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A Fire Upon the Deep (Zones of Thought, #1)

Vernor Vinge

Start date: July 1, 2017

Finish date: July 24, 2017

Discussion: Book Discussions

Why we're reading this: Group classic novel discussion July 2017
Hugo Award Winner 1993 (tie)
#93 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels of a…more
[close] Group classic novel discussion July 2017
Hugo Award Winner 1993 (tie)
#93 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels of all time (2011 poll) http://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/1390858...
#27 on Locus Magazines Best SciFi novels of the 20th century http://www.locusmag.com/2012/AllCentu...

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Jun 29, 2011 Brandon rated it it was amazing

Shelves: scifi

When I first heard of this book it was on the social website Reddit. It was recommended by a user in a science fiction thread. Then I saw in a Tor announcement that Vernor Vinge was releasing a sequel to this book called "Children of the Sky". I thought I might as well check it out. I looked up Mr. Vinge on wikipedia to see that he had won five Hugo awards, quite an achievement. One of those Hugos was for "A Fire Upon the Deep." I immediately put the book on my Amazon wishlist, and shortly there When I first heard of this book it was on the social website Reddit. It was recommended by a user in a science fiction thread. Then I saw in a Tor announcement that Vernor Vinge was releasing a sequel to this book called "Children of the Sky". I thought I might as well check it out. I looked up Mr. Vinge on wikipedia to see that he had won five Hugo awards, quite an achievement. One of those Hugos was for "A Fire Upon the Deep." I immediately put the book on my Amazon wishlist, and shortly thereafter I found myself ordering it.

The funny thing is, with all my searching of who Vernor Vinge was, I hadn't read any of the descriptions of this book, and the back cover of the paperback just had reviews. So, I started reading this book with no idea what to expect from it, I only though it was some sort of space opera.

"A Fire Upon the Deep" starts out with a confusing prologue, and then propels the reader into a world of wonder. I'm not going to go over a synopsis of the book (there are plenty of places online you can read what this book is about), but I will tell you how I feel about "A Fire Upon the Deep." Vernor Vinge has created a universe of terrific imagination and innovation. He has created a universe with Powers of amazing thought and control, species of superb design and believability, and characters who I am convinced are real.

In his universe the galaxy is separated into zones of space where speeds are different, from the Slow zone to the High Beyond and the Transcend. This separation makes for an interesting story line, and a thought provoking structure of the universe. Everything Vernor does in this story is thought provoking, which is key for a good science fiction novel. The way the characters and the species are integrated together with imaginative details and tools of advanced software makes this book a truly intelligent read.

I always love a story with a hero, and "A Fire Upon the Deep" is packed with heroes of every size and shape. He has created characters who I am convinced are real people in some other universe. I am positive that Scriber exists somewhere out there in the Beyond. And Pham Nuwen, there has to be a Pham Nuwen alive in another place and time. The pack-minds of Woodcarver, Steel, Flenser, and the Pilgrim Peregrine are all characters who everyone should take the opportunity to read about.

"A Fire Upon the Deep" is a well-thought, engaging, and complex story that any science fiction fan should take the time to read.
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