A Deepness in the Sky (Zones of Thought) 
asked by steelers on November 21, 2006 10:20 PM
This hefty novel returns to the universe of Vernor Vinge's 1993 Hugo winner A Fire Upon the Deep--but 30,000 years earlier. The story has the same sense of epic vastness despite happening mostly in one isolated solar system. Here there's a world of intelligent spider creatures who traditionally hibernate through the "Deepest Darkness" of their strange variable sun's long "off" periods, when even the atmosphere freezes. Now, science offers them an alternative... Meanwhile, attracted by spider radio transmissions, two human starfleets come exploring--merchants hoping for customers and tyrants who want slaves. Their inevitable clash leaves both fleets crippled, with the power in the wrong hands, which leads to a long wait in space until the spiders develop exploitable technology. Over the years Vinge builds palpable tension through multiple storylines and characters. In the sky, hopes of rebellion against tyranny continue despite soothing lies, brutal repression, and a mental bondage that can convert people into literal tools. Down below, the engagingly sympathetic spiders have their own problems. In flashback, we see the grandiose ideals and ultimate betrayal of the merchant culture's founder, now among the human contingent and pretending to be a senile buffoon while plotting, plotting... Major revelations, ironies, and payoffs follow. A powerful story in the grandest SF tradition. --David Langford, Amazon.co.uk
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The concept of "focus" was perhaps the most unique idea presented in this overly-long space opera. However,the mechanism of attaining focus was a bit of a reach from a biologic standpoint. This book had engrossing characters. I especially enjoyed the concept of a mind that could be an Einstein, an Edison, a Teller, and a Skinner all wrapped up in one head, The book could have used a bit stronger editing to tauten the story line and pick up the pace.
reviewed by work on November 28, 2006 2:38 AM
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I felt that Vinge's previous novel "A Fire Upon the Deep" was the best science fiction I'd ever read except for maybe Asimov's Foundation series. IMHO "A Deepness in the Sky" meets or exceeds the high standard set by its predecessor. "Deepness" is actually a prequel to "Fire", set many thousands of years earlier during Pham Nuwen's heyday.
Unlike in Fire, this novel is set entirely in the Slow Zone and within a single solar system at that, except for the prologue and a couple flashbacks. But even those are set nearby, within some dozen light years. None of the characters, nor even the third person omniscient narrator, know of the other Zones of Thought; space travel in the Slow Zone is simply far too protracted to make exploration beyond the immediate stellar neighborhood practical.
The Amazon editorial review lays out the premise of the novel well. About half of the events transpire on the surface of the "spider" planet, while the other half take place on an asteroid base at the LaGrange point of the star-planet system. The scope of "Deepness" isn't as sweeping as that of "Fire", but this is made up for by much more comprehensive character development and complexities in the plot. The phenomenon of Focus is a brilliant construct and an absolutely chilling plot element. The reader is left in suspense for a while about the Emergents' secret, and when Focus is finally explained it was quite staggering to me.
The ending? Not quite as climactic as the total victory in "Fire" yet very satisfying and with deeper implications. "Deepness" gets an easy five stars from me; I read most of it while in Norway six weeks ago, reading until 3 AM with the western horizon outside still in twilight. Several nights I'll never forget thanks to this novel.
Unlike in Fire, this novel is set entirely in the Slow Zone and within a single solar system at that, except for the prologue and a couple flashbacks. But even those are set nearby, within some dozen light years. None of the characters, nor even the third person omniscient narrator, know of the other Zones of Thought; space travel in the Slow Zone is simply far too protracted to make exploration beyond the immediate stellar neighborhood practical.
The Amazon editorial review lays out the premise of the novel well. About half of the events transpire on the surface of the "spider" planet, while the other half take place on an asteroid base at the LaGrange point of the star-planet system. The scope of "Deepness" isn't as sweeping as that of "Fire", but this is made up for by much more comprehensive character development and complexities in the plot. The phenomenon of Focus is a brilliant construct and an absolutely chilling plot element. The reader is left in suspense for a while about the Emergents' secret, and when Focus is finally explained it was quite staggering to me.
The ending? Not quite as climactic as the total victory in "Fire" yet very satisfying and with deeper implications. "Deepness" gets an easy five stars from me; I read most of it while in Norway six weeks ago, reading until 3 AM with the western horizon outside still in twilight. Several nights I'll never forget thanks to this novel.
reviewed by madfool on November 28, 2006 6:44 PM
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I am not much for reviewing books so I'll just say I've read many many sci-fi books and I thought this was a great story with great characters. Better than most.
reviewed by jrivera on November 29, 2006 10:20 AM
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That's right 'Five Stars' isn't enough. This book is one of the most compelling dramas I've been 'told' to read. And now I can't help but pass the words on. If you love a good long well woven tale of love, dawning society and star spanning would-be empires from the perspectives of characters you can really feel for then this is NOT ONLY the book for you but after your done you should pass it along.
Mr. Vinge might not need the publicity, but you will want someone else around of whom you can say "ah Pham..." to and, without further explanations, see a wry smile in agreement.
I don't want to give the plot away, I'm sure the synopsis has already done that, and I do hate spoilers (don't you?). But trust me when I say buy this book and read it you won't regret it.
Just be sure to take it slow, true the book is big but that won't stop you from wanting to wade on through it. But do take your time, you'll not regret it. For Mr. Vinge does something few writers can... he gives you closure without giving you an ending.
When you're done you know it could have ended no other way and the road that you took was the only way even you, with your clever readers wits and your vast imagination, could get there. And the next day... well you just expect that it will take care of itself... heck you believe it will!
Now I can't say I don't ever exaggerate, that's like a politician saying he doesn't lie, but do believe me when I say this book took me away and brought me back with the kind of power that is sure to make me a Vinge fan for life. And I don't think I can say that about many, if any, writers.
So just buy the darn book, get hooked on one of the best space opera's you'll ever have the pleasure to be swept into, and curse my name as you sit on the edge of your seat waiting to see if indeed anything really works out for these extraordinary folk who's lives in the On/Off Star System have become so worthy of a finely tailored tale.
Mr. Vinge might not need the publicity, but you will want someone else around of whom you can say "ah Pham..." to and, without further explanations, see a wry smile in agreement.
I don't want to give the plot away, I'm sure the synopsis has already done that, and I do hate spoilers (don't you?). But trust me when I say buy this book and read it you won't regret it.
Just be sure to take it slow, true the book is big but that won't stop you from wanting to wade on through it. But do take your time, you'll not regret it. For Mr. Vinge does something few writers can... he gives you closure without giving you an ending.
When you're done you know it could have ended no other way and the road that you took was the only way even you, with your clever readers wits and your vast imagination, could get there. And the next day... well you just expect that it will take care of itself... heck you believe it will!
Now I can't say I don't ever exaggerate, that's like a politician saying he doesn't lie, but do believe me when I say this book took me away and brought me back with the kind of power that is sure to make me a Vinge fan for life. And I don't think I can say that about many, if any, writers.
So just buy the darn book, get hooked on one of the best space opera's you'll ever have the pleasure to be swept into, and curse my name as you sit on the edge of your seat waiting to see if indeed anything really works out for these extraordinary folk who's lives in the On/Off Star System have become so worthy of a finely tailored tale.
reviewed by bigdv on November 29, 2006 11:43 AM