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Summary: A Masterful blend of intrigue, drama and hard science
Review: In this book, Ms. Asaro has managed to build a strong female character who is sensitive, but no pushover. Typically, in science fiction, the science sparkles but characters generally are not three dimensional, or only deal with emotions that are associated with danger and thrills. This book sets forth a believable leap in computer intelligent agent development, then wraps a deeply moving love story around it, along with the international intrigue of industrial espionage. This book never disappoints. Exploring the needs and desires of two strong willed individuals who have limits they cannot go beyond, yet who must learn how to compromise to realize their love, was fascinating. Shoot-em-ups and chase scenes are usually handled well in science fiction books, but scenes that handle love between individuals from widely different human cultures are much rarer. Ms. Asaro handles the science and emotional aspects of this book with aplomb. All in all, this book was such a satisfying read that I had to read it twice. I found it equally hard to put down the second time I read it, even though I knew what was coming. Bravo, Ms. Asaro, I look forward to your next effort with great anticipation.
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Summary: Can't compare with her Skolian series
Review: It's hard to believe this is the same author who brought us into the fascinating world of her Skolian series. This novel is romance with just a dash of scifi/cyberpunk thrown in. Disappointing, at times even trite. But don't let this book turn you off of her other gems.
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Summary: Best NEW book I've read in years
Review: Just finished reading Catherine Asaro's THE VEILED WEB. Couldn't put it down; she combines depth of characterization with superb action. Both Lucia and Rashid come alive for me, as well as several of the other characters.As a person with interests in both ballet and computers, and with many friends in intercultural marriages, the total effect on me was much more than the sum of its parts. I hope to see more of Rashid and Lucia, and their offspring, in the very near future.
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Summary: Good, quick, interesting romance with religious overtones
Review: Once again, this author explores the intrigue in mixing man and machine, this time in a more familiar time setting (the near future) and on this planet. More romance than pure sci-fi this novel also does a fair job of exploring the differences and similarities between Christianity and Islamic religions and does it with a clear eye. Enjoyable, quick read.
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Summary: Where worlds intersect
Review: One can always count on Catherine Asaro to do something different, and in The Veiled Web she's done it again. Quite unlike her marvelous Skolian far future sf books, this story is set in a recognizable world only a few years from now. I loved the way she blended together what it is like to be a dedicated, world class dancer, speculations in artificial intelligence and what it means to be alive, and the intersection of American and Islamic cultures. This last is deeply relevant in our divided world, and I loved the respect Asaro shows for Rashid's faith and nationality. While not downplaying the difficulties of a marriage bridging these cultures, her resolution is hopeful and believable. We need more stories like this!
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Summary: Disappointed
Review: Put the story down 1/3 of the way through. The female character was just too silly acting.
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Summary: Technologically lacking
Review: The cover and the review on the back advertised this book as a fast-paced cyber-thriller but it was more a romance with the cyber-action coming in late at the end of the book. The romance part of the book was extremely well written. Lucia and Rashid come across as naive but likeable characters. The introduction of Lucia to Islam is also well-done, interesting without being didactic. In a sense the book is alternate - world fiction because Lucia, a devout Catholic, is immersed in the very different world of Islam after a kidnapping attempt and learns to value their beliefs while hanging onto her own. My problems with the book were on the scientific front. AI is introduced without any explanation of Turing's machine, the test for artificial intelligence, etc. More info on how Zaki was designed would have been welcome. Although Mrs. Asaro has plenty of intelligence and graduate degrees, her explanation of AI and computers was very superficial and naive. The book takes place in the year 2010 but Lucia still uses a tape and cassette player to listen to Pachebel's Canon in D? I would think all tape decks would be extinct by then. Maybe Rashid preserves it as an antique ? <g>
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Summary: A stunning, intelligent, wonderful novel!
Review: THE VEILED WEB first attracted me because of its beautiful, striking cover design, and because of the author's excellent reputation, although I had not yet read one of hers (I have since bought her other books). Asaro bridges science fiction and romance in a novel that is intelligent and fascinating. VEILED WEB weaves together computer science, an exotic culture, dance, and an exciting romance of opposites into an intricate and beautifully drawn story. The writing is polished, the story thoroughly developed, the details well-researched and understood, and the characters are believable and compassionate. Rashid is disciplined but tender, and Lucia is dedicated, focused and sympathetic. The romance between them is compelling, sexy, and intriguing. The science fiction is wholly fascinating and well presented. The author clearly knows her stuff, both in sci fi and romance. Zaki, the artificial intelligence created by Rashid, is as interesting and as multi-dimensional as any human character, and the interchanges between him and Lucia in particular take the novel into a higher dimension. THE VEILED WEB is a thoughtful, entertaining novel, and one I will not soon forget. Brava to Asaro for her skill and sensitivity. I am a new and enthusiastic fan.
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Summary: Exciting genre blend
Review: The Veiled Web was the first book I read by Catharine Asaro. I was so impressed I bought her other books (which I also enjoyed tremendously). She deftly handles elements of romance, suspense and science fiction. Other writers, take note! We need more like Ms. Asaro in the field. Lucia was a well wrought character, familiar and likable, leading us on an exploration of the issues of religion, unity in diversity and the roles of the internet and artificial intelligence in the unfolding human society. Her conclusions are inspiring and thoughtful. I was also impressed by the author's treatment of Islam, presented informatively and with little bias.
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Summary: Time waster by someone who can do much better.
Review: This book is a dull standard romance with a boringly perfect and perfectly boring cardboard hero. I was hoping Lucia would find a way to end up with Jaki. I was hoping to learn about Islam also but Ms. Asaro's research seems to have been a 3 paragraph newspaper article. A wordly person like Lucia would have known most of these basics. I didn't believe her as a ballerina, she talked about, but didn't demonstrate any drive. I make no judgements about Muslims in real life, but as portrayed in this book women are just property, cattle. No matter how Asaro romanticizes it. A man who sees you as property does not see you as an actual human being and therefore cannot truly love you. The big compromise is not nearly enough. The artificial intelligence subplot is interesting and I think she should have developed that instead. By the way, the basic out line of the plot (except for the MacGuffin) is the same as an earlier book. I think it was "Catch The Lightening," but I forget.
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