Tina Pulivok is thrust into an unknown universe, a reality that exists hundreds of years ahead of her own time, the 1980s on Earth. Raised in a Maya village and before moving to an East L.A. barrio in California, she knows no one in this new universe--
Except Althor.
A starfighter pilot from the future, Althor ended up in the wrong universe when someone--he has no idea who--sabotaged his fighter with the intent of killing him. Instead, the faulty stardrive threw him into Tina's universe. Both Tina and Althor are empaths, even telepaths, traits that draws them together. They return to Author's universe in his sentient ship, where they face dangers known and unknown. From the vicious empire of the Trader slave lords to the ancient marvels of desert ruins holding the secrets of a long vanished past, they must survive an onslaught of danger. They face the future with only their courage and their love--but will it be enough to keep them alive?
The author of more than twenty-five books, Catherine Asaro is acclaimed for her Ruby Dynasty series, which combines adventure, science, romance and fast-paced action. Her novel The Quantum Rose won the Nebula® Award, as did her novella “The Spacetime Pool.” Among her many other distinctions, she is a multiple winner of the AnLab from Analog magazine and a three time recipient of the RT BOOKClub Award for “Best Science Fiction Novel.” Her most recent novel, Carnelians, came out in October, 2011. An anthology of her short fiction titled Aurora in Four Voices is available from ISFiC Press in hardcover, and her multiple award-winning novella “The City of Cries” is also available as an eBook for Kindle and Nook.
Catherine has two music CD’s out and she is currently working on her third. The first, Diamond Star, is the soundtrack for her novel of the same name, performed with the rock band, Point Valid. She appears as a vocalist at cons, clubs, and other venues in the US and abroad, including recently as the Guest of Honor at the Denmark and New Zealand National Science Fiction Conventions. She performs selections from her work in a multimedia project that mixes literature, dance, and music with Greg Adams as her accompanist. She is also a theoretical physicist with a PhD in Chemical Physics from Harvard, and a jazz and ballet dancer. Visit her at www.facebook.com/Catherine.Asaro
LIGHTNING STRIKE is a rewrite of author Asaro's early book CATCH THE LIGHTNING, divided into two books. This second half covers the return of Prince Althor from another timeline with his chosen mate. Tina is obviously afraid of this introduction to a strange universe and empire. Someone is a serious enemy of Althor, but makes the fatal mistake of underestimating Tina.
I think there was only one time I voluntarily laid this book down. I finished it at after 1 AM. If you haven't tried the Skolian Empire series, you are missing something.
This is sort of the third time I've read this. I read CATCH THE LIGHTNING once and listened to it once.
An expanded version of the second half of Catch the Lightning. Furthest along chronologically in the Skolian universe. Althor's ship is sabotaged, he ends up on 1987 Earth in a different universe. He meets Tina who has empathic abilities like himself. They have some adventures, when it comes time to leave Earth Althor asks Tina to go with him. Enter book II. They stop at an allied space station for repairs and to get married. The group that sabotaged his Jag are still out there. They don't get away quick enough. Now they have to escape and prevent a war.
I have loved all of the Skolian novels. I read Catch the Lightning in 2013. I still bought Lightning Strike book I, enjoyed it even though I had remembered the gist of it. For book II I knew they went back to Althor's universe and time but no spoilers. Fast, fun read. Tina has left her universe behind and still manages to be crucial, perhaps not with physical prowess, but definitely with her ideas and influence. Fantastic characters, action, romance. Five stars.
Althor and Tina find that life in his universe is as problematic as life in hers.
Returning to the Skolian Empire, the couple are captured by fifth columnists on the night of their wedding and sold into slavery. Together, they must escape and return to their rightful place before the galaxy descends into outright war.
'Lightning Strike: Book II' is fast paced and thrilling, with pleasant hints of a wider narrative universe beyond the scope of the story. Asaro has written a novel which works well on its own while still drawing us further into her works to experience a bold landscape of a parallel universe.
Overall a good story. However, considering what I paid for this book (parts 1 and 2), I think the author could have spent some time proofreading - far too many typos.
Lots of interesting twists and turns as well as unique characters and fantastic worlds and environments. Lots of extra words and missing words. Needs more proofreading and then a new release.
Part two of Tina and Althor's story. I think I only really remembered one plot point from the original Catch the Lighting, so this all felt new. Cool to see Major Bhajaan show up at the end.