A Deepness in the Sky - Hardcover

Vinge, Vernor

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1857988256 ISBN 13: 9781857988253

Publisher: Gollancz, 1999

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.

Ezr Vinh is a member of one of the largest and most powerful clans within the Qeng Ho - the Qeng Ho are a race apart, traders whose nation is space, whose very reason for living is finding the outposts of fallen civilisations, waiting for them to claw themselves back to a point where they are able to be of use and then taking them for all they are worth. But nicely. The Emergents have dragged themselves back from the brink of ruin, taking on board as much of Qeng Ho tradition as they need to make deals of their own. But their methods are brutal and ruthless. A DEEPNESS IN THE SKY is the story of Ezr Vinh and Thomas Nau, an Emergent Podmaster, and the compromises they have to make in order to survive at the limits of the universe as they sit in wait for the spider citizens of Arachna. Waiting for the new sun to wake Arachna to a new atomic age...

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

"Huge, intricate, and ingenious, with superbly realized aliens: a chilling spellbinding dramatization of the horrors of slavery and mind control."--"Kirkus Reviews "(pointer review)
"A feast of imagination. As always, Vinge satisfies with richly imagined worlds and a full-flavored story."--Greg Bear
"Wonderfully engaging!"--"Cleveland Plain Dealer"

Huge, intricate, and ingenious, with superbly realized aliens: a chilling spellbinding dramatization of the horrors of slavery and mind control. "Kirkus Reviews (pointer review)"

A feast of imagination. As always, Vinge satisfies with richly imagined worlds and a full-flavored story. "Greg Bear"

Wonderfully engaging! "Cleveland Plain Dealer""

"Huge, intricate, and ingenious, with superbly realized aliens: a chilling spellbinding dramatization of the horrors of slavery and mind control." --Kirkus Reviews (pointer review)

"A feast of imagination. As always, Vinge satisfies with richly imagined worlds and a full-flavored story." --Greg Bear

"Wonderfully engaging!" --Cleveland Plain Dealer

Edition details

• Publisher: Gollancz
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1857988256
• ISBN 13: 9781857988253
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 606