Spherical Harmonic
by Catherine Asaro
Skolian Empire Publication Order (7), Skolian Empire Novels Chronological Order (2277), Skolian Empire Chronological Order (2277-8)
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Separated for decades by political machinations, the Ruby Dynasty, hereditary rulers of the Skolian Empire, struggle to bring their family together in the shadow of a interstellar war. Too many have died, and they must move quickly to resume their rightful place as rulers of Skolia.Tags
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Member Reviews
A very involved story, with characters who are involved in very serious politics. The Skolian empire has problems and Dynianna Selei is in the centre of it. Post-war empire where the Psibernet has collapsed and no-one is sure where to turn.
Many of the other stories in this series can be read without any real knowledge of the rest of the series but this one is really best understood in it's place in the series. It's an interesting novel and I look forward to more in the series.
Many of the other stories in this series can be read without any real knowledge of the rest of the series but this one is really best understood in it's place in the series. It's an interesting novel and I look forward to more in the series.
A satisfying conclusion to the main plotline of the saga following members of the Ruby Dynasty that accounts for the whereabouts of all the main characters and the state of affairs between the Trader, Skolian, and Allied worlds after the Radiance War. It would be giving the tale away to identify which main character is giving the account. Yet it does leave room for further questions about the children of Sauscony and Jabriol. . . Perhaps another book has/will follow this vein. Fine. I am always happy with these books, about a family with psionic powers that is able to control computer networks from within, romance, adventure, highly visual text, and some mathematical speculation.
The best book in the series is still, in my opinion, the show more Nebula-winning Quantum Rose, which plunges you into a visually stunning world that you only visit casually in the rest of the series. show less
The best book in the series is still, in my opinion, the show more Nebula-winning Quantum Rose, which plunges you into a visually stunning world that you only visit casually in the rest of the series. show less
The books starts with a woman awakening in a forest. She doesn't remember anything. The beginning is poetic as she struggles to regain who she is.
I really enjoy this series.
I really enjoy this series.
I didn't much care for this reread. I like Dehya but in many ways this book is just retelling of the same story but yet another point of view. Each installment over laps with last and next book. It's beginning to feel a bit tiring.
Dyhianna Selei awakens in an unknown wood. She’s disoriented. She doesn’t know who she is. She’s been drifting in and out of consciousness, and in and out of reality. Looking down at her youthful looking body the first thing she remembers is her age, 158. As she slowly pieces together her memories, she will remember a desperate escape from an interstellar conflict of massive destruction, and the key role she will have to play in its aftermath.
This edition includes an author’s note, “Science in Science Fiction,” which describes the mathematics and physics in the story, and then goes on to talk about world-building, and linguistics. Notes on characters and family history are followed by genealogical tables and a timeline for show more this book and the preceding six books in the series. show less
This edition includes an author’s note, “Science in Science Fiction,” which describes the mathematics and physics in the story, and then goes on to talk about world-building, and linguistics. Notes on characters and family history are followed by genealogical tables and a timeline for show more this book and the preceding six books in the series. show less
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Best Feminist Science Fiction
188 works; 35 members
Author Information

58+ Works 9,210 Members
Oakland, California native Catherine Asaro received a doctorate in physics from Harvard University. She has published a number of papers on theoretical physics and was a physics professor until 1990, when she established Molecudyne Research, which she currently runs. A former ballerina, she has performed with ballets and in musicals on both show more coasts, and founded the Mainly Jazz Dance program at Harvard. She now teaches at the Caryl Maxwell Classical Ballet. Her husband is John Kendall Cannizzo, an astrophysicist at NASA show less
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Awards
Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Spherical Harmonic
- Original publication date
- 2001
- People/Characters
- Dyhianna Selei; Eldrinson Althor Valdoria
- Dedication
- In memory of Melinda Helfer
March 14, 1943 to August 24, 2000
Her extraordinary glow
warmed our lives. - First words
- I began to exist.
- Publisher's editor
- Hartwell, David G.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 317
- Popularity
- 100,286
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.85)
- Languages
- English, German
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 9
- ASINs
- 3































































