A Deepness in the Sky: Vernor Vinge (S.F. MASTERWORKS) - Softcover

Vinge, Vernor

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1473211964 ISBN 13: 9781473211964

Publisher: Gollancz, 2016

Synopsis

This is science fiction on the grandest of scales - a cast of thousands set across hundreds of years and in the farthest reaches of Human Space. A prequel to his earlier novel A Fire Upon the Deep, this new novel is epic in scope and a thoroughly riveting read.
A Deepness In the Sky is the story of Pham Nuwen, a small cog in the interstellar trading fleet of the Queng Ho. Both they and the Emergents are orbiting Arachna, a dormant planet which will shortly wake up when its On/Off star relights after decades of darkness. Both groups hope to exploit the coming age of technology and commerce on Arachna. But while the Queng Ho seek only to trade aggressively, the Emergents plans are far more sinister, amounting to little short of genocide . . .

About this title

Review

This hefty novel returns to the universe of Vernor Vinge's 1973 Hugo winner A Fire Upon the Deep--but 30,000 years earlier. It 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 only crippled remnants of both fleets, with power in the wrong hands, leading to a long wait in space until the spiders develop exploitable technology. Over the years Vinge builds compelling 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

Review

A feast of imagination. As always, Vinge satisfies with richly imagined worlds and a full-flavored story Revelatory space opera, galaxy spanning story . . . the book's immensity puts Vinge in the Golden New Age of Arthur C Clarke and Greg Bear - The Times The sort of epic take on a first-contact scenario that you would expect from a writer of Vernor Vinge's quality Vernor Vinge's latest novel is a triumph, continuing the most visionary, intelligent deep-space adventure of our time. Reason to cheer, indeed - and a great, long read it is Vinge has done it again. A Deepness in the Sky is vivid, suspenseful, realistic. Vinge's villains are chillingly believable, and so is his vision of a hopeful tomorrow

Edition details

• Publisher: Gollancz
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1473211964
• ISBN 13: 9781473211964
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 560