Widow Kang is Book 6 of the novel The Years Of Rice And Salt.
Widow Kang Tongbi feels a deep connection with wandering Buddhist monk Bao Ssu; when her son Shih falls victim to soul theft, Bao is unjustly accused and tortured to death, and Kang is sleepwalking.
Ibrahim ibn Hasam, Muslim schloar, comes to investigate. A deep bond is created between Ibrahim and Kang. Together they go through hypnotism sessions that allow them to remember their past lives together.
Simon Frazier was an English geologist, member of the First Hundred. He was one of the most important areologists of the early years and with Ann Clayborne they conducted some of the seminal work in their field.
Nirgal was an important Martian political leader, the ectogene son of Hiroko Ai and Desmond Hawkins.
Mikhail Yangel, a convinced anarchist and Russian national, was one of the earliest issei colonists of Mars.
Maya Katarina Toitovna was an important member of the First Hundred with a long political career on Mars.
John Boone was the first Man to walk on Mars and an important member of the First Hundred.
Hiroko Ai was an important member of the First Hundred, the founder of the Areophany movement and a mysterious leader that left none who came into her contact untouched. Genetic mother of Kasei and Nirgal and potentially many others.
Derek Hastings was an American executive and politician.
Zoya Boone ("Zo") was the naturally-born daughter of influential Free Mars politician Jackie (Boone) and therefore the great-granddaughter of John Boone, making her a yonsei. Like her mother, she was fiercely proud of her lineage and held the legacy of John in high esteem.
Vladimir Taneev ("Vlad") was an important member of the First Hundred.
