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125th out of 654 books
—
843 voters
The Quantum Rose (Saga of the Skolian Empire #6)
by
Catherine Asaro (Goodreads Author)
A New Adventure in the Saga of the Skolian Empire.
Kamoj Argali is the young ruler of an impoverished province on a backward planet. To keep her people from starving, she has agreed to marry Jax Ironbridge, the boorish and brutal ruler of a prosperous province. But before Argali and Ironbridge are wed, a mysterious stranger from a distant planet sweeps in and forces Kamoj i...more
Kamoj Argali is the young ruler of an impoverished province on a backward planet. To keep her people from starving, she has agreed to marry Jax Ironbridge, the boorish and brutal ruler of a prosperous province. But before Argali and Ironbridge are wed, a mysterious stranger from a distant planet sweeps in and forces Kamoj i...more
Paperback, 432 pages
Published
February 18th 2002
by Tor Science Fiction
(first published December 2000)
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I picked this up because it was a Nebula Award Winner, and as a public librarian I need to read a diverse body of literature. My diversity unfortunately just happens to be within science fiction.
I read a sexist comment once online where a guy said that he thought that women science fiction writers seemed to all be inspired by "Star Trek". He obviously wanted to start a flame war, and I of course don't think this is true. [Let me just say here, I think Octavia Butler was one of the best science...more
I read a sexist comment once online where a guy said that he thought that women science fiction writers seemed to all be inspired by "Star Trek". He obviously wanted to start a flame war, and I of course don't think this is true. [Let me just say here, I think Octavia Butler was one of the best science...more
Apr 11, 2007
Benjamin
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fans of tedious, formulaic science fiction
Shelves:
fantasy
About halfway through this interesting, but deeply flawed work, I said, "this would be better if the writer could write artfully." But then the plot took a sharp left into being about something else entirely, and I had to force myself to finish.
The premise is good. Woman governs a small feudal province in the decaying remnants of what used to be a super-future human culture. Woman gets swept off her feet by warlord who turns out to be from space. Problems ensue.
It was good, but that book ended,...more
The premise is good. Woman governs a small feudal province in the decaying remnants of what used to be a super-future human culture. Woman gets swept off her feet by warlord who turns out to be from space. Problems ensue.
It was good, but that book ended,...more
Impresionante. Me quedo con ganas de leer más de Asaro pero lamentablemente no va a ser tarea fácil. Sólo me queda un título y estoy esperando a que lo salden (Inversión primaria). Y a continuación, intentar leerlos en inglés.
Corroboro lo que Diamond Star me indicó. Asaro se convierte en una de mis favoritas por saber mezclar con inteligencia historias de amor en escenarios de ficción. Aunque reconozco que es más que posible que estas historias las disfrute una gran minoría ya que los que leen s...more
Corroboro lo que Diamond Star me indicó. Asaro se convierte en una de mis favoritas por saber mezclar con inteligencia historias de amor en escenarios de ficción. Aunque reconozco que es más que posible que estas historias las disfrute una gran minoría ya que los que leen s...more
I feel a bit sorry for this book. It came in while I was waiting for A Dance with Dragons so I got just a few pages into it when I put it down again. And I'll admit that, even when I started it again, it took me quite a few chapters to actually feel committed to finishing the book. What I realized, thankfully, was that it's been a very long time since I read a book set in a world that I'm unfamiliar with. A long, long time. That was a jolting realization of itself.
I'm glad I kept reading -- the...more
I'm glad I kept reading -- the...more
While having a relaxing swim Kamoj Quanta Argali, the governor of Argali, and her bodyguard are surprised by a group of riders led by Havyrl Lionstar, who appear on the other bank of the river. Embarrassed by the intrusion, Kamoj quickly gets out of the water and dresses, but by the time she joins her bodyguard, the riders have left. Lionstar, who has recently arrived from another world, is notorious for being both rich and rude. As if this breach of privacy wasn’t humiliating enough, on the way...more
Quantum mechanics, Aztec mythology and a romance novel all in one? Why wouldn't you want to read it?
Also, the author holds a Ph. D. in chemical physics from Harvard, won the Nebula award for this book in 2001, and is also a former ballet dancer. I think I'm in love.
Also, the author holds a Ph. D. in chemical physics from Harvard, won the Nebula award for this book in 2001, and is also a former ballet dancer. I think I'm in love.
There's a lot to like about "Quantum Rose," but I think what I liked best was how it totally immerses the reader in a sci-fi world that exists in a time and galaxy far, far away, but it doesn't sacrifice plot and character at the expense of world building. It is equal parts romance and science fiction. The story is driven by character motivations and emotion, but as it is revealed how those things have been manipulated through science, it is up to the characters to either give into it or find so...more
THE QUANTUM ROSE is one of my least favorite of the Skolian Empire series because it seems less like sci fi and more like fantasy. That's because the culture of its main world is a degenerated Skolian world. The technology on which the empire is based, has broken down on this world. They refer back to the days of the Current, meaning electricity. They need to rejoin the Empire or they will inevitably die.
One of the Ruby princes takes a recovery vacation in the province of a young leader, and for...more
One of the Ruby princes takes a recovery vacation in the province of a young leader, and for...more
Rivets. I recently heard that it's the telltale sign that differentiates the two main scifi genres. If the cover art has rivets then the book will be a science-based scifi story, and if it doesn't then it'll be a fantasy-based scifi story. I'm a fan of rivets. On my continuing quest to read all of the Hugo and Nebula Award winning novels, though, I came across the Quantum Rose. My initial impression of the novel before I even cracked the cover... no rivets. Regardless, I'm glad I read on.
This is...more
This is...more
This book is unique stylistically, being a romance novel that is also a relatively non-violent space opera that is also an engineered metaphor for quantum mechanical interactions. I enjoyed the opportunity the book gave me to read something from a genre that I have never read before, and I liked the language and images Asaro uses-- mounts that are silvery-violet furred felines or crystal six legged stags, stained glass forests, ruby empires. Its all very romantic and lush. The plot and setting s...more
I listened to this book 3-5 times, enjoying it all each time, but when I finally checked the book out of the library and was able to read, reread, and reference the authors notes on Quantum Physics I was energized by the thought processes that went into this book, and the series. There is nothing like it out there, and I have been reading every genre of book out there for 50 years. This stuff is amazing, heady, addictive. I am inspired to do more, try harder and in general improve myself. I wish...more
Here are a few reasons why it may have won the Nebula:
* The entire novel is an allegory for quantum scattering theory. This is a clever and unexpected device.
* The series brings back the old "space opera" style of science fiction. (Think "Star Wars.")
* The technology described in the books is much more carefully balanced with current scientific knowledge than in most "space opera" books.
And here's one reason why maybe it shouldn't have won a Nebula:
"If thwarted passion could have powered spa...more
* The entire novel is an allegory for quantum scattering theory. This is a clever and unexpected device.
* The series brings back the old "space opera" style of science fiction. (Think "Star Wars.")
* The technology described in the books is much more carefully balanced with current scientific knowledge than in most "space opera" books.
And here's one reason why maybe it shouldn't have won a Nebula:
"If thwarted passion could have powered spa...more
Da: http://www.mauriziovicedomini.helioho...
Essendo un libro di fantascienza, mi aspettavo qualcosa alla Asimov (unico autore di fantascienza che abbia mai letto), che a dirla tutta non mi entusiasma poi tanto. Invece mi sono trovato davanti un vero e proprio Fantasy.
Partiamo con un accenno di trama:
Kamoj Quanta Argali è la governante della regione di Argali. Il suo popolo, o meglio, il popolo di tutto il suo mondo, è discendente di una misteriosa razza molto progredita, che ha lasciato alcuni “...more
Essendo un libro di fantascienza, mi aspettavo qualcosa alla Asimov (unico autore di fantascienza che abbia mai letto), che a dirla tutta non mi entusiasma poi tanto. Invece mi sono trovato davanti un vero e proprio Fantasy.
Partiamo con un accenno di trama:
Kamoj Quanta Argali è la governante della regione di Argali. Il suo popolo, o meglio, il popolo di tutto il suo mondo, è discendente di una misteriosa razza molto progredita, che ha lasciato alcuni “...more
Reread. This book is actually better than I remembered. Since I've been having a marathon of the series from first to present (publication order), I'm realizing how much I missed the first time around (I initially read these as they first came out). The concepts in the two halves are an interesting mirror/contrast to one another.
While many of the Skolian Empire books seem to be stand alone, you miss so much depth if you haven't read the other books. I don't recommend reading this without having...more
While many of the Skolian Empire books seem to be stand alone, you miss so much depth if you haven't read the other books. I don't recommend reading this without having...more
One of the things I like best about Catherine Asaro's books is the mix of incomprehensible quantum physics, great plots and story lines, and the romantic-science fiction genre.
I love the cerebral themes underlying the fast-moving plot and well-drawn, complex characters:
- immersion into different cultures
- humans seeking freedom
- gender roles
- the nature of human relationships
- emotional distress and healing (caveat: there are some distressing abuse scenes)
She explains the themes: "So this arc...more
I love the cerebral themes underlying the fast-moving plot and well-drawn, complex characters:
- immersion into different cultures
- humans seeking freedom
- gender roles
- the nature of human relationships
- emotional distress and healing (caveat: there are some distressing abuse scenes)
She explains the themes: "So this arc...more
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1984726.html[return][return]Many years ago, when this book originally won the Nebula, I read it and was distinctly underwhelmed. But that was in the days before my bookblogging became serious; now that I am almost finished working through the Nebula winners, I felt I owed it to the book (and to its author, who engaged with me very gracefully and decently over my criticism) to give it another try.[return][return]Well. In fairness the novel itself is not all that bad,...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
A book of the "Saga of the Skolian Empire" series, 'The Quantim Rose' is a book that probably requires a rudimentary background knowledge of the series to understand the full story. Overall, at it's core, it's a story of a romance between two worlds and cultures that go horribly wrong; which, our two protagonists struggle to overcome to change things for the better. Fans of Star Trek's "The Prime Directive" might find this of interest when the spirit of that rule is not followed in this book.
As...more
As...more
The concept behind this book is beautiful and carefully mapped out. Unfortunately, the narrative thread is weak. The sections on Balumil and Lyshriol barely seem to be connected. And while the characters were clearly intended to be likable, I found that their passivity infuriated me. Of course, this passivity was part of the aforementioned concept, so perhaps I shouldn't complain. Nevertheless, I'm glad that I read this book, and glad that it's over.
Picked this up because it was described as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Found that to be a stretch. There was some decent world building but also a lot of political complexity that I didn't really understand probably because this is part of a series and I haven't read any of the other books. So this one was OK- it kept me interested enough to keep reading. The afterword helped a lot in explaining things.
This was like space james bond, the lover even had a mask that was all james bondesque.
I didn't finish it but space danger romance doesn't come much awesome then this.
If people think young medieval space gun slingers with addictions and war parties to please and wemon to love isn't cool then you are crazy. It's also written in the perspective of a princess so It's more tasteful then bond ever is.
I didn't finish it but space danger romance doesn't come much awesome then this.
If people think young medieval space gun slingers with addictions and war parties to please and wemon to love isn't cool then you are crazy. It's also written in the perspective of a princess so It's more tasteful then bond ever is.
In what I now think of as "Catherine Asaro style," she jumps to another portion of her universe, creating another puzzle piece that will (hopefully?) tie together more portions of the saga.
TRIGGER WARNING: This one has an abuser in the story line, as well as someone who's spent years enduring abuse, and has to come to grips with whether to break the cycle. I would be careful who I might recommend this book to, based on the trigger warning.
But if you are not someone who shoulders that type of sc...more
TRIGGER WARNING: This one has an abuser in the story line, as well as someone who's spent years enduring abuse, and has to come to grips with whether to break the cycle. I would be careful who I might recommend this book to, based on the trigger warning.
But if you are not someone who shoulders that type of sc...more
Kamoj is forced into a betrothal with Jax, a brutish, but powerful ruler, in order to help the penurious people she governs. However, her heart ends up being swept away by the mysterious Havryl Lionstar, a man from off-planet who brings complications of his own. A wonderfully odd romance that uses quantum physics as a basis for a complicated love story (no, I am not making this up. There is fact-filled appendix that explains the mechanics). This is a character-driven romance that has no shortage...more
This was a short but delightful read as we encounter the fruits of one world in a vast, if not, lost empire. As the story progresses, we learn the realities that shape the people as a whole as well as the individual characters involved. It includes forecasting about the impacts of genetic manipulation, human will and experience in a vast future.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
OK, I thought sci-fi romance might be fun, but I guess I just am not into the sci-fi reading thing. I am a big fan of sci-fi in the movie genre, but for some reason I just couldn't get into it in this book. I'm sure Asaro is a fine author and some of you might enjoy this book, but just not me, just not now.
Started off a bit slow but picked up a bit and earned its place as a fine - but not super - addition to this space opera. Very interesting major theme of individuals in abusive relationships about which I actually craved more development. Hard to do, I am sure, without being heavy handed.
Quite good, although I think some of the trauma suffered by the female protagonist was unnecessary. I'm starting to really feel that traumatizing the characters (and thus the readers) is done excessively. This was definitely sci-fi romance, right down to the telepathic guy theme.
Catherine Asaro is known for blending science fiction with romance to create a compellingly readable book. The science in this science fiction novel is muted by the love story, which may appeal to you. This is a stand-alone entry in the Skolian Empire series.
This certainly qualifies as space opera to me. Scattered humanity, genetically alterations, empires rising and falling, cultural clashes as isolated communities are brought back to the fold all, star-crossed lovers and above all happy endings!
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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...
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
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Dec 31, 2009 11:31am