Most Popular Books by Catherine Asaro

Catherine Asaro exploded onto the science fiction scene in 1995 with the publication of her widely acclaimed debut novel, Primary Inversion, which introduced readers to the vast and intricate far-future Saga of the Skolian Empire. She won widespread acclaim for her innovative blend of cutting-edge physics, interstellar intrigue, and passionate romance. Over the next few years she garnered nominations and awards in both SF and romance. Then in 2002, Catherine Asaro won the Nebula Award for Best Novel for The Quantum Rose, the sixth installment in her Saga of the Skolian Empire. If you haven''t caught on to the myriad pleasures to be found in this multiple award-winning epic SF series, here''s the perfect chance. Skyfall goes back to the beginning, to the re-birth of Skolia, showing how a chance meeting on a backwater planet forged a vast interstellar empire. Kurj, a provincial ruler on a primitive planet, is plagued by inner demons. But when he meets Roca, a beautiful and mysterious woman from the stars, he whisks her away to his mountain retreat, inadvertently starting a great interstellar war, and birthing the next generation of rulers for the Sklolian Empire. Revel in the newest grand adventure of this Nebula Award-winning series.

The Skolian Empire rules a third of the civilized galaxy through its mastery of faster-than-light communication. But war with the rival empire of the Traders seems imminent, a war that can only lead to slavery for the Skolians or the destruction of both sides. Destructive skirmishes have already occurred. A desperate attempt must be made to avert total disaster.

In this “fast-paced and pleasing entry in the Saga of the Skolian Empire,” an advanced race enslaves the heir apparent to a rival kingdom (Publishers Weekly). Kelric, the long-lost son of the Imperial Skolian family, has finally escaped his gilded cage. Having lived at the mercy of a secret colony for nearly two decades, Kelric returns to the Skolian universe, injured and alone—only to discover the rest of his family is either dead or being held hostage. It leaves Kelric as the only heir to rule the empire, a secret he guards with his life. Knowing survival depends on blending in—as much as a bio-enhanced warrior can—he takes work on a merchant vessel. But when the ship is captured by the Aristos, a superior race intent on conquering his people, Kelric becomes a pleasure slave for a powerful queen among his enemies. He must find a way to escape and take his rightful throne before it is too late—for his own sake, the sake of those he loves, and the sake the empire he is destined to rule. . . . Praise for the Skolian Empire series “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.” —Booklist/DESC “Asaro reveals fascinating new aspects of her talent with each new book, and readers can always expect something fresh, different, and absolutely wonderful.” —Romantic Times “The ending of Ascendant Sun is dramatic and touching. Most readers, including myself, will be eager to know what happens next.” —Fantasy Literature

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.

A collection that includes the Nebula Award–winning titular novella and “Light and Shadow,” the story that begins the Saga of the Skolian Empire series. In “The Spacetime Pool,” recent MIT grad Janelle Aulair is hiking through the Great Smoky Mountains when a man appears out of nowhere to request her help. Shaken by his impossible appearance, she steps away—and falls through a portal onto a beach in another universe. That’s when Dominick, the man who waylaid Janelle, reveals she is part of a prophecy. It foretells a bizarre future: if Dominick marries Janelle, he’ll depose his twin brother and become Emperor of the land. If Dominick doesn’t marry her, his brother—a brutal tyrant who will do anything to keep his throne—will murder him. Janelle finds herself caught in a conflict that could destroy the realm. If that’s not mind-blowing enough, she discovers books that prove this civilization achieved interstellar travel five centuries ago. Yet now they’re living in a culture that doesn’t have electricity, riding two-horned creatures that definitely aren’t horses, and sword-fighting. To find her way home, Janelle must figure out what happened between then and now . . . The Spacetime Pool also includes Catherine Asaro’s first-ever published story, “Light and Shadow,” featuring Kelric, a popular character from the Saga of the Skolian Empire series, and an illustrated essay on the math in her fiction titled “A Poetry of Angles and Dreams.” Praise for Catherine Asaro “Readers seeking the harmonious meld of hard SF’s rigor and human chemistry’s heat should read Catherine Asaro’s fiction.” —SciFi Weekly

In the distant future, the Skolian Empire rules one third of the human galaxy, and is the most powerful of all. For the ruling family has the power of telepathy, and through it, the ability to communicate faster than light across interstellar space. But their most determined enemy, the traders, who thrive on human pain, need to interbreed with a Skolian to gain their powers. And now they have.

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 of the Skolian Empire, back to the beginning of the war between Skolia and the Euban Traders. Twenty-three years have passed since the fateful vote in the Skolian Assembly that Roca missed in Skyfall. It created the first open hostility between Eube and Skolia, which has only deepened over the ensuing years. Now, Eube senses an opportunity, for strife has riven the first family of the Skolian Empire. Sauscony, the daughter of Roca and Eldrinson, is ready to seek her fortune as an officer-in-training in the Skolian military. When her father forbids her to undertake such a dangerous path, a wedge is formed as Soz chooses duty over family. Eube hopes to make this permanent, a divide that will leave the Skolian Empire ripe for conquest. And they''re willing to kill anyone to make it happen. Revel in the latest adventure of this Nebula Award-winning series.

The Nebula Award–winning author “continues to dazzle us with brilliance in combining science, romance and adventure.” —Romantic Times MIT professor Megan O’Flannery is one of the world’s leading research scientists on artificial intelligence for androids. Most of her work consists of working with computer simulations, so when the company MindSim gives Megan an opportunity to work with an android, she jumps at the chance. Hidden and secret, an underground compound in the Nevada desert offers Megan a spectacular lab where she can live and work, mostly alone except for robotic assistants—and the android. Although it appears physically indistinguishable from a human man, Megan realizes she has a lot of work ahead if he is ever to think and act like a human, let alone the superspy that MindSim wants him to be. She loosens the controls on his behavior, allowing the android—who soon chooses the name Ander—the freedom of more independent thought. However, when Raj Sundaram, the reclusive genius of robotics, arrives at the compound to work with the android, Ander’s behavior takes a strange turn, causing Megan to distrust Raj. As Ander’s development spins out of control, he throws the project into chaos, going rogue even as he becomes stronger—and more dangerously human. “This novel is clearly science fiction first with a dynamic climax that will stun the unsuspecting audience who will fail to break The Phoenix Code before Ms. Asaro reveals the ending of this keeper.” —Painted Rock Reviews “Cinematic energy and the ease and confidence of a seasoned bestseller.” —SFReviews.net

“A near-future layering of East and West, of religion and technology . . . and of love and its loss—all woven into an intriguing tapestry.” —Diana Gabaldon, bestselling author of the Outlander series Winner of the Homer Award for Best Science Fiction Novel A renowned prima ballerina, Lucia del Mar is far more comfortable expressing herself through dance than with words. Shy and introverted, she spends most of her spare time on her laptop. Still, Lucia’s job forces her out of her comfort zone, which is how she winds up at a White House reception where she meets Rashid al-Jazari, the wealthy CEO of a multinational corporation. Although attracted to him, Lucia can’t help but feel awkward and shrugs off their encounter as a one-time event. Not realizing he feels a similar attraction, she never imagines Rashid will seek out her performances; he is the last person she expects to see when her dance company travels to Italy. Their reunion takes an even more unexpected turn when they’re both drugged and kidnapped. Although they overcome their abductors, it leaves them stranded in North Africa. For her own safety, Lucia agrees to marry Rashid, at least for the time being. As she recovers at his family compound in Morocco, reeling from their brush with danger, she struggles to fit into a culture she knows nothing about—and to deal with her growing feelings for Rashid. At the same time, at his secret office there, Rashid is developing a dramatic leap forward in artificial intelligence combined with virtual reality. He finds himself plunged into a fight for control of his work against powerful international forces, and caught in the middle, Lucia is swept into that battle . . . “A terrific novel, ripping a path from today’s headlines to tomorrow’s realities.” —Robert J. Sawyer, Nebula Award–winning author

From a Mayan village to an L.A. barrio to a chance to reach the stars . . . Part One of “a space adventure for the twenty-first century” (Nancy Kress, Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author). Not much surprises waitress Tina Santis Pulivok on the streets of East LA—until the night when, on her way home from her waitressing job, she meets a man working on a strange, glowing box. Still, she thinks he must be one of those Caltech students who’s into role-playing games. Until his mind reaches out to hers . . . Althor is definitively in the wrong place at the wrong time. An Imperial Space Command pilot, he was headed to a reception in Washington DC and somehow ended up here, though he’s not quite sure where here is. As Tina helps Althor get his bearings, they realize he’s in more trouble than he thought. He left his home base in 2328—and now it’s 1987. At least he still has his starfighter, shrouded and in orbit above the Earth. But when the military gets their hands on the ship, he and Tina must race to reclaim it before it detonates itself—taking a huge chunk of California along with it . . . Praise for Lightning Strike “From the L.A. barrios to the universe! Excellent.” —The San Diego Union-Tribune “A truly masterful accomplishment of world-building, an example of consummate craftsmanship and an impeccable feel for the technical and social possibilities that lie ahead of us. Hard science fiction fans can rejoice—the next superstar is here.” —Romantic Times

Charon is dead. Long live Charon! The creator of a proscribed network of rogue AIs and androids has been destroyed, his multiple copies deleted. Except for one. Alpha: a female android who seems to possess a conscience¾so much so that her execution is delayed. Big mistake. Now on the run, and with her former captor as hostage, Alpha moves to activate a long dormant master-plan ¾ a plan that may well include the end of humanity and the violent transformation of the world as we know it! A stand-alone sequel to Nebula Award winner Catherine Asaro''s moving cyber-thriller, Sunrise Alley. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Following her heart, she left Earth behind—and now only she can save it . . . Tina Santis Pulivok never thought anyone would make sense of the strange way her mind could become saturated with other people’s moods. But then she met Althor, an empathic starfighter pilot from hundreds of years in the future. As their love grows, she leaves her Earth to join his universe where she has no ties except to Althor and their vulnerable marriage. Althor comes from a race of rare psions whose abilities are vital to the survival of humanity, making him coveted by three interstellar civilizations. His enemies sabotaged his starfighter and never expected him to return. Now he faces betrayals from every side. He and Tina become the targets of a merciless enemy who thrives on pain—and who will do anything to destroy the budding alliance between Althor’s people and Tina’s Earth . . . The completion of the thrilling interstellar adventure that began with Earthborn. Praise for Lightning Strike “From the L.A. barrios to the universe! Excellent.” —The San Diego Union-Tribune “A truly masterful accomplishment of world-building, an example of consummate craftsmanship and an impeccable feel for the technical and social possibilities that lie ahead of us. Hard science fiction fans can rejoice—the next superstar is here.” —Romantic Times

Once Chime had been the most promising mage in the land, feted and celebrated for her potential and future role in the kingdom. Then Iris, her young competitor, made a stunning leap in skill and turned Chime''s world upside down. Now no longer the most powerful, no longer promised to a prince-- and still unable to harness her magic properly-- Chime was set adrift. As was the new king''s cousin-- and former heir-- Lord Muller. Yet when the neighboring kingdom threatened war, Muller and Chime were tasked with uncovering the plot. Both were flawed, yet unwilling to accept a lesser destiny than they had once known. Could this quest be the opportunity for redemption-- or would it lead them to their deaths? Award-winning author Catherine Asaro, creator of The Skolian Empire, creates her first full-length fantasy novel in a world rich with magic and power. Fans who caught a glimpse of the kingdom of Aronsdale in \"Moonglow\" from the Charmed Destinies collection are...

Del was a rock singer. He was also the renegade son of the Ruby Dynasty, which made his career choice less than respectable, and gave him more to worry about than getting gigs and not getting cheated by recording companies, club owners, or his agent. For one thing, the Ruby Dynasty ruled the Skolian Imperialate, an interstellar Empire, which had recently had a war with another empire, the Eubian Concord. For another, Del was singing on Earth, which was part of a third interstellar civilization, and one which had an uneasy relationship with the Imperialate. Del undeniably had talent, and was rapidly rising from an unknown fringe artist to stardom. But, with his life entangled in the politics of three interstellar civilizations, whether he wanted that or not, talent might not be enough. And that factor might have much more effect than his music on the lives of trillions of people on the thousands of inhabited worlds across the galaxy. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

DUST KNIGHTS: A NEW SERIES IN CATHERINE ASARO’S SKOLIAN EMPIRE A CITY DIVIDED For centuries The City of Cries—one of the most desired locales in the Skolian Imperialate—has existed by the thinnest of threads. On the dying world of Raylicon, the “haves” live in great luxury in Cries while the “havenots” scrape by, eking out a marginal existence in the notorious Undercity beneath the desert. Major Bhaajan, formerly of the Pharaoh''s Army, knows both worlds. Born into the Undercity, she nevertheless has made a name for herself in the Imperialate. And now, she has the chance to help her people. HOPE FOR RECONCILIATION For the first time, a member of the Royal class wants to extend an olive branch to the Undercity. Hoping to build bridges, Colonel Lavinda Majda recruits Bhaaj and her Dust Knights to act as guides and bodyguards on a mission of goodwill to those who live below the surface of their parched world. THE DOWN DEEP But the problems of the Undercity run deeper than anyone knows. To help find peace, the Dust Knights must reach the most hidden rungs in that mysterious underground world, a place known only as the Down Deep, where the scars from centuries of distrust are greatest. There they will face an unseen enemy that may destroy the lives of everyone they know—and threaten interstellar civilization. At the publisher’s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Winner of the Nebula Award, this science fiction adventure “features sound characterization, straightforward plotting, abundant world building detail, and almost as much humor” (Booklist). As the young ruler of a destitute province burdened by obsolete technology, Kamoj Argali must marry to save her people from starvation. She has managed to make peace with her betrothal to the arrogant leader of a wealthy neighboring province. Then Havyrl Lionstar, a mysterious visitor to their land, steps in to claim Kamoj as his wife, sowing chaos in their lives. In this science fictional retelling of a classic folk tale, Havryl appears as a beast to Kamoj’s people. But what is the truth behind his strange, erratic behavior? In dealing with the upheavals he brings to their world, Kamoj discovers that the universe is much larger than she ever understood. This new edition contains a revised, expanded version of the essay that appeared in the original book, in which Catherine Asaro explains how she found inspiration for The Quantum Rose while earning her doctorate at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, where she studied the quantum theory of scattering processes. “A freestanding page-turner as a romance, with a hard science fiction framework.” —Publishers Weekly “Bolsters [Asaro’s] reputation for skillfully putting classic romance elements in an sf setting.” —Booklist “Fans of futuristic romance will revel in the delights of a top notch romantic adventure set against an impeccably crafted, richly imagined background.” —Romantic Times “Sturdy and absorbing.” —Kirkus Reviews “Asaro plants herself firmly into that grand SF tradition of future history franchises favored by luminaries like Heinlen, Asimov, Herbert, Anderson, Dickson, Niven, Cherryh, and BaxterBaxter.” —Paul Di Filippo, Locus

With no teacher to guide her, no mentor to discourage her from the impossible, Mel Dawnfield pushed her magic to its limits — and surpassed them. Only to find that her powers aren''t enough to halt burgeoning rebellion within her husband''s fledgling realm — or a plot devised to strike at the very heart of Mel''s family. The lines have been drawn. Mel''s mage strength has become greater than any power ever known, but dare she forge her spells into weapons to protect her people, her husband? For her magic might transform the brutality of war into the birth pangs of a peaceful empire…unless it proves the death blow to her world.

Two emperors navigate an uneasy peace, while a powerful trader guild does everything in its power to bring on war. And as if Kelric, the Skolian Imperator, didn''t have enough problems, his own brother¾who happens to be a rock star of galactic proportions¾has a hit song that calls the traders out as the hidebound blueblood jerks they are, and pleads for an end to centuries of war. Kelric and his Eubian Trader Empire counterpart Jabriol attempt finally to meet in a public summit and sign a treaty that will save billions of lives and end the grinding, millennium-long war. But assassins lurk everywhere, and intrigue is afoot as the baroque old order has no intention of giving up its war-bought privilege and power without a fight to the death¾and they don''t care if they take the rest of galactic civilization down with them. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Contiene: -- 1. Rosa cuántica (9788498009132) -- 2. Inversión primaria (9788498009194).

Follows Kelric, the heir to the Skolian Empire, as he flees his imprisonment on Coba only to find his kingdom in tatters.

Catherine Asaro is a popular SF writer, combining her diverse talents to blend hard science fiction and heartrending romance into a sweeping epic known as the Saga of the Skolian Empire. This is her trademark series. Ever since Primary Inversion, her very first novel, this series has continued to grow, building a significant readership and receiving widespread praise. All of Asaro''s considerable talent is on display in Spherical Harmonic, the direct sequel to The Radiant Seas. Separated for decades by circumstance and political machinations, the Ruby Dynasty, hereditary rulers of the Skolian Empire, struggle to bring together the tattered remnants of their family in the shadow of a disastrous interstellar war. Too many have died, others are presumed lost, yet they must move quickly if they are reassume their rightful place as rulers of Skolia.

Selei City is the capital of the Imerialte and one of the most desired locales in all of the Skolian Empire. But its thin veneer of civilization is cracked when a series of brutal crimes implicates those in political power in a vast conspiracy. Three prominent scientists have lost their lives to a serial killer—and notes at the scenes of the crimes lead to a connection to the Royalist political party. Major Bhaajan, former military officer turned private detective, is called back to Selei City to solve the crime. Bhaaj and her crew of Undercity Dust Knights plunge into the Byzantine world of Imperial politics—a jigsaw world where none of the pieces seem to fit. As the assassination plot becomes more and more convoluted, Bhaaj is kidnapped, threatened with death, and must fight for her life against the growing number of people threatened by her investigation. Bhaaj has faced all this and more, but now she must deal with something far deadlier—interstellar politics. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). About the Major Bhaajan series: \". . . riveting. . . . The world is rich and vivid, with two distinct cultures in the Undercity and the aboveground City of Cries. This exciting novel stands alone for anyone who enjoys science fiction adventure.\"—Publishers Weekly (starred review) \"Asaro plants herself firmly into that grand SF tradition of future history franchises favored by luminaries like Heinlein, Asimov, Herbert, Anderson, Dickson, Niven, Cherryh, and Baxter . . . They don''t write em like that anymore! Except Asaro does, with . . . up-to-the-minute savvy!\"—Locus \"Baahjan, who starts out keeping an emotional distance from the people in the Undercity soon grows to think of them as her community once more. Asaro . . . returns to the Skolian empire''s early history to tell Bhaajan''s story.\"—Booklist \"Asaro delivers a tale rich with the embedded history of her world and bright with technical marvels. Her characters are engaging and intriguing and there is even a bit of romance. What really touched my heart was Bhaaj''s interaction with the children of the aqueducts. I spent the last fifty pages of the book sniffling into a tissue.\"—SFcrowsnest \"I‘m hooked, both on her writing and her Skolian universe. This book had everything I wanted: strong characters, a new and unique world, and a plot that isn''t as simple as it first appears.\"—TerryTalk

Four tales of magic, adventure and love by award-winning author Catherine Asaro are yours in one great bundle! The Lost Continent Collection includes The Charmed Sphere, The Misted Cliffs, The Dawn Star, and The Fire Opal.

“Powerful characterization and intriguing scientific concepts . . . an elegant subtlety and a far-reaching sense of destiny that carries [Asaro] to the highest rank of master storyteller.” —Romantic Times Reeling from a battle, pilot Kelric Valdoria crash-lands his Jag starfighter on Coba, the closest safe planet he can find after a Trader squad cripples his ship. Although the military of Kelric’s people have given Coba Restricted status, Kelric sees no reason for such draconian measures to isolate the seemingly benign world. While recovering, the dashing Kelric becomes the target of affection for high-powered women in Coba’s matriarchal society, including Deha Dahl, an Estate Manager, and young Ixpar Karn, the chosen successor of the Minister. Distracted by their flirtations, Kelric doesn’t at first realize the Restricted status of the planet was their own choice—and that they can’t risk letting him go. However, Kelric’s internal biomech system is failing, causing his brain to malfunction. His only hope is to escape. But when his attempt fails, ending in the death of a guard, he must face a trial that could mean his execution, unless he can win the trust of the people who both covet and fear him . . . “Well-written, entertaining, classic science fiction fun.” —The Plain Dealer “Impossible to put down.” —L. E. Modesitt, Jr., New York Times–bestselling author “A smoothly absorbing space opera that mixes high-tech gimmickry with galactic politics and plenty of romance.” —Publishers Weekly

Roll the Dice of Empire! The Eubian Interstellar Concord. Dominating. Static. A pyramid of cosmic power built on the bones of slaves. Their opponents The freedom-loving, telepathic Skolian Imperialate. Now centuries of war come to head and a new galactic Dark Age looms as rival emperors -- related by blood, love, and an intrigue as deep as the space between stars _ take a desperate gamble to find a way through the carnage of battle to a new understanding. But first they''ll have to keep their own heads off the chopping blocks of the enemy within. The latest and greatest entry in the star-spanning Skolian Saga! At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). A New SF Legend Re-makes Worlds! \"[T]houghtful, engaging characters and an intriguing vision of the future.\" ¾Publishers Weekly on Nebula-award-winning Catherine Asaro''s \"Skolian Saga.\"

BOOK ONE IN A BRAND NEW SERIES by Nebula and Hugo Award Winner Catherine Asaro set in the world of her Skolian Empire universe. Major Bhaajan, a former military officer with Imperial Space Command, is now a hard-bitten P.I. with a load of baggage to deal with, and clients with woes sometimes personal, sometimes galaxy-shattering, and sometimes both. Bhaajan must sift through the shadows of dark and dangerous Undercity¾the enormous capital of a vast star empire¾to find answers. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). About Catherine Asarou0090s Skolian saga: _Entertaining mix of hard SF and romance.Ó¾Publishers Weekly _Asarou0090s 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.Ó¾Booklist _Rapid pacing and gripping suspense.Ó¾Publisheru0090s Weekly

Award-winning author Catherine Asaro, creator of The Skolian Empire, returns to the world of Aronsdale, a place rich with magic and power. One generation after war had nearly destroyed three nations, evil was returning. And only Mel Dawnfield''s daring sacrifice could stop it... The promise of peace rested on this young woman''s noble vow: to marry Cobalt the Dark-- heir to a family of legendary cruelty. With only her uncontrolled spells to guide her, isolated in Cobalt''s solitary home in the Misted Cliffs, knowing poisoned blood ran through her husband''s veins, Mel struggled to embrace her unexplored mage powers and unveil the light in her shadowy new world-- including the radiance hidden in her husband''s soul. For her enemies were gathering strength and they would soon unleash the darkest of evils in the name of war. In the final battle, Mel''s ability to harness her magic would mean the difference between a harmonious world... and annihilation.

For centuries the women of Aronsdale have lived freely among the green and misted valleys. Creatures of exotic beauty and sensuality, they possess powerful skills of enchantment…and young Allegro is no different. But her life—and Aronsdale''s independence—is threatened when Jazid nomads invade, carrying Allegro into the desert as a prized trophy…or worse. Until an unexpected ally falls under her spell. From the moment feared Jazid warrior Markus Onyx sees the alluring beauty, he knows he has found his queen. But even the promise of love cannot quell Allegro''s determination to save her homeland. Summoning her powers, she casts herself north—out of passion''s grip—and into the dark heart of conflict.…

Deep in the sun-drenched desert, priestess Ginger-Sun carries the power of shape mages. And whispers abound: Is she descended from the beloved Sunset Goddess, or are her nighttime rituals filled with wickedness? Ginger herself is uncertain, until a stranger is left for dead at her feet. Thence her magic begins to burn. Fate makes Ginger the stranger''s wife and therefore a target for those who would murder this man to crown another—and force her magic into twisted ferocity. For unless Ginger masters her dark powers, violence will rein in Taka Mal—and in her soul.

Three classic stories of timeless love and tantalizing fantasy… Counting Crows by New York Times bestselling author Mercedes Lackey In Lady Gwynnhwyfar''s dark, lonely court, her only ally was noble Sir Atremus, a warrior willing to fight for her honor. But would her powerful spell capture his heart—or tumble the kingdom into chaos? Drusilla''s Dream by USA TODAY bestselling author Rachel Lee Every night Drusilla Morgan dreamed of courageous and handsome Miles Kennedy. Their quest: to battle evil and find true love. Yet when the sun rose, would Drusilla''s fantasy man become a reality? Moonglow by Nebula Award–winning author Catherine Asaro In a world where kings married for magic, Iris Larkspur was required to wed the prince—despite the spell that kept him deaf, mute and blind. Healing her bridegroom would take a power greater than any she''d ever known—one only two bonded hearts could provide!

TOUGH FEMALE P.I. EXPLORING THE UNDERWORLD OF A VAST STAR EMPIRE. Book two in a new series set in the world of Catherine Asaro''s Skolian Empire series. Major Bhaajan achieved the impossible. Born to the Undercity, the slums below the City of Cries on the planet Raylicon, she broke free from crushing poverty and crime to become a military officer with Imperial Space Command. Now retired from military duty, she walks the mean streets of Undercity as a private investigator. And she is about to embark on her most challenging case yet. Summoned by no less than the Ruby Pharaoh herself, Major Bhaajan is tasked with finding a killer. But this is no ordinary murderer. The Ruby Pharaoh witnessed a Jagernaut cut down Assembly Councilor Tap Benton—which shouldn’t have been possible. The Jagernauts are the elite of the elite soldiers in the Imperial Space Command. What’s more, the spinal node implanted in all Jagernauts should have prevented the murder. But the Ruby Pharaoh is sure of what she saw, and she has reason to believe that the Jagernaut will kill again. Now, Major Bhaajan must hunt down a killer before it is too late. To do so, she must return to the one place on Raylicon she knows best: Undercity. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). About prequel Undercity: \"Asaro plants herself firmly into that grand SF tradition of future history franchises favored by luminaries like Heinlein, Asimov, Herbert, Anderson, Dickson, Niven, Cherryh, and Baxter. . .They don''t write em like that anymore! Except Asaro does, with . . . up-to-the-minute savvy!\"—Locus \"[Baahjan], who starts out keeping an emotional distance from the people in the Undercity soon grows to think of them as her community once more. Asaro . . . returns to the Skolian empire''s early history to tell Bhajaan''s story.\"—Booklist \"Asaro delivers a tale rich with the embedded history of her world and bright with technical marvels. Her characters are engaging and intriguing and there is even a bit of romance. What really touched my heart was Bhaaj''s interaction with the children of the aqueducts. I spent the last fifty pages of the book sniffling into a tissue.\"—SF Crowsnet \"I''m hooked, both on her writing and her Skolian universe. This book had everything I wanted: strong characters, a new and unique world, and a plot that isn''t as simple as it first appears.\"—TerryTalk About Catherine Asaro’s Skolian saga: “Entertaining mix of hard SF and romance.”—Publishers Weekly “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.”—Booklist “Rapid pacing and gripping suspense.”—Publisher’s Weekly

MAJOR BHAAJAN RETURNS. Book three in the Skolian Empire Major Bhaajan series by Catherine Asaro. SURVIVE THE CITY OF CRIES Bhaajan grew up in the Undercity, a community hidden in the ruins buried beneath the glittering City of Cries. Caught between the astonishing beauty and crushing poverty of that life, and caught by wanderlust, she enlisted in the military. Now retired, Major Bhaajan is a private investigator who solves cases for the House of Majda, a powerful royal family centered in Cries. The powerful elite of the City of Cries are disappearing, and only Bhaajan, who grew up in the Undercity, can find them—if she isn’t murdered first. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). About the Major Bhaajan series: “. . . riveting. . . . The world is rich and vivid, with two distinct cultures in the Undercity and the aboveground City of Cries. This exciting novel stands alone for anyone who enjoys science fiction adventure.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) \"Asaro plants herself firmly into that grand SF tradition of future history franchises favored by luminaries like Heinlein, Asimov, Herbert, Anderson, Dickson, Niven, Cherryh, and Baxter . . . They don''t write em like that anymore! Except Asaro does, with . . . up-to-the-minute savvy!\"—Locus \"Baahjan, who starts out keeping an emotional distance from the people in the Undercity soon grows to think of them as her community once more. Asaro . . . returns to the Skolian empire''s early history to tell Bhaajan''s story.\"—Booklist \"Asaro delivers a tale rich with the embedded history of her world and bright with technical marvels. Her characters are engaging and intriguing and there is even a bit of romance. What really touched my heart was Bhaaj''s interaction with the children of the aqueducts. I spent the last fifty pages of the book sniffling into a tissue.\"—SFcrowsnest \"I''m hooked, both on her writing and her Skolian universe. This book had everything I wanted: strong characters, a new and unique world, and a plot that isn''t as simple as it first appears.\"—TerryTalk About the Skolian Saga: “Entertaining mix of hard SF and romance.”—Publishers Weekly “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.”—Booklist “Rapid pacing and gripping suspense.”—Publishers Weekly

Two young men on opposite sides--one who gave up everything to save an empire, while the other, born a prince but forced into slavery, who has become Imperator of all Skolia--search for a way to bring peace, despite their people''s thirst for war.

Jaibriol and Sauscony, heirs to two different interstellar empires, are the key to stopping a massive war.

Asaro returns to the interstellar Skolian Empire in Catch the Lightning to tell a tale of politics, love, and war, the story of a young girl from Earth taken into the future and made the focus of a murderous plot to bring down the empire.

SHE WAS RUNNING FROM A RUTHLESS CRIMINAL ACCOMPANIED BY SOMEONE MORE THAN HUMAN . . . When the shipwrecked stranger washed up, nearly drowned, on the beach near research scientist Samantha Bryton''s home, she was unaware that he was something more than human: an experiment conducted by Charon, a notorious criminal and practitioner of illegal robotics and android research. The man said his name was Turner Pascal¾but Pascal was dead, killed in a car wreck. Then she found that Charon was experimenting with copying the minds of humans into android brains, implanted in human bodies to escape detection, planning to make his own army of slaves that will follow his orders without question. Samantha and Turner quickly found themselves on the run across the country, pursued by the most ruthless criminal of the twenty-first century. In desperation, Samantha decided to seek help from Sunrise Alley, an underground organization of AIs that had gone rogue. But these cybernetic outlaws were rumored to have their own hidden agenda, not necessarily congruent with humanity''s welfare, and Samantha feared that her only hope would prove forlorn. . . . At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Joy to the world . . . or, joy to the worlds! Let heaven and nature¾and also the supernatural¾sing. A Cosmic Christmas presents twelve stories of Christmas in very unusual circumstances, ranging from vampires to robots, from the hills of Appalachia to a high orbit space station, all celebrating the holiday in their own, off-beat ways. New York Times best-selling author Larry Correia sends his popular tough guy detective and magicwielder, Jake Sullivan, on a special case at Christmas time, while visions of tommy guns dance in the heads of the thugs he''s up against. Mark L. Van Name''s Lobo, an A.I. housed in a pocket battle starship, drops his usual cynical pose to help a troubled family at Christmas time. Nebula Award-winner Catherine Asaro tells of a romantic Yuletide weekend that turns into a mystery in a futuristic high-tech house. New York Times best seller Mercedes Lackey offers a Christmas ghost the likes of which Scrooge never encountered. George O. Smith, a star of the Golden Age of science fiction, is on hand with an episode from his classic Venus Equilateral series, in which a Christmas celebration on a gigantic space station is interrupted by the arrival of a ruthless interplanetary criminal, who didn''t drop by to hand out presents. And much more, in a holiday package that any fan of science fiction and fantasy would be delighted to find under their tree, on any planet. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

A two-part adventure of time travel, romance, and interstellar intrigue that takes you “from the L.A. barrios to the universe! Excellent” (The San Diego Union-Tribune). Born in Mexico but living in East LA much of her young life, Tina Santis Pulivok has always felt different from her friends and family. Her mind picks up the moods of others, but she’s never understood why—until a bizarre meeting gives her a one-of-a-kind connection to a soldier from the future. Their connection will transcend both time and space—and the future of both their worlds depends on it . . . Earthborn Tina knows the strange man on the street must be lost, but she can’t imagine just how far he is from home. Althor, an Imperial Space Command pilot, left his planet in 2328 to attend a reception in Washington DC—and somehow ended up in 1987 Los Angeles. When the military captures his starfighter, he and Tina race to recover the ship before it detonates—and takes a large swath of California with it . . . Starborn Following her heart, Tina leaves Earth behind when she travels to a future universe with starfighter pilot Althor. But the more she learns about his powerful, telepathic family, the more she realizes how much danger they’re in, as a merciless enemy targets the newlywed couple in a treasonous plan to conquer human civilization. Praise for Lightning Strike “A space adventure for the twenty-first century.” —Nancy Kress, Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author “A truly masterful accomplishment of world-building, an example of consummate craftsmanship and an impeccable feel for the technical and social possibilities that lie ahead of us. Hard science fiction fans can rejoice—the next superstar is here.” —Romantic Times

INFINITE STARSThis is the definitive collection of original short stories by many of today''s finest authors, writing brand new adventures set in their most famous series. Herein lie canonical tales of the Honorverse, the Lost Fleet, Dune, Vatta''s War, Ender Wiggin, the Legion of the Damned, the Imperium, and more.

Sauscony Valdoria, linked to the powerful Skolian Web, and the Aristo heir to the evil Trader Empire of Tarnth link minds and fall in love instantly, but to prevent interstellar war, Sauscony must be either his lover or his killer.