The Last Hawk

infobox Book |
name = The Last Hawk
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Cover of first edition (hardcover)
author = Catherine Asaro
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = Saga of the Skolian empire
genre = Science fiction novel
publisher = Tor Books
release_date = 1997
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
pages = 448 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-312-86044-7
preceded_by =
followed_by = Ascendant Sun

"The Last Hawk" is a 1997 science fiction novel by Catherine Asaro. The novel is an installment in the Saga of the Skolian empire series. It was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1998.

Plot introduction

The novel details the life of Kelricson Garlin Valdoria Skolia during his eighteen years of imprisonment on the planet Coba.

Plot summary

The novel opens with Kelric crash landing on the planet Coba. An ancient culture with similarities to the Raylicans, Coba is one of the many isolated and forgotten planets of the former Ruby empire. Kelric makes several unsuccessful attempts to escape and eventually ends up in jail. It is there he spends his time (particularly while in isolation) learning the dice game Quis.

Eventually, Kelric is released and joins one of the "estates" - small matriarchical provinces or city-states that compromise the population of Coba. These estates have special dedicated communes that exclusively play Quis, called Calayna. Kelric becomes a member of one of these communes, known as the "Calani". The society of Coba has, for centuries, replaced war and aggression with competition in Quis. The Quis also double as an information network, with players revealing information about themselves and their estate while at the same time learn about others. Finally, as an information-exchange network, Quis allows technology to improve on Coba at an astounding rate.

The strength of a Calani is based on two properties: a player's skill, and the number of different estates they have worked for. Because of his pleasing appearance and his skill in Quis, Kelric is conveted by the leaders (known as "managers") of the different estates. Kelric's membership in the states proceeds as follows: Dahl, Haka, Bahvla, Miesa, Varz, and finally Karn. Renamed "Sevtar", Kelric has two children with two of his wives (one of which is born Rhon) during his time in the different estates.

Each time Kelric is traded, his skill and worth increase, in the end reaching legendary status. In the final trade to Karn, the Karn manager trades rule of the planet (until then, the Karn manager held the title of "Minister" of Coba) for Kelric. This eventually ignites actual violence, allowing Kelric to escape.

The end of this novel is where Ascendant Sun begins.

Quis

Quis refers to a dice game learned by Kelric on the planet Coba.

This dice strategy game can be played with a physical set of dice that are made from hand-crafted jewels; or it can be played mentally. It originates on a planet called Coba, a former colony of the Ruby empire that became isolated during the empire's collapses and remains so even during the time of the novels. All members of Coban society learn to play Quis, but only a few excel at it.

The Quis dice can be used for a variety of purposes, including as a game, to tell stories, to exchange information, and even to gamble. But its most important use is its influence on politics, as the dice are used to compete politically, and also can convey politically important information.

There are competing city-states that have isolated top Quis players, who study the art of playing Quis as their fulltime occupation.

See also

*Ascendant Sun