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fortifiedbybooks's review against another edition
4.0
From the synopsis, I didn't think this would be a story told from a First Person POV. I was expecting something more along the lines of "Battlestar Galactica." Instead, everything is seen from Soz's perspective. Soz is a woman, and a soldier, and that made Primary Inversion another difficult book for me.
I was reading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins at the same time, and due to how much both books hit home for me, I ended up having to take a break from them to read something a bit more light-hearted. Primary Inversion is an excellent example of the kind of mental breakdown many soldiers, including myself, have gone through. While Soz's mental health isn't the only thing in the story, it stood out for me because Catherine Asaro wrote Primary Inversion nearly a decade before the subjects of PTSD and suicide rates increasing amongst Veterans began to make headlines as they came home from lengthy deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.
As hard as it was for me to face myself in a Sci-Fi novel, I wish there were more books like Primary Inversion. Reading about Soz was like looking in a mirror, and that's still a rare event for a woman who has been to war.
I was reading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins at the same time, and due to how much both books hit home for me, I ended up having to take a break from them to read something a bit more light-hearted. Primary Inversion is an excellent example of the kind of mental breakdown many soldiers, including myself, have gone through. While Soz's mental health isn't the only thing in the story, it stood out for me because Catherine Asaro wrote Primary Inversion nearly a decade before the subjects of PTSD and suicide rates increasing amongst Veterans began to make headlines as they came home from lengthy deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.
As hard as it was for me to face myself in a Sci-Fi novel, I wish there were more books like Primary Inversion. Reading about Soz was like looking in a mirror, and that's still a rare event for a woman who has been to war.
bethmitcham's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy this story of PTSD in a soldier, especially with the way it plays with genre tropes.
ssindc's review against another edition
3.0
So this one - recommended by a heavy sci-fi consumer - is a little different... Sure it's sci-fi, and part of me thinks that many a cyber-punk afficianado would find much to recommend here.... But it's pretty heavily weighted in the chic-lit, romance, or what some call "space opera" categories as well. On my peeve list, this one screams series throughout, so it's a little frustrating that the book felt more like an introductory volley, rather than a standalone work. And, indeed, the author set up a number of intriguing storylines. But, in the end, it moved quickly, it was highly entertaining, and it builds upon a number of unique premises.... What more can you ask for serial sci-fi? So, yeah, I'll probably pick up the next one in the series at some point....
bookadventurer's review against another edition
3.0
2016 update: The romance wasn't as satisfying to me 5 years after I first read it. It's insta-love covered by chemical/mental connections. I think I prefer the other books better, with their more complex plots and complicated relationships. Next up: the first one about Saucsony.
Very heavy emphasis on science and technology in this one - neuroscience and the math and physics of interstellar, faster-than-light travel. At times, I had to continue reading without more than a vague understanding of the technology. However, these descriptions, by and large, add to the atmosphere and world-building underlying the story. (Yes, sometimes I also got bogged down in the detail.)
It's a fun, complex, fast-paced, thought-provoking space opera with dynamic and believable characters. Based on racial/species conflict as well as potential uses/dangers of AI and bioengineering, with romantic conflict, family and imperial politics, and really exciting space battles to liven things up.
Very heavy emphasis on science and technology in this one - neuroscience and the math and physics of interstellar, faster-than-light travel. At times, I had to continue reading without more than a vague understanding of the technology. However, these descriptions, by and large, add to the atmosphere and world-building underlying the story. (Yes, sometimes I also got bogged down in the detail.)
It's a fun, complex, fast-paced, thought-provoking space opera with dynamic and believable characters. Based on racial/species conflict as well as potential uses/dangers of AI and bioengineering, with romantic conflict, family and imperial politics, and really exciting space battles to liven things up.
brucefarrar's review against another edition
5.0
A soldier walks into a bar on a neutral planet, and a cute boy in an enemy uniform tries to pick her up. Is this the start of true love? She doesn’t think so, but it kindles a desperate desire to learn more about him. Her interest is not romantic; it’s strategic. He just doesn’t come across to her as one of the sadistic aristocrats of the Eube Concord, and Sauscony Valdoria, commander of an elite Jagernaut squadron, wants to know why. There’s also a personal reason for her interest in the enemies of the Skolian Imperilate, she’s one of the heir to the empire, and she’s will to put her considerable cybernetic and telepathic military training into finding out more.
rhodered's review against another edition
2.0
Re-reading this old favorite, and it's ... fairly awful.
I was thinking it would be the perfect comfort read for yesterday, but huh. I did remember there were plot holes you could drive a fleet of trucks through (if only a handful of people can power the Internet-type-thing your giant empire requires as defense vs torturing slavers, why would you risk any of their lives as front line military?!) Also, I recall being slightly off put by the romantic hero's similarity to a sad, naive puppy. Guys who are decades younger and massively less sophisticated than their love interest are just not that thrilling.
Back in 1995 though, kick ass heroines who were combat leaders with cool space craft, with all the cute guys after them, plus lesbian besties, were fairly unusual. Toss a little romance in, even if it was instalove, and I was a happy camper.
Now, though, Asaro's clunky world building digressions are incredibly grating. I don't need to know every technical detail of how every bit of technology operates. Just use it! Certain SF readers prefer this content above all. And clearly the author is enjoying herself writing it - she revels in scientific explanations.
Now I also see why this series became more and more grating to me years ago. I only kept the first book and tossed the rest. Plot-holed drama plus dumb love plus science... Blah.
I was thinking it would be the perfect comfort read for yesterday, but huh. I did remember there were plot holes you could drive a fleet of trucks through (if only a handful of people can power the Internet-type-thing your giant empire requires as defense vs torturing slavers, why would you risk any of their lives as front line military?!) Also, I recall being slightly off put by the romantic hero's similarity to a sad, naive puppy. Guys who are decades younger and massively less sophisticated than their love interest are just not that thrilling.
Back in 1995 though, kick ass heroines who were combat leaders with cool space craft, with all the cute guys after them, plus lesbian besties, were fairly unusual. Toss a little romance in, even if it was instalove, and I was a happy camper.
Now, though, Asaro's clunky world building digressions are incredibly grating. I don't need to know every technical detail of how every bit of technology operates. Just use it! Certain SF readers prefer this content above all. And clearly the author is enjoying herself writing it - she revels in scientific explanations.
Now I also see why this series became more and more grating to me years ago. I only kept the first book and tossed the rest. Plot-holed drama plus dumb love plus science... Blah.
ridicully's review against another edition
3.0
A bit heavy on the technobabble infodump, but otherwise fun.
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