Catherine Asaro is an American science fiction and fantasy author. She is best known for her books about the Ruby Dynasty set in the Skolian Empire, known as the Saga of the Skolian Empire.
Easton Press Catherine Asaro books
Catherine Asaro biography
Catherine Asaro was born in Oakland, California. She has a B.S. with highest honors in chemistry from UCLA and an A.M. in physics and a Ph.D. in chemical physics both from Harvard University. She was a physics professor until 1990, after which she began scientific consulting.Saga of the Skolian Empire Series
The Saga of the Skolian Empire series of books details the adventures of main characters from two competing empires. The plot of the book revolves around political intrigues, but also contains interesting subplots regarding physics, bio-enhancements, virtual computer networks, and romance.
These novels, each telling a segment of a story that unfolds over several generations of characters, is one of a power struggle between two interstellar empires.
The Ruby Dynasty, (ancient rulers of the Skolian Empire) while possessing empathic and telepathic abilities enhanced by tiny "pico" and "nano" technology, comprise a monarchy plagued by internal struggle and conflict with the elected Assembly.
The Eubian Traders, on the other hand, while larger in number and more successful economically, comprise a society built entirely of a slave hierarchy run by amoral Aristos, who, through genetic engineering gone astray have no capability for compassion, but rather experience pleasure in the form of "transcendence" through the projected suffering of powerful psions that have been kidnapped from the Skolian Imperialate.
A third but much smaller group, the Allieds, are an extension of a present-day Earth civilization who enter space travel only to find all worlds are already inhabited and thriving under either the Skolian or Eubian Empires. Their role in the series is that of a neutral party, interested only in the cessation of hostilities.
Catherine Asaro books
Dance in Blue (novelette 1993)
The Veiled Web (1999)
The Phoenix Code (2000)
Boot Hill (short story - 2000)
My Friends (2002)
Wondrous Beginnings (2003)
Sunrise Alley (2004)
Alpha (2006)
The Space-Time Pool (Analog novella - 2008)
A Cosmic Christmas (2012)
The Phoenix Code (rewritten 2013)
Corn Fed Blues (2015)
Saga of the Skolian Empire in Order of Publication
Light and Shadow (novelette - 1994)
Primary Inversion (1995)
Catch the Lightning (1996)
The Last Hawk (1997)
The Radiant Seas (1998)
Aurora in Four Voices (novella - 1998)
Ascendant Sun (2000)
A Roll of the Dice (novella - 2000)
The Quantum Rose (2000)
Ave de Paso (novella - 2001)
Spherical Harmonic (2001)
The Moon's Shadow (2003)
Skyfall (2003)
Stained Glass Heart (novella - 2004)
Walk in Silence (novella - 2004)
Schism (2004)
The Edges of Never-Haven (short story - 2004)
The City of Cries (novella - 2005)
The Shadowed Heart (novelette - 2005)
The Final Key (2005)
"The Ruby Dice" (novella - 2006)
The Ruby Dice (novel - 2008)
Diamond Star (due in 2009)
Carnelians (2011)
Aurora in Four Voices (2011)
The City of Cries, eBook, (2012)
The Spacetime Pool eBook (2012)
The Pyre of New Day (novelette - 2012)
Echoes of Pride (2013)
Lightning Strike, Book I, (2014)
The Wages of Honor (novelette - 2017)
Lightning Strike, Book II, (2020)
Saga of the Skolian Empire Chronological Reading Order
Skyfall
The Wages of Honor
The City of Cries
Stained Glass Heart
Schism
Echoes of Pride
The Final Key
The Edges of Never-Haven
Light and Shadow
Aurora in Four Voices
Walk in Silence
The Pyre of New Day
The Last Hawk
Primary Inversion
The Radiant Seas
Soul of Light
The Shadowed Heart
Aftermath of Radiant War
Ascendant Sun
The Quantum Rose
Spherical Harmonic
The Moon's Shadow
Diamond Star
A Roll of the Dice
The Ruby Dice
Carnelians
Ave de Paso
Catch the Lightning
Lightning Strike, Book I
Lightning Strike, Book II
Major Bhaajan series
Children of the Dust (prequel novella 2017)
Undercity (2014)
The Bronze Skies (2017)
The Vanished Seas (2020)
The Jigsaw Assassin (2022)
Lost Continent (aka Aronsdale) series
The Charmed Sphere (2004)
Moonglow (novella - 2003)
The Misted Cliffs (2005)
The Dawn Star (2006)
The Fire Opal (2007)
The Night Bird (2008)
The Topaz Desert (2008)
Source and additional information: Catherine Asaro