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Catherine Asaro

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Catherine Asaro
Asaro in 2009
Asaro in 2009
Born (1955-11-06) November 6, 1955 (age 68)
Oakland, California, U.S.
OccupationWriter
EducationChemistry, physics, chemical physics
Alma materUCLA, Harvard University
GenreScience fiction, fantasy
Notable worksSaga of the Skolian Empire
Notable awardsNebula Award
2001, 2008
RelativesFrank Asaro
Website
catherineasaro.net

Catherine Ann Asaro (born November 6, 1955) is an American science fiction and fantasy author, singer and teacher. She is best known for her books about the Ruby Dynasty, called the Saga of the Skolian Empire.

Biography

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Catherine Asaro was born on November 6, 1955,[1] in Oakland, California,[2] and grew up in El Cerrito, California. She attended Kennedy High School in Richmond, California, as part of the Richmond Voluntary Integration Plan.[3][4] She has a B.S. with highest honors in chemistry from UCLA, and both a master's in physics and a PhD in chemical physics from Harvard University.[5]

When not writing and making appearances at conventions and signings, Asaro teaches math, physics, and chemistry.[6] She was director of the Chesapeake Math Program and has coached various nationally ranked teams with home, private, and public school students, in particular the Chesapeake teams for national tournaments such as the Princeton and Harvard-MIT competitions. She also taught a gifted program in math and science at the Yang Academy in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Her students have placed at the top levels in numerous national competitions, including the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) and the United States of America Mathematical Talent Search (USAMTS).[7]

Asaro is a member of SIGMA, a think tank of speculative writers that advises the government as to future trends affecting national security.[8] She is also known for her advocacy of bringing girls and women into STEM fields and for increased diversity, and for challenging gender roles and literary expectations in her fiction.[9][10] She has been an invited speaker or visiting professor for various institutions, including the National Academy of Sciences, Harvard, Georgetown University, NASA, The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), The Global Competitiveness Forum in Saudi Arabia, the New Zealand National ConText Writer's program, the University of Maryland, the US Naval Academy, and many other institutions.[11]

A former ballet and jazz dancer, Catherine Asaro has performed with dance companies and in musicals on both coasts and in Ohio. She founded and served as artistic director and a principal dancer for two dance groups at Harvard: The Mainly Jazz Dance Company and the Harvard University Ballet. After she graduated, her undergraduate students took over Mainly Jazz and made it into a club at the college.[7]

She has completed two terms as president of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) (2003–2005) and during her tenure established the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy.[8][12]

Family

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Her husband was John Kendall Cannizzo (1957–2018), an astrophysicist at NASA.[13] They have one daughter, a ballet dancer who studied mathematics at the University of Cambridge and UC Berkeley.[14]

Catherine Asaro is the daughter of Frank Asaro, the nuclear chemist who discovered the iridium anomaly that led the team of Luis Alvarez, Walter Alvarez, Frank Asaro, and Helen Michel to postulate that an asteroid collided with the Earth 66 million years ago and caused mass extinctions, including the demise of the dinosaurs.

Saga of the Skolian Empire series

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Main article: Saga of the Skolian Empire

The Saga of the Skolian Empire, informally called the Skolian Saga, is a series of science fiction novels, novelettes and novellas revolving around characters from an interstellar empire known as the Skolian Empire and their power struggle with the rival Eubian Concord. The arc of the books unfolds over several generations of characters and revolves around political intrigues, but also contains subplots regarding romance, physics, bio-enhancements, and virtual computer networks.

Mathematical fiction and hard science fiction

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Asaro is known as a hard science fiction writer for the scientific depth of her work. The amount of science varies from book to book, with novels such as Primary Inversion, The Radiant Seas, and Spherical Harmonic on the most scientifically dense end of the spectrum, including elements such as equations and diagrams of quantum mechanical wave functions and Klein bottles. Stanley Schmidt, the long time editor of Analog magazine, wrote that Primary Inversion is "an impressive first novel; not just a good story, but the kind of speculation we too seldom see – really new science that just might be possible." Asaro is noted as one of the few female science fiction writers who also has a doctorate in hard science, in Asaro's case a PhD from Harvard in theoretical Chemical Physics.[15]

Asaro is also noted for including sophisticated mathematical concepts in her fiction. The method of space travel used in the Skolian Empire books comes from a paper Asaro wrote on complex variables and special relativity that appeared in the American Journal of Physics.[16][17] The novel Spherical Harmonic involves an imagined universe based on the Hilbert space described by the spherical harmonic eigenfunctions that solve the Laplace Equation, and some prose in the book is written in the shape of the sinusoidal waves found in the spherical harmonics.[18] Her novel The Quantum Rose is an allegory to quantum scattering theory and is dedicated to her doctoral advisors and mentors in the subject, Alex Dalgarno, Kate Kirby, and Eric J. Heller. The novella "Aurora in Four Voices" includes topics ranging from Fourier series to integration problems in calculus. In essays in the back of some of her novels, Asaro explains the mathematical and physics basis of the ideas used in the books, in particular Spherical Harmonic, The Quantum Rose, and The Moon's Shadow. In the anthology Aurora in Four Voices (which includes the novella of the same name), Asaro describes the mathematical basis of several stories in the anthology, including the use of Fourier transforms, Riemann sheets, and complex numbers in "The SpaceTime Pool."[19][self-published source?][20][21]

Musical collaborations

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The Diamond Star Project

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The Diamond Star Project is a collaboration between Catherine Asaro and the rock musicians Point Valid. The project resulted in a CD, Diamond Star (Starflight Music, April 2009), which is a "soundtrack" for the book, Diamond Star (Baen Books). The novel tells the story of Del-Kurj, a Ruby Dynasty prince who would rather be a rock singer than sit on the throne. The lyrics to the songs appear in the novel Diamond Star and were the inspiration for the CD.[22]

Point Valid with Catherine Asaro (2008)

Point Valid is an alternative band originating in Baltimore, Maryland, with Hayim Ani on vocals and guitar, Adam Leve on drums and Max Vidaver on guitar. Ani wrote most of the music for the CD, and Asaro wrote most of the lyrics, as well as music for three songs. Ani also contributed three original compositions, both music and lyrics. Most of the vocals are by Ani, with a few by Asaro. The CD has twelve songs, eleven originals and a cover of "Sound of Silence". Asaro, who did not know how to sing, took voice lessons in preparation for the recordings, and continues to train and perform. Asaro has described how the collaboration inspired her work, as exemplified by the song "Emeralds", which she was not able to finish until she and Ani were in the studio recording his vocals.[23]

During 2009, the Diamond Star Project expanded to include Donald Wolcott, a jazz pianist who accompanied Asaro in concerts.[23][24] In 2010, Starflight Music released the EP Goodbye Note by Asaro and Wolcott, which includes the song "No Answers with in Paradisum" from the Diamond Star soundtrack, rewritten and sung by Asaro.[25] In 2010, Marty Pell joined the Diamond Star Project as an additional pianist, and in 2011, Greg Adams replaced Wolcott as Asaro's primary accompanist.[26]

Arlan Andrews

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In 2018, Asaro teamed up with author and songwriter Arlan Andrews to do the Celtic rock song "Ancient Ages".[27]

Bibliography

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Main article: Catherine Asaro bibliography

Awards

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  • Primary Inversion, nominee, Locus Award, first novel, 1996
  • Primary Inversion, finalist, Compton Crook Award 1996
  • Catch the Lightning, winner, Sapphire Award, best novel, 1997
  • Catch the Lightning, winner, UTC Readers Choice Award, best novel, 1997
  • Catch the Lightning, finalist, Audies, Science Fiction, 2003
  • The Last Hawk, nominee, Nebula Award, Best Novel, 1999
  • The Radiant Seas, winner, RT Book Club Reviewer's Choice Award, Best Science Fiction Novel 1999
  • The Radiant Seas, nominee, HOMer Award, Best Novel 2000
  • "Aurora in Four Voices", winner, AnLab (Analog Reader's Poll), 1999
  • "Aurora in Four Voices", nominee, Hugo Award, best novella, 1999
  • "Aurora in Four Voices", nominee, Nebula Award, best novella, 1999
  • "Aurora in Four Voices", winner, HOMer Award, best novella, 1999
  • "Aurora in Four Voices", winner Sapphire Award, best novella, 2000
  • "Aurora in Four Voices", nominee, Seiun Awards, overseas short fiction, 2000
  • "Aurora in Four Voices", Sixth Place, Locus Award, novella, 1999
  • The Veiled Web, winner, HOMer Award, best novel, 2000
  • The Veiled Web, winner, Prism Award, best novel, 2000
  • The Veiled Web, winner, National Reader's Choice Award, 2000
  • The Veiled Web, Second Place, Sapphire Award, 2001
  • The Quantum Rose, winner, Nebula Award for Best Novel 2001[28]
  • The Quantum Rose, winner, Affaire de Coeur Award, Best Science Fiction (2001)
  • The Quantum Rose, Third place, Sapphire Award, Best Novel 2000
  • The Quantum Rose, nominee, Audies, Novel 2005
  • "A Roll of the Dice", winner, AnLab (Analog Reader's Poll), 2001
  • "A Roll of the Dice", winner, HOMer Award, 2001
  • "A Roll of the Dice", nominee, Hugo Award, best novella, 2001
  • "A Roll of the Dice", nominee, Nebula Award, best novella, 2001
  • "A Roll of the Dice", Second Place tie, Sapphire Award, best novella, 2001
  • Spherical Harmonic, winner, Affaire de Coeur Reader/Writer Poll for Best Futuristic, 2002
  • "Ave de Paso", Eleventh Place, Locus Award, novella, 2002
  • "Ave de Paso", nominee, Sapphire Award, Short Fiction, 2002
  • "Soul of Light", nominee, short fiction, Gaylactic Spectrum Awards, 2002
  • Ascendant Sun, winner, RT Book Club Reviewer's Choice Award, Best Science Fiction Novel 2003
  • Skyfall, winner, RT Book Club Reviewer's Choice Award, Best Science Fiction Novel 2003
  • Skyfall, finalist, Rita Award, Futuristic/Fantasy/Paranormal, 2004
  • Skyfall, Third Place, Sapphire Award, Best Novel, 2004
  • "Moonglow," winner, RRA Award, Best Novella, 2004
  • "Moonglow," winner, Sapphire Award, Best Novella, 2004
  • "Walk in Silence", winner, AnLab (Analog Reader's Poll), 2004
  • "Walk in Silence", winner, Prism Award, best novella, 2004
  • "Walk in Silence", nominee, Hugo Award, best novella, 2004
  • "Walk in Silence", nominee, Nebula Award, best novella, 2004
  • Outstanding Achievement Award, WRW, Washington D.C., 2005
  • "Stained Glass Heart", nominee, Sapphire Award, Best Novella, 2005
  • "The City of Cries", winner, Prism Award, Best Novella, 2006
  • "The City of Cries", winner, Prism Award, The Best of the Best, 2006
  • "The City of Cries", winner, Book Buyers Best, novella, 2006
  • "The City of Cries", Second Place, Sapphire Award, Best Novella, 2006
  • "The Misted Cliffs,", finalist, Rita Award, Paranormal, 2006
  • "The Spacetime Pool," winner, Nebula Award for Best Novella 2008[28]
  • "The Spacetime Pool," second place, AnLab (Analog Reader's Poll), 2008
  • Sunrise Alley, finalist, Audies, Science Fiction, 2009
  • "Deep Snows," Nominee, Best R&B Music Video, World Music and Independent Film Festival, 2012
  • "The Pyre of New Day," nominee, Nebula Award, best novelette, 2012
  • The Wallace S. North, Jr., PE Award for Contributions to the Maryland State Mathcounts Program, 2017
  • "Ancient Ages," The Blast-FM top 100, radio selection, 2020

References

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  1. ^ Al von Ruff; et al. (eds.). "Catherine Asaro". The Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  2. ^ "Catherine Asaro". Worlds Without End. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Asaro, Catherine, ed. (2013). Nebula Awards Showcase 2013. Pyr. p. 26. ISBN 978-1-61614-784-6.
  4. ^ "Catherine Asaro". Book Series in Order. February 13, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  5. ^ "Catherine Asaro". Booksnbytes.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  6. ^ Britt Peterson (January 11, 2017). "She's a Harvard PhD and Author of 26 Novels. She'll Also Get Your Kids to Like Math". Washingtonian. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Big Think interview
  8. ^ a b "Members". Sigma: the science fiction think tank. Dr. Catherine Asaro. Archived from the original on December 12, 2008.
  9. ^ "Women in SF&F Month: Catherine Asaro". Fantasy Cafe. May 3, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  10. ^ "Planet diverdity: Bidisha". The Guardian. January 25, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  11. ^ "DC Art Science Evening Rendezvous (DASER)". Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences. October 17, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
    "Goddard Engineering Colloquium Announcement: Catherine Asaro on "The Future of Virtual Reality"". Goddard Flight Center (Press release). NASA. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014.
    "Where's My Flying Car? Science, Science Fiction, and a Changing Vision of the Future". AAAS 2014 Annual Meeting Symposium. American Association for the Advancement of Science. February 14, 2014. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
    "Global Competitive Forum 2012, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 21 to 24, 2012". SIGMA Forum. Press Releases. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  12. ^ "New Andre Norton Award for young adult fiction". SF/F & Publishing News. Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. February 20, 2005. Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  13. ^ "John Cannizzo Obituary". Dignity Memorial. Columbia, MD. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  14. ^ "X-Ray Variability : Quasi-periodic Oscillations" (PDF). Cresst.umd.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 14, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  15. ^ "Projecting the Shadow: The Cyborg Hero in American Film, Janice Hocker Rushing and Thomas S. Frentz. 1995. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL. 256 pages. $45.00 hc; $14.95 pb". Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society (book review). 17 (4): 207–207. August 1997. doi:10.1177/027046769701700426. ISSN 0270-4676.
  16. ^ Asaro, Catherine (April 1, 1996). "Complex speeds and special relativity". American Journal of Physics. 64 (4): 421–429. Bibcode:1996AmJPh..64..421A. doi:10.1119/1.18258. ISSN 0002-9505.
  17. ^ "Catherine Asaro". Physicscentral.org. April 11, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  18. ^ Asaro, Catherine (2007). Spherical Harmonic: A Novel in the Saga of the Skolian Empire. ISBN 9781429970488.
  19. ^ Catherine Asaro (March 2012). "A Poetry of Angles and Dreams" (Math Essay). Retrieved July 23, 2015 – via Google Drive.
  20. ^ PBS New Hour
  21. ^ APS News
  22. ^ "Blog". Fast Forward: Contemporary Science Fiction. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  23. ^ a b Alasdair Wilkins (May 1, 2009). "Catherine Asaro Rocks Out For Her Latest Science Fiction Epic". io9.com. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  24. ^ Charles Tan (April 22, 2009). "Catherine Asaro 2009 Interview". Archived from the original on April 27, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  25. ^ "Asaro and Wolcott | Goodbye Note". CD Baby Music Store. Archived from the original on December 28, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  26. ^ Carl Sagan. "We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology" (PDF). Isfic.org. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  27. ^ Catherine Asaro (August 31, 2018), Ancient Ages, retrieved January 1, 2023 – via YouTube
  28. ^ a b "Nebula Awards". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. November 25, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
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