beginning, and as usual, science fiction will continue to show the way speculatively. If you work with computer software all day and wonder if tablet touch interface (or even the kind of stuff in Minority Report) really improves that much on keyboard and mouse, well, read some of this and realize things will likely unfold in more dramatic ways in a generation or two.

I admit that I found it hard to keep track of the vast royal family. I don't really follow British royalty or most such things and have struggled with Game of Thrones. You probably need to train harder than I do to stay on top of dynastic sagas. If you are more like me, start drawing that family tree from page 1. As mentioned, the book does have safe-for-teens romance in it. It works OK, though I suspect Asaro does more with it in other of her writing.

Overall, worth a read, and though I didn't feel compelled to immediately read on, I will probably come back to Asaro's universe and science at some point. (less)

like · see review

Mar 19, 2011 Kelly Flanagan rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was an alright book. I wasn't enormously fond of it, nor did I feel the need to chuck it at the wall or open window. And, strangely enough, after I finished it, It tended to come to mind in odd times. Something only a book I enjoy does. So after a few days, I realize that even though my stack of 'to read' on my night stand is big (14 so far, always how holds go for me.. none for a month and a half, then bamn! 15 come in at once) I will read the rest of the series.
Oh, and might I also menti...more

like · see review

Jun 18, 2008 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-the-public-library

I enjoyed this book, but only when I gave up trying to figure out what most of the proper names referred to. Most of the planet, empire, city, race, and family names were a vast puzzle to me until at least 200 pages into the book. That's a long time to be left in the dark when reading a book that deals at least partly with politics. I was told this was a good place to start reading in Catherine Asaro's Skolian Empire books, but I'm just going to stick with my method of reading series books in th...more

like · see review

Sep 03, 2010 Joy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this, especially the parts where Soz and Althor are at military school. It's a family story, in which each of the ten children of Roca and Eldri are trying to find their place in life. But then Eldri falls into disaster before he can reconcile with two of his children. SCHISM is a special achievement, engaging the reader with so many different characters. It's the first of a pair of books, so I went right on to THE FINAL KEY to finish the story.

like · see review

May 02, 2008 Sandi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi, 2008

I wasn't expecting much from this book. I read it for an online group I belong to. My first impression (based on the hideous 1985 style cover) was that it would be one of those cheesy space operas with too many one-dimensional characters. I will say that it does get cheesy sometimes and it does have quite a few space opera cliches. But, it is a good book overall. Asaro has really thought out the science of her science fiction but doesn't beat us over the head with it. Her characters are fully re...more

like · see review

Oct 11, 2010 Lynne rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my favorites in the Skolian series. Wonderful story with very believable characters. Soz is a marvelous character and the books with her in them are my favorites. Asaro has decent science behind her books but doesn't overwhelm the reader with too much explanation.

like · see review

Sep 01, 2009 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction

This is the first book by Catherine Asaro I've read, and I was impressed. I loved the characters and sympathized with their struggles, and I also thought the author did a good job balancing the two major settings. I'm looking forward to checking out the rest of the series soon.

like · see review

Mar 02, 2012 Richard rated it 4 of 5 stars

Asaro has improved. This novel (the first of a two-part series) contains much more action and intrigue than her previous books. It continues to detail the history of the "Ruby Empire," including way too much about familial relationships. Also, Ms. Asaro tends to repeat facts that provide continuity with earlier books in the story, but which have already been introduced in this book.

like · see review

Sep 12, 2010 Darcy rated it 1 of 5 stars

This book was incredibly boring. I can't read books anymore that I'm not interested in. I got 30 pages and then went screw it. The author had nothing to give a 30 pages, so I set it down. By at most a book should get interesting at page 15.

like · see review

Aug 15, 2010 Mia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2010, sf-f

A fun and absorbing read, even if most of the characters seemed pretty formulaic. Formula = take a stock character type, and if convenient tweak one characteristic to create plot points.

like · see review

May 03, 2012 Cat rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I first started the Skolian empire books, Soz was my favorite character. I'm not certain this book fully lives up to my memory of my impression of Soz, and now I'm interested in reading these books in reverse publishing order (skolian timeline order). But having said that, I definitely enjoyed getting the backstory for how Soz first got started on her career path.

like · see review

Jan 02, 2010 Elise rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who enjoys Sci-Fi, Fantasy

All the cool technology mixes with old world....
Amazingly vast & coo!!

like · see review

Mar 04, 2013 Diane Severson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, science-fiction, beyond-reality-botm, book-club-read

I really enjoyed this book. I would give it 3 1/2 stars if that were an option. But I'm trying to stick with GR's descriptions for the stars and reserving 5 stars only for the truly amazing books.

This one is very entertaining and a good introduction to Asaro's world, even if you haven't read the previous 9 books. This is the first in a trilogy, although I feel like this one and the 2nd one are really 2 parts of one long book.

Asaro is a physicist and an dancer/singer and I think that those two...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 08, 2010 Lynn Calvin added it · review of another edition

SF,Romance

like · see review

Nov 04, 2007 Omly rated it 4 of 5 stars

A minor pet peeve of mine are books where a large number of the main characters have violet eyes. I am not sure why, perhaps simply because a lot of poorly written stuff I have read has that feature. Despite this book fits in the category of "filled with characters with violet eyes", it is a good read.

Similar to Anne McCaffrey's Rowan series, there is a family of psions/people with different degrees of empathy, telepathy etc. They are part of a network of people who allow faster than light trave...more

like · see review

Oct 25, 2007 Joni rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fifantasy

This is like the 10th book in Asaro's books about the Skolian Empire. I found it interesting, but not terribly compelling. Asaro is very good at getting deep feelings out of the characters (and the reader too, or at least me), but I didn't feel there was much character development; this may be because this is only half a book.

I'm glad it's not compelling because I'm borrowing these books from the library and I can't just run out and get the next book; I'm compelled to wait.

like · see review

Jun 30, 2008 Staci rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi

This is only the second science fiction novel that I've actually finished and I really enjoyed it. I really like the world that Asaro has created here. I will definitely continue reading books in this series.

like · see review

Jul 07, 2008 Frank Taranto rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction

A very good mix of Science Fiction and a love story. The love story is not just between a man and his wife, but a man and his family.

like · see review

Sep 03, 2007 Cindy rated it 2 of 5 stars

A continuation of Skyfall, the story is about Roca's children, primarily Soz. Less romance, more battles. (May 26, 2005)

like · see review

Jun 30, 2007 Ferret rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sf

Hmm... What to say? It's good, yes. Not great, but good. Nothing to write home about.

like · see review

Jun 17, 2009 Patrick rated it 3 of 5 stars

fun and good character development, as usual for the author

like · see review

May 21, 2013 Sean Swain marked it as to-read

May 19, 2013 Nongingercat rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 17, 2013 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

May 13, 2013 Nancy marked it as to-read

May 12, 2013 Katrina marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

May 12, 2013 Kimberly N rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 10, 2013 Nikki rated it 5 of 5 stars

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 17 18 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (4)

Genres

Science Fiction

39 users

Science Fiction > Space Opera

6 users

Fantasy

4 users

Space

3 users

Science Fiction Fantasy

2 users

Speculative Fiction

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Catherine Asaro

Blog at https://www.facebook.com/Catherine.As...

The author of more than twenty-five books, Catherine Asaro is acclaimed for her Ruby Dynasty series, which combines adventure, science, romance and fast-paced action. Her novel The Quantum Rose won the Nebula® Award, as did her novella “The Spacetime Pool.” Among her many other distinctions, she is a multiple winner of the AnLab from Analog magazine...more

More about Catherine Asaro...

Books by Catherine Asaro

Primary Inversion (Saga of the Skolian Empire, #1)

The Quantum Rose (Saga of the Skolian Empire, #6)

Catch the Lightning (Saga of the Skolian Empire, #2)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Schism

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Schism
avg rating	preview: Schism Goodreads rating: 3.81 (339 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/593851.Schism?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312069233l/593851.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/593851.Schism?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Schism by Catherine Asaro[/url]

Schism (Saga of the Skolian Empire #10)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website