THE LAST HAWK
Catherine Asaro
Tor 1997
Pb 463 pages (includes map and 18 pages of appendices)
ISBN # 0-812-55110-9

Welcome to physicist Asaro's Saga of the Skolian Empire. I can personally attest to the fact that each book can be read as a stand-alone. An ample mix of science-fiction and romance, Asaro writes well enough to latch you to your seat for the duration of each story (you can't put her books down).

The Last Hawk is both a symbol and a reality. In reality, giant althawks are near extinction on the planet Coba. The symbol is our hero. He is large in many ways, including physically, and the last great man to fly over the planet Coba before it is changed forever. Kelicson Garlin Valdoria is third heir to the military rule of Imperial Skolia, a Rhon prince of the Ruby Dynasty. He crash-lands his crippled Jag fighter on the Restricted planet of Coba, a world ruled by women who once were warriors but now control their planet's political hostilities with a game of dice called Quis. His Jag fighter destroyed, the planet's environment keeping him sick, Kelric has no choice but to live the life forced upon him.

The rulers of Coba do not want to return a Skolian citizen-especially a prince-to an empire that could easily return to their world and occupy it, remove the Restriction, and take away their Quis. Everyone on Coba plays Quis. It is complicated not only in structure-the pieces have many geometric shapes and colors-and rules, but psychological "ripples" can be felt through the political net just like a computer network.

The Cobans keep Kelric prisoner in a most unusual fashion. They make him Calani (a political counselor who is master of Quis). The Calani are "kept" men, owned as property by one of Twelve Estates, and are not allowed to speak to Outsiders or read or write so that their game may remain pure. They can also be traded away or won on bets. A man who has lived in four different Estate Calanya is very rare, and expensive. The price for a Fifth Level Calani would be prohibitive. And a Sixth Level? They tell Kelric that none has ever existed.

But Kelric has a natural genius for the game, he becomes obsessed with Quis. His game "ripples" change the face of Coba! ... and Oh, the women love him (there's a couple of very nice love scenes in this book). What price for a Sixth Level Calani? Read and find out!

KC Heath