Ascendant Sun: A New Novel in the Saga of the Skolian Empire
by By Asaro, Catherine
Category: Fiction , Science Fiction , Action & Adventure

Ascendant Sun is the direct sequel to the Nebula Award finalist The Last Hawk, in which Kelric, heir to the Skolian Empire, crash-landed his fighter on the Restricted planet of Coba. He was imprisoned by the powerful mistresses of the great estates - women who, over time, fell in love with him. After eighteen years of living in their gilded cage, Kelric finally made his escape.Now, in Ascendant Sun, Kelric returns to Skolian space, only to find the Empire in control of the Allied forces of Earth - thanks to the upheaval of the Radiance War. With little more than the clothes on his back and his family imprisoned by the Allieds, Kelric is forced to take work on a merchant vessel. But when that vessel enters Euban space, Kelric finds his worst nightmare realized: he is auctioned as a slave "provider" to the cruel Aristos - who subject slaves to torture and sex to provide their ultimate telepathic emotional drug.