Product Description

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 it's 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 . . .

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #237148 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-13
• Binding: Paperback
• 704 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
This hefty novel returns to the Universe of Vernor Vinge's 1973 Hugo win ner 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 story lines 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

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 it's 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 the Author
SALES POINTS * Millennium Lead Title * Epic space opera in the grand tradition from the Hugo Award winning author of A FIRE UPON THE DEEP * '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 * 'Vinge has done it again. A Deepness in the Sky is vivid, suspenseful, [and] realistic. Vinge's villains are chillingly believable, and so is his vision of a hopeful tomorrow." - David Brin *'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." - Gregory Benford * 'The sort of epic take on a first-contact scenario that you would expect from a writer of Vernor Vinge's quality' - Peter F. Hamilton

Customer Reviews

Excellent!
I found this book impossible to put down. The development of the characters, the evil podmasters, Pham Nuwen, the Spider society - it was all fascinating. I've read many sci-fi books and this is one I highly recommend. Gotta say, the podmasters ethics seem strangely familiar - Reminds me of some of the politicians these days! Overall, if you like a real sweeping epic, this is the book for you.

Space Opera at its Best
If you are a Sci-Fi fan or even new to the genre then I highly recommend this book. Vernor Vinge is an accomplished writer and able to bring the science to life with his background as a mathematician and scientist. However, what makes the book so good is the page turning plot that is entwined into the plausible far future universe. This book, together with A Fire Upon the Deep, were I believe, both Hugo Award winners. They are both excellent. I look forward to reading his latest work, Rainbows End.

A classic
This is book is every bit as brillant as A Fire Upon The Deep, don't let the moaners put you off. VV may not have written many books but when the quality is a good as this you can forgive him.