Stained Glass Radiance

Hard SF in the far future by a physicist and skilled ballet dancer.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SURVIVORS AFTER THE WAR ENDS?

They called Havyrl Valdoria a hero. He knew otherwise. Buried alive in space and not rescued until thirty days later, he has become a prisoner in his own mind, tortured by trauma that makes him a danger to his wife and child and a risk to his people. He has one hope of freedom in the most unlikely of places. Can he escape by hiding in plain sight?

Havyrl Valdoria is no soldier. A farmer and dancer, he helped his people free their world from a military occupation with the help of his wife, Kamoj Argali. But at what price to them? With the government of the Skolian interstellar civilization in chaos, they must find a way to recovery, both for themselves and for their peoples. Inexperienced and young, Kamoj takes her place in the ruling Assembly of Vyrl’s people as a representative for her own world. While she deals with the confusion of their reformed government and the violence of an angry populace, Vyrl struggles to find an escape from the nightmares that torment his life—through the incomparable art of his dancing.

Perhaps, in finding answers for himself, he can help answer the question that plagues them all: after the soldiers have come home and the battles have ended, how do their people come to terms with the aftermath of a brutal, star-spanning conflict?

At the publisher’s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Praise for Gold Dust:
“Asaro breathes life into old tropes, creating a fresh story. Gold Dust is an entertaining and exhilarating read.” —Ricochet

Praise for the Saga of the Skolian Empire:
“ . . . 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 on The Bronze Skies, starred review

“The Jigsaw Assassin follows a futuristic serial killer whose work implicates those in political power, causing a ripple of response that threatens the political party and calls upon Major Bhaajan to solve the crime. As Bhaaj and her crew delve into political and criminal worlds beyond their usual ken, readers receive an action-packed story of interstellar politics, intrigue, and science fiction that proves satisfying fast-paced, creatively world-building, and hard to put down.” —Midwest Book Review

Catherine Asaro has an M.A. in physics and a Ph.D. in chemical physics from Harvard. She has appeared as a speaker at many places, including Harvard and the National Academy of Sciences, and as a Guest of Honor at science fiction cons in the U.S. and abroad. She is a member of SIGMA, a think tank that advises the government as to future trends. A former ballet and jazz dancer, and now a vocalist, Asaro has performed at clubs and conventions. She is the creator of the popular Skolian Empire Saga, a science fiction series that includes Undercity, The Bronze Skies, The Vanished Seas, and The Jigsaw Assassin from Baen. Asaro is a resident of Long Island, New York.