The Quantum Rose (The Saga of the Skolian Empire) [Hardcover]

"...a science fiction author who is not only a talented writer but an accomplist scientist"; "A deeply romantic novel set in space that was also an allegory for quantum physics..."; and "Wow, what a fabulous story!" I had heard so many wonderful things about the Skolian Empire Saga (and its brilliant author) that I just had to give The Quantum Rose a try.

Catherine Asaro invented a universe in which humans had spread among the stars ages ago through time travel. Some colonies, such as the one on planet Balumil, had been lost to their parent civilizations long enough to forget their origins, regressing into a sort of dark ages as their ancestors' technology slowly faded. Kamoj Argali is a beautiful young ruler of a province on Balumil who is being forced by circumstances into marriage with another governor who could only be described as a sociopath. Without warning Vyryl Lionstar steps in and claims her away from her sad fate; he has fallen in love with her at first sight. In the days to come Kamoj learns some uncomfortable truths about not only her planets' people, but the civilizations beyond. Now, it looks as if Lionstar needs her to stretch her psychological endurance to its limits so that together they can save the Skolian empire together.

I got almost what I had expected from this novel. Yes, it is a romance. Yes, it is science fiction. Yes, it is an allegory for quantum physics, employing clever wordplays and terms to complete the analogy. There is plenty of adventure among the stars, interesting cultural speculation and psychology explored in The Quantum Rose. The problem is, although I am otherwise well-educated I have never taken a physics class in my life and I cannot remember much about high school chemistry. Let's just say that the clever physics allegory flew right over my head, leaving me with...a nice romance that did an abrupt about-face in the middle and turned into a pedestrian interstellar adventure. Maybe if I'd had a better head for mathematics and science I would have found the alleged brilliance in this book more than enough to make up for its lack plot originality. As it is however, I can only judge TQR on its storytelling merit, which was just average in my opinion.

Asaro deserves credit for well-thought-out universe building and unusual insight into the complex relationships between her characters. I think of her writing style as having the potential to become very good, but unrefined here. Indeed, maybe her later books show improvement. The romance plotline was nice and standard, but gratifying to somebody who would like to see more such good sci fi/romance hybrids make it into the mainstream. BUT, unless you're a chemistry/physics/mathematics wiz, there is nothing particularly special about TQR beyond that.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle

When I heard that Catherine Asaro's The Quantum Rose had won the 2001 Nebula Award for best novel my first reaction was, who is that? After reading The Quantum Rose my reaction was, why had I not heard of her sooner. The Quantum Rose is a well-crafted story that works on several levels. At first glance it is a cross between a romance and a science-fiction novel. But ignore the awful cover and plough through the first few chapters. The story delves into the interplay between personalities and how social and economic forces can influence people. It also deals with abuse and its consequences, which makes this book tough slogging in parts. Not because the book is badly written, but because the writing is good enough that the reader is drawn into the characters emotional problems. My one complaint with The Quantum Rose is that the romantic elements of the book feel like they were taken from a drugstore romance novel. This is not surprising since Catherine Asaro has written several dugstore romances, but it does weaken the book since I found myself skimming these sections. The author includes an appendix where she explains the novel in terms of quantum scattering theory. This was amusing, and fairly clever, but it is almost meaningless to anyone who has not taken an advanced class in quantum mechanics. Ms Asaro's physics are correct, and the structure of th metaphor works very well, but unless if you are intimately familiar with the details of scattering theory you will just be taking her word for it. Fortunately the metaphor works even if it is not explained, which is the hallmark of a good mataphor, so I suggest skipping this appendix and simply enjoying the story.

Kamoj Argali is a young ruler, engaged to marry a brutal man who has the ability to help her impoverished people. Then a stranger arrives and changes everything. Vyrl doesn't understand the complexities of this planet, he doesn't understand what his proposal to Kamoj will mean. He's a tortured soul, she's a woman caught in the center of a drama she didn't make. Together they may just be able to save not just her people...but his. And maybe they can find something more than an alliance, maybe they'll find love?

Catherine Asaro blends science fiction and romance into a story that will delight and enthrall the lovers of both genres!