Rating: 
Summary: Thoughtful and Lyrical
Review: This book is a lot different than Asaro's galactic-empire science fiction adventures. I wasn't sure at first if i would like it but it turns out that I do. It is about a dancer Lucia who is also an Internet whiz. She meets Rashid at a White House dinner. He is CEO of a company in Morrocco. Later, Lucia is caught in a kidnap attempt against Rashid. Lucia eventually meets Zaki. He is an AI created by Rashid and one of the best characters. Good characters. Lucia is entrancing. Reading about her thoughts as she dances is like having a window into the creative process of an artist. Ok, she is almost too amazing (prima ballerina, smart, mature, nurturing) but I liked her because she was also humble. The slant on Rashid is powerful. He is caught between two universes (east and west), feeling like he is torn in two. The story gives a balanced view without taking sides. One reason I read Asaro's Skolia empire books is the science. Her rifs on quantum physics rock. (she is a theoretical astrophysicist) This book doesn't have as much of that. The style of the story would be marred with too much tech-talk. This prose is like peotry. if there is one thing I would change it would be to have more tech-talk. But ok, even I can see it would detract. What else? Very romantic. A lot of the story takes place in Rashid's home so this is more suspense than a thriller. The glimpse of Morocco is cool. The book asks a lot of philosophical questions about AI and spirituality that still have me thinking. This is a good book. I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Find a copy and read it!
Review: A fabulous book, I loved it. Wonderful writing, clever ideas, engaging plot, beautiful characters, and food for thought. What more could you ask for? Go read it.
Rating:
Summary: Find a copy and read it!
Review: A fabulous book, I loved it. Wonderful writing, clever ideas, engaging plot, beautiful characters, and food for thought. What more could you ask for? Go read it.
Rating:
Summary: Romance is the focus
Review: Although Asaro has a following in both Science Fiction and Romance, "The Veiled Web", is first a romance; the Science Fiction content is secondary. Asaro's reoccurring theme of emerging machine intelligence serves as a driver for much of the action in the novel, but story focuses on odd and unlikely meeting and marriage of Lucia del Mar, a ballerina bearing a striking resemblance to (dare I say it?), the good doctor, and a Moroccan software designer. Oh, and we must include his son, Zaki, an electronic "tourist guide", who resents being shutdown. With this nicely paced, well written romance, Asaro forges a link between the romance novel and the international espionage genera. Well met!
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Summary: Something to think about no matter what your background
Review: An American ballerina and a Moroccan computer scientist enter into a marriage of convenience to escape from kidnappers. She learns about him, his family and his culture while he learns about her and tries to learn who is after them. Meanwhile, the AI entity he's created learns about everything, as they try to prevent anyone from learning about it. The AI proves his true nature in a tear-jerking climax, while the strength of the hero and heroine's love for each other must prove sufficient to overcome their own natures and social conditioning. In a fresh and exciting turn from her more familiar science fiction epics, Asaro sets The Veiled Web in the near future (2010) on a very recognizable Earth. The book draws on Asaro's experience as a ballet dancer to present a realistic portrait of a dancer's life, without ever becoming weighed down by the details of individual dance steps or procedures. Similarly, just the right level of detail is given about Moroccan culture and architecture, rather than turning into a lecture on Islam or Moroccan history. The level of detail provided for the computer segments suffers slightly from the fast pace of change in that field, but once the basics are covered, Asaro dips into the more advanced AI concepts with the same light finesse she gave ballet and Moroccan culture. Personally, I found the AI concepts riveting and thoroughly engrossing. The science is explained clearly, but the details can be passed over as more colorful phrases in a foreign language, without impacting the romantic suspense that is the heart of the story. Most authors would be satisfied with a single rich backdrop, or one weighty set of issues. Not Asaro. It's a tribute to her storytelling skills that she manages to seamlessly weave together three elaborately detailed settings (the world of ballet, Morocco, and cyberspace) and two sets of neatly meshing yet distinct issues (the clash of cultures and religions, and the nature of thought and spirit). Each reader will probably find a different mix of setting and issues of primary interest. But no matter what your background, this book will give you something to think about, and people for which to care.
Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down
Review: Awesome, beautiful,heart-wrenching, on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspenseful and incredible. The way Asaro's characters came to life - their struggles, sorrows and joys - was stupendous. I really loved learning about other cultures and religions and admire how she masterfully intertwined these concepts into such an extraordinary web. The ending, which I won't reveal, was truly inspiring!
Rating:
Summary: A VEILED WEB by Catherine Asaro
Review: Catherine Asaro has created a crossroads for romance and science fiction fans to feast on with her extraordinary new novel, A VEILED WEB. She not only tells a tale involving American ballet star, Lucia del Mar, and a vastly intelligent Moroccan businessman, Rashid al-Jazari, who created a computer system that is revolutionary in scope but shows up the differences in their cultures. This is a truly fascinating book that will thrill you with edge of your seat adventure as Lucia and Rashid are kidnapped and thrown into a quandary as how to escape their captors. Rashid comes up with a solution and takes Lucia to his home in Morocco as his wife. Here she encounters Rashid's work on artificial intelligence as well as his family and the challenges she has to overcome with being Rashid's wife. Immersed in all this is Lucia's growing attraction for a man not of her culture, her love of dance, which is her life, and her compelling need to talk with Zaki in the Jarizi Suit. This book snags you and doesn't let go for a minute. This is a book you want to read more than once. To me this is a "Golden Keeper!"
Rating: 
Summary: A little uneven
Review: Catherine Asaro's ability to weave science with fiction remains unequaled. The writing is supurb, and I like they way, particularly with the world situation as it is, that she integrates principles of Islam into the plot. I lived in Sicily and have been to Taoromina, and it is exactly as she describes it. The problem is the plot. No one would believe that the heroine got married and spent that long as a virgin. No one would believe that her newly-wedded husband would trot off to another North African country and leave his wife with a group of strangers with whom she cannot communicate, flying in periodically on his private jet--staying the night, and the happy couple do not engage in marital relations--for weeks. Very little happened in the middle of the book. The beginning is supurb. The action at the end and the kidnapping scenarios are great, but the entire middle is flat, except with Lucia's involvement with the computer, which is wonderful. The other rich descriptions (from a ballet fan) are the dance scenes, and the first chapter of the book is especially effective. Some reviews here state that this is more a romance novel than science fiction. I can't agree. It's too flat and too slow. The only element that the book would need is more action throughout. The Skolian novels are much better examples of what Asaro can do with plot. Susan
Rating:
Summary: A little uneven
Review: Catherine Asaro's ability to weave science with fiction remains unequaled. The writing is supurb, and I like they way, particularly with the world situation as it is, that she integrates principles of Islam into the plot. I lived in Sicily and have been to Taoromina, and it is exactly as she describes it. The problem is the plot. No one would believe that the heroine got married and spent that long as a virgin. No one would believe that her newly-wedded husband would trot off to another North African country and leave his wife with a group of strangers with whom she cannot communicate, flying in periodically on his private jet--staying the night, and the happy couple do not engage in marital relations--for weeks. Very little happened in the middle of the book. The beginning is supurb. The action at the end and the kidnapping scenarios are great, but the entire middle is flat, except with Lucia's involvement with the computer, which is wonderful. The other rich descriptions (from a ballet fan) are the dance scenes, and the first chapter of the book is especially effective. Some reviews here state that this is more a romance novel than science fiction. I can't agree. It's too flat and too slow. The only element that the book would need is more action throughout. The Skolian novels are much better examples of what Asaro can do with plot. Susan
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating glimpses
Review: Catherine Asaro's bio at the back of this novel informs the reader that she has a background in chemical physics, physics, chemistry and ballet, all of which are reflected here. With prima ballerina Lucia del Mar and computer genius Rashid al-Jazari as her protagonists, Ms. Asaro offers us truly fascinating glimpses into the possibilities of the internet, artificial intelligence and virtual reality. Written in assured and elegant prose. The attraction/repulsion of Hispanic-American Lucia and Moroccan-Islamic Rashid receives an intelligent, subtle and tender treatment. Both are shy people who are made even more vunerable by their cultural differences, but they love each other too much and are willing to compromise (which is resolved credibly). 'The Veiled Web' is told from Lucia's point of view and in my opinion she's a sympathetic and strong heroine. Although shy she's certainly no wimp and stands her ground. Lucia's shyness shows in the earlier scenes with Rashid and later with his family (though they're portrayed with respect and depth). But this story lacks Rashid's perspective. I would have enjoyed seeing things also through him (he's too often shipped off to corporation meetings). Nevertheless Lucia remains a worthy narrative vehicle. Then, there's Zaki the A.I. created by Rashid and indeed aptly called his son. He's a wonderful character: witty, vunerable, poignant and tender. Zaki absolutely shines in every scene. Lucia's interactions with Zaki truly sparkle, I loved it when she took him out on the web. With Zaki Lucia is completely at ease, their chemistry is simply excellent! I grieved with Lucia for Zaki's eventual tragic fate. My praise also in regard with Lucia's passion for dance and the web. The dance scenes were very well done since the author could draw on her own experience. The reader really got an idea what dancing means to Lucia.
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