Diamond Star

( 4 )

Overview

Space Adventure with a Holo-Rock Beat by a Nebula Award-Winning Author. The Saga of the Skolian Empire Continues.

First Time in Paper back.

Del Valdoria was an heir of the Ruby Dynasty, rulers of the interstellar empire called the Skolian Imperialate. But he had no interest in being associated with the draconian measures his brothers used to maintain power. He just wanted to sing holo-rock—not a respectable activity for a Ruby prince. To make ...

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More About This Book

Overview

Space Adventure with a Holo-Rock Beat by a Nebula Award-Winning Author. The Saga of the Skolian Empire Continues.

First Time in Paper back.

Del Valdoria was an heir of the Ruby Dynasty, rulers of the interstellar empire called the Skolian Imperialate. But he had no interest in being associated with the draconian measures his brothers used to maintain power. He just wanted to sing holo-rock—not a respectable activity for a Ruby prince. To make things more complicated, he was on Earth, far from home, and the Earth government wasn’t willing to let such a potential source of information and valuable bargaining chip leave. And then a major entertainment corporation took an interest in his music.

Del's mix of unsophisticated innocence and sensual wickedness was dynamite. Singing as Del Arden, he became a major hit almost overnight, the hottest thing in holo-rock. And that was a nightmare for the Earth government, because it put a spotlight on him, inviting the attention of assassins, kidnappers, and who knew what other dangers. If anything happened to Del, Allied Space Command might as well just walk up to Skolian Space Command and say, "Hey, let's have a war.”

Then there was a third interstellar empire, the Eubian Concord, warlike enemy of the Skolian Imperialate. His millions of fans on Earth might not know that their idol was a Ruby prince, but the Concord knew just who he was. And certain songs, if sung by a son of the Ruby Dynasty, might be considered an act of war . . .

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Editorial Reviews

Library Journal

Prince Del-Kurj Arden, rebel son of the conquered Skolian Empire, comes to Earth to pursue his musical dreams despite his family's protests. Soon, producers want to control him, fans want to love him, and enemies want to kill him. With this latest entry in his "Tales of the Ruby Dynasty" series, Nebula Award winner Asaro ventures into new territory while still showcasing his ability to combine sensual prose with vivid action and bold characterization. An independently released CD of songs referenced here, also titled Diamond Star and performed by alternative rock group Point Valid, can be purchased through www.starflight-music.com. A good pick for adventurous sf readers.


—Jackie Cassada
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781439133828
  • Publisher: Baen Books
  • Publication date: 6/29/2010
  • Series: Skolian Empire Series , #16
  • Format: Mass Market Paperback
  • Pages: 720
  • Sales rank: 682,833
  • Product dimensions: 6.94 (w) x 4.30 (h) x 1.17 (d)

Meet the Author

Catherine Asaro has an M.A. in physics, and a Ph.D. in chemical physics, both from Harvard. She has done research at the University of Toronto, The Max Planck Institute, and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. A former ballet and jazz dancer, she founded the Mainly Jazz Dance program at Harvard and now teaches at the Caryl Maxwell Classical Ballet. She has written sixteen novels in the popular Skolian Saga as well as two near-future technothrillers, The Veiled Web and The Phoenix Code. Her other books for Baen include The Ruby Dice, Alpha and Sunrise Alley. She currently runs Molecudyne Research and lives in Maryland with her husband and daughter.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 4 )
Rating Distribution

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(2)

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Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews

  • Posted July 19, 2009

    Gets Stronger as the Story Progresses

    Diamond Star is a stand-alone book, but it also is part of a collection of books, novellas, and short stories that Catherine Asaro has written about the Skolian empire/universe. I also have to disclose that this is the first of Asaro's books that I have read.

    The book is strong enough to encourage me to read more of her books, especially from the Skolian empire series. The book is weak enough that I almost didn't get far enough to come to that conclusion. Let me explain:

    The first third of the book is very focused on introducing us to Del and his baptism into the world of the music business of the future. Other than references to fancy equipment and the fact that Del was from a planet other than earth, I felt like it was a book about a wannabe rock singer of the 1960s or '70s, and I wasn't very intrigued.

    But as the reader gets to know Del and some layers of background are unpeeled, the story becomes more complex and compelling. I found the last half of the book to be engrossing, fun, scary, and thought-provoking, and I found the ending to be heart-wrenching. I was surprised I had come to care so much about Del and his relationships with family and friends, but I had. That's the mark of a good writer.

    I will be interested to see how some of Asaro's other Skolian books compare to Diamond Star. I am especially interested to read about some of the other members of Del's family to better understand how they became the people they are in this book.

    If we could give half-stars, this book would be 3.5. I bumped it up to 4 rather than down to 3 because of the strength of the second half of the book.

    The CD that goes with the book is quite good--not music I would normally listen to, but I received it with the book and have listened several times. Kudos to the band Point Valid.

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  • Posted May 25, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    Diamond Star - a man's struggle to find his place in the universe defined not by his heritage but by his own choices. Facing overwhelming odds to realize his dream.

    You know the old saying "Never Judge a Book By its Cover" well that definitely applies here. The cover reminds me of Disco and the music of the story is anything but Disco. The story delves into the scarred psyche of a man who doesn't know his own worth. Del-Kurj Arden Valdoria kya Skolia; aka Del Arden has a difficult journey of self discovery. He knows his love of music will be his salvation.
    Del strives to define himself; not by his heritage or by his personal weaknesses; but by his love of music. His journey helps him to see that his talent is more than just his ability to sing but it is the whole way he strives to be better than some of the choices he has made in his life. Del's journey takes us through a futuristic view of the music world with all its up swings and pit falls. It shows us all that just because we make a mistake it doesn't mean we can't learn and grow from that mistake; taking control of how we live our own lives.
    This novel is more than a romance between a man and a woman. It also shows us that music is more than just sounds we listen to. But ideas expressed in words and sounds that can reach into your soul and change your views on the world around you. It shows us the struggle each of us face to show we are more than the mistakes we have made; that each of us can over-come a bad choice by learning from it a moving forward; not wallowing in self pity and denial.

    I really recommend this book it has all the qualities needed to make it a compelling read

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  • Posted April 19, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    DIAMOND STAR is a fresh excellent addition to the Skolian Empire saga due to mostly Del, a prince who prefers to be a music star

    The Allied Worlds of Earth, The Eubian Concord Trader Empire, and Skolian Imperialate make up the human empires in the distant future. The Skolian Imperialate and the Trader Empire went to war, but neither won. Hostilities remain with another flare up possible. Earth provided sanctuary to some of the Skolian Imperialate Ruby Dynasty. When the war ended with the Trader Empire, the Skolians brought home everyone except Prince Del- Kurj who was separated from his off-world people.------------

    Del is frustrated and outraged as earth politicians are making it difficult for him to go home even with immense pressure from the Skolians. Mac Tyler takes him to a studio where he is seen and heard by producer Ricki Varento. He receives a recording contract, which he hopes will prove successful as he knows his family thinks he is worthless. Dal is a powerful empath, but is surprised when the crowds adore him and admire his talent as they love his music. Within a year, he is number one. However when a friend is abducted and tortured by an Aristo Trader, he sings a song that brings three civilizations to the brink of all out war.----------------

    DIAMOND STAR is a fresh excellent addition to the Skolian Empire saga due to mostly Del, a prince who prefers to be a music star. All of the action occurs on earth where an innocent man must adapt to a new challenge. Readers see the world through his Skolian eyes. There are several major subplots tied together by Del as fans will understand how his producers, band members, fans, and even the Aristo Trader see the expatriate Skolian royal. Somewhat tongue in cheek, Catherine Asaro provides a thoughtful tale of a star is born as the prince believes the magic is in the music instead of the purple reign.-----------

    Harriet Klausner

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 17, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

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