Primary Inversion

Synopsis

The novel is set in a future where three star-faring civilizations compete for control of human-settled space. Sauscony (Soz) Valdoria, a fighter pilot, commands a squadron of four Jagernaut pilots—neurologically enhanced empaths bio-engineered as weapons. Jagernauts possess extensive biomech throughout their bodies, granting enhanced speed and reaction, and an embedded evolving intelligence in their spinal cords. They fight the legions of the Trader empire, especially the Aristo ruling class, who derive pleasure from the amplified pain of empaths.

Soz is also an imperial heir who may become military commander of the Skolian Empire. The book has three sections. In the first, Soz and her squadron take shore leave on a neutral planet, where she meets Jaibriol Qox the Second, the Highton heir who will rule the Trader empire. She discovers he secretly shares her empathic abilities; they link mentally and fall in love.

From Jaibriol she learns his father plans genocide against a rebellious planet. She and her squadron warn and evacuate the planet, barely escaping after a desperate space battle.

In the second section, Soz is sent by her brother Kurj, the Skolian imperator, to recuperate on Foreshires Hold. Suffering from post-traumatic syndrome, she refuses help until she nearly shoots herself. She then seeks a heartbender, a psychologist trained for Jagernauts.

Sauscony (Soz) Valdoria

Soz Valdoria is one of Asaro's most popular characters. Part of the novel deals with her attempts to cope with the emotional repercussions of being both a highly sensitive empath and an advanced military weapon, exploring themes of post-traumatic stress. James Schellenberg noted that Asaro understands how drama arises from how characters feel, and that Soz is a strong, dynamic character who is articulate, funny, and empathic. Asaro uses Soz to question what happens to soldiers turned into weapons and to examine traditional gender roles by breaking them.

Elements of science fiction

Primary Inversion has been called an exemplary hard science fiction novel. Stanley Schmidt, longtime editor of Analog, wrote that it offers really new science that might be possible. Asaro holds a Ph.D. in theoretical chemical physics from Harvard. In 1996 she published a paper in the American Journal of Physics titled 'Complex Speeds and Special Relativity,' which provides the mathematical formulation for the fictional star drive.

The drive, called inversion, adds an imaginary component to velocity, allowing ships to enter a superluminal universe and travel near-instantaneously, though the ship must approach light speed to invert. The Skolians' military advantage comes from pilots using technology-induced telepathy to communicate during inversion and arrive in tight formation. The novel and its sequel deal with interstellar combat from the perspective of relativistic space travel, incorporating extrapolations of bio-cybernetics, artificial intelligence, situational awareness, relativistic complications, and weapons development.

Place in genre and associated controversies

Primary Inversion has been described as hard science fiction, action-rich drama, space opera, military science fiction, science fiction romance, and space adventure. It has received praise for its emotional character development and innovative scientific extrapolation.

The book's genre label has become controversial due to its blend of hard science with a Romeo and Juliet romance. Some romance readers argue it does not qualify as romance because it emphasizes science fiction and separates the lovers for a third of the book; some science fiction readers criticize the extent of the love relationship. Asaro has accepted the term romance and expressed pleased surprise at interest from the romance community.