-
The Last Hawk
- Saga of the Skolian Empire, Book 3
- Narrated by: Anna Fields
- Length: 13 hrs and 52 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $27.97
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Radiant Seas
- A Novel of the Skolian Empire
- By: Catherine Asaro
- Narrated by: Anna Fields
- Length: 15 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This sequel to the acclaimed Primary Inversion continues the story of Sauscony and Jaibriol, each the heir to an interstellar empire, as they become entangled again in the machinations of the Skolian Empire.
-
-
A Nobel Effort
- By Melinda Kucsera on 10-12-11
By: Catherine Asaro
-
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
- By: Robert A. Heinlein
- Narrated by: Lloyd James
- Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In what is considered one of Heinlein's most hair-raising, thought-provoking, and outrageous adventures, the master of modern science fiction tells the strange story of an even stranger world. It is 21st-century Luna, a harsh penal colony where a revolt is plotted between a bashful computer and a ragtag collection of maverick humans, a revolt that goes beautifully until the inevitable happens. But that's the problem with the inevitable: it always happens.
-
-
Very Good Interpretation
- By Gerald on 10-25-08
-
Steel World
- Undying Mercenaries, Book 1
- By: B. V. Larson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the 20th century Earth sent probes, transmissions, and welcoming messages to the stars. Unfortunately, someone noticed. The Galactics arrived with their battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell-burners, Earth joined their vast Empire. Swearing allegiance to our distant alien overlords wasn't the only requirement for survival. We also had to have something of value to trade, something that neighboring planets would pay their hard-earned credits to buy. As most of the local worlds were too civilized to have a proper army, the only valuable service Earth could provide came in the form of soldiers....
-
-
Not plausible. Even for science fiction.
- By Smurfberry on 09-28-19
By: B. V. Larson
-
Wild Cards I
- By: George R. R. Martin - editor, Walter Jon Williams, Melinda Snodgrass, and others
- Narrated by: Luke Daniels
- Length: 18 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the aftermath of WWII, an alien virus struck the Earth, endowing a handful of survivors with extraordinary powers. Originally published in 1987, the newly expanded saga contains additional original stories by eminent writers.
-
-
A True Classic!
- By Joseph Rispoli Jr on 11-15-11
By: George R. R. Martin - editor, and others
-
Sisterhood of Dune
- By: Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 20 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is 83 years after the last of the thinking machines were destroyed in the Battle of Corrin, after Faykan Butler took the name of Corrino and established himself as the first Emperor of a new Imperium. Great changes are brewing that will shape and twist all of humankind.
-
-
This is the First Need to Listen for 2012
- By Clydene on 01-03-12
By: Brian Herbert, and others
-
His Majesty's Dragon
- Temeraire, Book 1
- By: Naomi Novik
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo - an unhatched dragon egg - fate sweeps Captain Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle.
-
-
Excellent AU period fantasy
- By Melanie on 07-08-10
By: Naomi Novik
-
The Radiant Seas
- A Novel of the Skolian Empire
- By: Catherine Asaro
- Narrated by: Anna Fields
- Length: 15 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This sequel to the acclaimed Primary Inversion continues the story of Sauscony and Jaibriol, each the heir to an interstellar empire, as they become entangled again in the machinations of the Skolian Empire.
-
-
A Nobel Effort
- By Melinda Kucsera on 10-12-11
By: Catherine Asaro
-
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
- By: Robert A. Heinlein
- Narrated by: Lloyd James
- Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In what is considered one of Heinlein's most hair-raising, thought-provoking, and outrageous adventures, the master of modern science fiction tells the strange story of an even stranger world. It is 21st-century Luna, a harsh penal colony where a revolt is plotted between a bashful computer and a ragtag collection of maverick humans, a revolt that goes beautifully until the inevitable happens. But that's the problem with the inevitable: it always happens.
-
-
Very Good Interpretation
- By Gerald on 10-25-08
-
Steel World
- Undying Mercenaries, Book 1
- By: B. V. Larson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the 20th century Earth sent probes, transmissions, and welcoming messages to the stars. Unfortunately, someone noticed. The Galactics arrived with their battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell-burners, Earth joined their vast Empire. Swearing allegiance to our distant alien overlords wasn't the only requirement for survival. We also had to have something of value to trade, something that neighboring planets would pay their hard-earned credits to buy. As most of the local worlds were too civilized to have a proper army, the only valuable service Earth could provide came in the form of soldiers....
-
-
Not plausible. Even for science fiction.
- By Smurfberry on 09-28-19
By: B. V. Larson
-
Wild Cards I
- By: George R. R. Martin - editor, Walter Jon Williams, Melinda Snodgrass, and others
- Narrated by: Luke Daniels
- Length: 18 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the aftermath of WWII, an alien virus struck the Earth, endowing a handful of survivors with extraordinary powers. Originally published in 1987, the newly expanded saga contains additional original stories by eminent writers.
-
-
A True Classic!
- By Joseph Rispoli Jr on 11-15-11
By: George R. R. Martin - editor, and others
-
Sisterhood of Dune
- By: Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 20 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is 83 years after the last of the thinking machines were destroyed in the Battle of Corrin, after Faykan Butler took the name of Corrino and established himself as the first Emperor of a new Imperium. Great changes are brewing that will shape and twist all of humankind.
-
-
This is the First Need to Listen for 2012
- By Clydene on 01-03-12
By: Brian Herbert, and others
-
His Majesty's Dragon
- Temeraire, Book 1
- By: Naomi Novik
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo - an unhatched dragon egg - fate sweeps Captain Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle.
-
-
Excellent AU period fantasy
- By Melanie on 07-08-10
By: Naomi Novik
-
Foundation (Apple Series Tie-in Edition)
- By: Isaac Asimov
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For 12,000 years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. But only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future - to a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save humankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire - both scientists and scholars - and brings them to a bleak planet at the edge of the galaxy to serve as a beacon of hope for future generations. He calls his sanctuary the Foundation.
-
-
Changed the version back
- By chip worden on 09-24-21
By: Isaac Asimov
-
Queen of Swords
- A Novel
- By: Sara Donati
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 21 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is the late summer of 1814, and Hannah Bonner and her half brother Luke have spent more than a year searching the islands of the Caribbean for Luke's wife and the man who abducted her. But Jennet's rescue, so long in coming, is not the resolution they'd hoped for. In the spring she had given birth to Luke's son, and in the summer Jennet had found herself compelled to surrender the infant to a stranger in the hope of keeping him safe.
-
-
I love this series
- By Linda on 09-21-07
By: Sara Donati
-
The Whiskey Rebels
- By: David Liss
- Narrated by: Christopher Lane
- Length: 18 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At his most desperate moment, Ethan Saunders is recruited to find his ex-fiancée's missing husband. Meanwhile, Joan Maycott and her Revolutionary War veteran husband distill whiskey on the western Pennsylvania frontier. As their causes intertwine, Joan and Saunders - both patriots in their own way - find themselves on opposing sides of a daring scheme that will forever change their lives and their new country.
-
-
In My Top 10 - Maybe Top 5 At Audible
- By Lulu on 10-31-12
By: David Liss
-
The Sum of All Men
- The Runelords, Book One
- By: David Farland
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 21 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Young Prince Gaborn of Mystarria is traveling in disguise on a journey to ask for the hand of the lovely Princess Iome of Sylvarresta. Armed with his gifts of strength and perception, the prince and his bodyguard stop at a local tavern, where they spot a pair of assassins who have their sights set on Princess Iome's father. As they race to warn the king, they realize that more than the royal family is at risk - the very fate of the Earth is in jeopardy.
-
-
Mixed Review
- By Gr on 03-30-19
By: David Farland
-
Mutineer
- Kris Longknife, Book 1
- By: Mike Shepherd
- Narrated by: Dina Pearlman
- Length: 14 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kris Longknife is a daughter of privilege, born to money and power. Her father is the prime minister of her home planet, her mother the consummate politician's wife. She's been raised only to be beautiful and marry well. But the heritage of the military Longknifes courses through Kris' blood - and, against her parents' objections, she enlists in the Marines.
-
-
Join the 24th Century Navy; see the Universe!
- By Mariya Joldzic on 03-13-11
By: Mike Shepherd
-
The Mote in God's Eye
- By: Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle
- Narrated by: L J Ganser
- Length: 20 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Mote In God's Eye is their acknowledged masterpiece, an epic novel of mankind's first encounter with alien life that transcends the genre. No lesser an authority than Robert A. Heinlein called it "possibly the finest science fiction novel I have ever read".
-
-
A great read!
- By J. Rhoderick on 02-12-10
By: Larry Niven, and others
-
Eon
- Dragoneye Reborn
- By: Alison Goodman
- Narrated by: Nancy Wu
- Length: 14 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Twelve-year-old Eon has been training for years. His intensive study of Dragon Magic, based on Oriental astrology, involves two kinds of skills: sword-work and magical aptitude. He and his master hope that he will be chosen as a Dragoneye - an apprentice to one of the 12 energy dragons of good fortune.
But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a 16-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a 12-year-old boy for the chance to become a Dragoneye.
-
-
I was hooked
- By The Mankers on 04-22-12
By: Alison Goodman
-
Dreadnaught
- The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier
- By: Jack Campbell
- Narrated by: Christian Rummel, Jack Campbell - introduction
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first book of best-selling sci-fi author Jack Campbell’s new series Beyond the Frontier returns to find Captain John “Black Jack" Geary, the hero of the Lost Fleet series, awoken from cryogenic sleep to take command of the fleet. Geary’s legendary exploits have earned him the adoration of the people—and the enmity of politicians convinced that a living hero can be a very inconvenient thing.
-
-
Got me into audio science fiction audio books!
- By ApplesOverOranges on 07-06-13
By: Jack Campbell
-
Starship Troopers
- By: Robert A. Heinlein
- Narrated by: Lloyd James
- Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Join the Army and See the Universe. That is the motto of The Third Space War, also known as The First Interstellar War, but most commonly as The Bug War. In one of Robert Heinlein's most controversial best sellers, a recruit of the future goes through the toughest boot camp in the universe - and into battle with the Terrain Mobile Infantry against mankind's most alarming enemy.
-
-
Book is awesome. Narration was MIND-NUMBING
- By Geoff on 08-13-16
-
The Warded Man
- By: Peter V. Brett
- Narrated by: Pete Bradbury
- Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Peter V. Brett has won accolades from critics, fans and fellow authors alike for this riveting debut novel. The Warded Man features a world where demons stalk the night, hunting humans who have long forgotten the magic of their ancestors. But all is not lost, as some hold out hope that a savior will release humanity from the demons' terrifying reign.
-
-
Amazing World - Shockingly Bad Everything Else
- By Duarte Costeira on 09-19-17
By: Peter V. Brett
-
Earth Unaware
- By: Orson Scott Card, Aaron Johnston
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Stephen Hoye, Arthur Morey, and others
- Length: 13 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The mining ship El Cavador is far out from Earth, in the deeps of the Kuiper Belt, beyond Pluto. Other mining ships, and the families that live on them, are few and far between this far out. So when El Cavador’s telescopes pick up a fast-moving object coming in-system, it’s hard to know what to make of it. It’s massive and moving at a significant fraction of the speed of light.
El Cavador has other problems. Their systems are old and failing. The family is getting too big for the ship. There are claim-jumping corporate ships bringing Asteroid Belt tactics to the Kuiper Belt.
-
-
A worthy prequel
- By SAMA on 07-05-13
By: Orson Scott Card, and others
-
The Forever War
- By: Joe Haldeman
- Narrated by: George Wilson
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
William Mandella is a soldier in Earth's elite brigade. As the war against the Taurans sends him from galaxy to galaxy, he learns to use protective body shells and sophisticated weapons. He adapts to the cultures and terrains of distant outposts. But with each month in space, years are passing on Earth. Where will he call home when (and if) the Forever War ends?
-
-
A classic.
- By John on 09-24-08
By: Joe Haldeman
Publisher's Summary
When Kelric, a scion of the imperial family of Skolia, crash-lands his fighter on the off-limits planet of Coba, he figures it will be only a short time before he makes his way home. But he fails to account for the powerful matriarchy of Coba, the mistresses of the great estates who do not want the Empire to know about their recent cultural advances. First they take him prisoner. Then, one by one, the most powerful women on the planet fall in love with him!
More from the same
Author
Narrator
What listeners say about The Last Hawk
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Michael G Kurilla
- 09-30-21
Total gender reversal world
Catherine Asaro's The Last Hawk is her third installment (publication order) in her Skolian Universe franchise. Kelric, one of the Skolian Rhon is shipwrecked on an obscure planet, Coba, likely formerly part of the Ruby Empire, but lost over time. The planet is aware of the Skolian empire, but prefers to remain separate. Kelric is essentially imprisoned to maintain the anonymity. The planet has a matriarchal societal structure with war having been replaced by a complex game, 'quis' which Kelric becomes adept at. He moves from city-state to city state as a function is his skill at quis and his sexual attractiveness. Kelric eventually manages to escape but not before pushing the planet back into open warfare as well as leaving behind a couple of offpsring.
Asaro attempts to craft a matriarchal society with circa mid 20th century technology (on the cusp of nuclear capability). There is a mirror image of mid 20th century gender roles that is difficult to envision ever developing. if the planet was originally settled by a technologically advanced race, more equal gender would have been anticipated. While some series of catastrophic events, both manmade as well as environmental may have set the race, there is no explanation for why a mirror image gender role bifurcation would have resulted, especially in the setting of no birth control, breastfeeding, and child rearing efforts. Certainly, the result of 'protecting' men's honor with burqas and sexually aggressive females makes no sense. Without some plausible developmental history, the whole structure comes off more as fantasy or magical thinking. In addition, the game of quis is never truly fleshed out in detail but appears to have been a method for the formerly more technologically advanced, to embed their math and science before falling back into a more primitive state.
The narration was well done with solid character distinction and smooth pacing.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kat
- 06-15-12
Kelric sleeps his way across a planet!
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
On 1.5 speed, yes. Sometimes while doing other things, but occasionally engrossing.
Would you be willing to try another book from Catherine Asaro? Why or why not?
I'm reading her entire Skolian Empire series if it is all on audio.
Which scene was your favorite?
None in particular.
Was The Last Hawk worth the listening time?
Sure, Catherine Asaro's plots are pretty entertaining. And Anna Fields, as always, makes the book worth listening too as she is good at different voices (most of the time).
Any additional comments?
As I mention in my review of Ascendant Sun, the sequel to this book, Kelric is a sex addict. He needs therapy. Yes, he's an empath, but his siblings are too and they don't jump into bed with everything that moves. Okay, admittedly, in this book, he's kinda forced too, but that just says something about the author. And in the sequel, Ascendant Sun, he does't have to sleep with everyone but somehow just ends up doing it anyway!
The culture on the planet where Kelric is stranded is strongly matriarchal, female chauvinistic, and revolves around the playing a complex dice game that is used for political purposes. By the end of the book, it is even being used to somehow discern the atomic structure of the elements and develop weapons and split atoms - all this in the space of a few years on a planet that had practically no advanced technology at the beginning! I could not suspend my disbelief about the power associated with this dice game, emphasized so heavily in the book.
But overall, the book is entertaining and a necessary read to understand Ascendant Sun and the books that follow, where Kelric becomes a more important part of the restructuring of the Skolian Empire.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
- Stuart
- 05-11-10
Reader in a bit of a hurry
I would have enjoyed this book if I had read it in print form, but I just couldn't get past the reader. Her enunciation was clear and her natural voice was great, but at many points her lack of phrasing served to drain the dramatic tension from the scenes. There was no concept of a pause when it was needed, and as mentioned previously, the male voices were just hard to listen to. The listening experience would have been fine or even good had she just spoken the male parts in her natural voice, and slowed down the reading pace where appropriate. I will continue to enjoy this author but likely will choose those books read by others. I'd be willing to try this reader again if she's revised her technique or reads a book who's narritive style is better suited for her.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
- Ronald
- 12-30-09
Not sure what the otheres are thinking
I very much enjoyed this book, I can't understaqnd why most of the other reviews are so critical. This book like most of Catherine Asaro books are complex. She develops the Characters and no not every book has to be full of blood and guts to be interesting. I think this book like almost all of her books may not be as easy of a read as some but it is worth the investment. Excellent Job Catherine.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
- M. Eglestone
- 04-13-08
Military not.
Catherine Asaro writes fantastic science. She obviously puts much thought into her story plots and expends exactly the right amount of effort developing the character population in each book. The only problem that keeps her from being a great story teller is that Asaro writes about military behavior with the experience level of a lifetime civilian; which doesn't work very well.
An example of this can be seen In "The Last Hawk," where she has a high ranking military officer disregarding even the most basic sworn oaths of office that every service member (officer and enlisted) must take. She even has him committing treason by swearing loyalty to the enemy in exchange for privileges and favored treatment. That blatant disregard for military behavior seriously flaws what would otherwise be an excellent book in an outstanding series.
Now, having said that, I must add this. If your only exposure to proper military behavior is what you see on TV or in the Movies, then you will more than likely have no problems with anything Asaro writes in that department. I'm critical of her treatment in that area because I spent the majority of my adult life in a military uniform and I expect authors to be, at least, slightly familiar with the subject when they use it in their stories. Unfortunately, very few of them are.
I enjoyed reading this book, and the series, because the science was so well thought out. I expect that most of you will as well.
I also recommend that you listen to the books in the order in which they were written, not in the order recommended by Audible.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John
- 05-08-22
Ridiculous
How this is at four stars is beyond me? I could only stand till chapter 6. The MC is drugged, held prisoner, and forced to join their community by someone else speaking the vows. Garbage!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Aaron & Klarissa
- 02-23-22
A gender swap
It was interesting that on that world that the women were the leaders and holders of office, that was a nice change. And the dice reminded me a DnD dice.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Whitney Sands
- 01-30-22
This book defines sexism. A Must Read
I honestly believe that Catherine Asaro is changing the world one novel at a time. Brava
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kat S
- 08-04-21
So much rape
There isn't a woman in this book that isn't a rapist. Not just kelric gets raped, but young teenage boy slaves. I read this when it first came out, but all I remembered was the dice game. I wish I hadn't listened to it, it was awful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- LegoBlocksAreFun
- 04-12-21
easily one of the most entertaining scifi books!
loved the details about the dice game, the tech, and the society, before and after the "eagle" crashed there!