Synopses & Reviews
Catherine Asaro has won numerous awards for her Saga of the Skolian Empire novels, including the Nebula Award and two
Romantic Times awards for Best SF Novel. Combining cutting edge scientific theory with grand romantic adventure, this series represents space opera at its finest.
The Final Key is the second half of the story arc known as Triad, which began in Schism. Schism ended with the Skolian Empire torn asunder by personal conflict within the royal family. With The Final Key, the Skolian Empire comes under all-out assault from its nemesis, the Euban Concord, who have undermined the Empire via subterfuge and assassination, leaving it ripe for conquest. The Skolian Empire's only hope? A young woman barely out of her teens who hasn't even complete her training as a cadet.
Review
"Asaro's Saga of the Skolian Empire has quietly become one of the most interesting, ambitious, and popular science-fiction series since
Dune."--
Romantic Times"Asaro has quickly gained a reputation as a writer of first-rate rip-roaring adventures."--SF Site
"Intrigue, drama and romance converge in nebula winner Asaro's latest Skolian Empire adventure, an enthralling stand-alone that fills in the early history of the empire."--Publishers Weekly on Skyfall
"This latest installment blends dynastic intrigue with theoretical physics to create a story that will appeal to fans of hard sf as well as grand-scale storytelling."--Library Journal on Spherical Harmonic
Review
"The book is impossible to put down, with compelling characters to enthrall even those who skip the hard SF details." --
VOYA on
The Final Key
"Asaro's Skolian saga is now nearly as long and in many ways as compelling as Dune, if not more so, featuring a multitude of stronger female characters. . . .A certain, intelligent crowd-pleasure." --Booklist on The Final Key
"Told from the perspective of a number of different characters, the finely choreographed threads of the plot come together for a agreeable finish. Asaro is a facile writer . . . .Readers who are already invested in Asaro's tales of the Skolian Empire will likely enjoy this volume." -Romantic Times Bookclub on The Final Key
"Readers of this extensive chronicle will happily plunge back into the fray . . . . Young Soz, an heir to the throne and a military cadet, seizes the book's spotlight with her combination of vulnerability and bravery as she steps up to responsibility. . . .Asaro's saga is a monumental work." -Publishers Weekly on The Final Key
Synopsis
Combining scientific theory with grand romantic adventure, this series represents space opera at its finest. With "The Final Key," the Skolian Empire comes under assault from the Euban Concord. The Empire's only hope? A young woman who hasn't completed her cadet training.
Synopsis
Catherine Asaro has won numerous awards for her Saga of the Skolian Empire novels, including the Nebula Award and two
Romantic Times awards for Best SF Novel. Combining cutting edge scientific theory with grand romantic adventure, this series represents space opera at its finest.
The Final Key is the second half of the story arc known as Triad, which began in Schism. Schism ended with the Skolian Empire torn asunder by personal conflict within the royal family. With The Final Key, the Skolian Empire comes under all-out assault from its nemesis, the Euban Concord, who have undermined the Empire via subterfuge and assassination, leaving it ripe for conquest. The Skolian Empire's only hope? A young woman barely out of her teens who hasn't even complete her training as a cadet.
About the Author
CATHERINE ASARO received a doctorate in physics from Harvard University, has published a number of papers on theoretical physics and was a physics professor until 1990, when she established Molecudyne Research. A former ballerina, she has performed with ballets and in musicals on both coasts. She lives with her husband and daughter in Columbia, Maryland.